Hi
Definition
Hi is an interjection. It is an informal greeting used to acknowledge or begin a conversation with someone.
Parts of Speech
- Interjection
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /haɪ/
- Respelling: HAI
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /haɪ/
- Respelling: HAI
Etymology
The word "hi" originates as a variant of "hey" or "hallo," which were used as exclamations to attract attention. Its usage as a greeting became common in the 19th century, especially in American English. The word has no formal etymology and is considered informal.
Derivatives
- Hiya (interjection, informal)
- Hihi (informal, repeated greeting)
- Hied (archaic, past tense of "hie," unrelated meaning)
- Hellos (plural of "hello," often linked with "hi")
- Hi-five (gesture, informal)
Synonyms
- Hey
- Hello
- Howdy
Antonyms
- Goodbye
- Farewell
- None
Usage
The interjection "hi" is used informally in greetings, such as "Hi, how are you?" It is common in casual conversations and written communication, especially in texts and emails.
Related Terms
- Hello: A formal or neutral greeting.
- Hey: An informal way to attract attention or greet someone.
- Howdy: A colloquial greeting, particularly in American English.
Detailed Definitions
Interjection
- An informal greeting: Used to acknowledge or start a conversation.
- Example: "Hi, it’s great to see you!"
- Used to attract attention: Sometimes used casually to gain someone’s focus.
- Example: "Hi, can you hear me?"
hi
Hi, it’s great to see you!
Hi, can you hear me?
The two friends smile and say “hi” in the park.
🇨🇳 Mandarin
- 你好 (nǐ hǎo)
- IPA: /ni˧˥ xau˨˩˦/
- Respelling: nee how
- 喂 (wèi)
- IPA: /wei˨˩˦/
- Respelling: way
🇮🇳 Hindi
- नमस्ते (namaste)
- IPA: /nəməsteː/
- Respelling: nuh-muh-stay
- हाय (haay)
- IPA: /ɦaːj/
- Respelling: ha-ay
🇪🇸 Spanish
- Hola
- IPA: /ˈola/
- Respelling: oh-la
- Ey
- IPA: /ei/
- Respelling: ay
🇫🇷 French
- Salut
- IPA: /salu/
- Respelling: sah-loo
- Coucou
- IPA: /kuku/
- Respelling: coo-coo
🇦🇪 Arabic
- مرحبا (marhaba)
- IPA: /marħabaː/
- Respelling: mar-ha-ba
- أهلا (ahlan)
- IPA: /'ahlan/
- Respelling: ah-lan
🇧🇩 Bengali
- হাই (haai)
- IPA: /ɦai/
- Respelling: ha-ai
- হ্যালো (hyalo)
- IPA: /ɦjalo/
- Respelling: hya-lo
🇷🇺 Russian
- Привет (privet)
- IPA: /prʲɪˈvʲet/
- Respelling: pree-vyet
- Здравствуйте (zdravstvuyte)
- IPA: /zdrəfˈstvujtʲe/
- Respelling: zdra-stvooy-tye
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- Oi
- IPA: /oj/
- Respelling: oy
- Olá
- IPA: /ɔˈla/
- Respelling: oh-la
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- Halo
- IPA: /halo/
- Respelling: ha-lo
- Hai
- IPA: /hai/
- Respelling: ha-ee
🇩🇪 German
- Hallo
- IPA: /halo/
- Respelling: ha-lo
- Hi
- IPA: /hiː/
- Respelling: hee
🇯🇵 Japanese
- こんにちは (konnichiwa)
- IPA: /kon.nit͡ɕi.wa/
- Respelling: kon-ni-chi-wa
- やあ (yaa)
- IPA: /jaː/
- Respelling: ya
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- Chào
- IPA: /ʈʂaːw˨˩/
- Respelling: chow
- Hi
- IPA: /hiː/
- Respelling: hee
🇰🇷 Korean
- 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo)
- IPA: /anɲʌ̹ŋhasʰʌ̹jo/
- Respelling: an-nyeong-ha-se-yo
- 하이 (hai)
- IPA: /hai̯/
- Respelling: hi
🇹🇷 Turkish
- Merhaba
- IPA: /meɾhaba/
- Respelling: mer-ha-ba
- Selam
- IPA: /sæˈlam/
- Respelling: se-lam
🇵🇰 Urdu
- ہیلو (hello)
- IPA: /ɦɛloː/
- Respelling: he-lo
- ہائے (haaye)
- IPA: /ɦaːje/
- Respelling: ha-ye
