hallo

Definitions  ·  Examples  ·  Pronunciations  ·  Etymologies  ·  Related  ·  Statistics  ·  Comments (1)  · 
“
The first tentative explanation of the origin of hallo connected the English word with French au loup, au loup, the cry heard in the chase for setting dogs on the wolf.

View all »
Definitions (2)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (2)

  1. An exclamation used to call attention: same as hello, hullo, now more common colloquially, and as halloo, which differs more in pronunciation and use. See hello and halloo.
  2. To call or shout to; incite with cries.

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet

Toggle elsewhere links Elsewhere on the web

View all »
Examples (50)

  • I would that one or the other of us possessed a smattering of their lingo, sufficient to make ourselves understood; I am afraid that we shall find our ignorance in that respect a very serious hindrance as we penetrate farther into the interior; and we must do our best to remedy the--hallo! —  Two Gallant Sons of Devon A Tale of the Days of Queen Bess
  • He had just time to step back when the door flew open, and he stood face to face with Hugh Barnes the cooper Have you heard the news, Henry?--hallo This abrupt exclamation was caused by the sight of Gascoyne, who rose quietly the moment he heard the door open, and, turning his back towards it, walked slowly into a small apartment that opened off the widow's parlour, and shut the door I say, Henry, who's that big fellow?" —  Gascoyne, the Sandal-Wood Trader
  • It's so far off that--hallo A sudden frown clouded the laird's face as he gave vent to that hallo The rascal!" —  The Eagle Cliff
  • Meanwhile I will return good for evil by offering my hand to help you a--hallo While he spoke the girl had sprung past him like a grasshopper, and alighted on the sand like a butterfly A few minutes later and this little jesting fit had vanished, and they were both engaged with pencil and book, eagerly--for both were enthusiastic--sketching one of the most enchanting scenes that can well be imagined. —  Blown to Bits The Lonely Man of Rakata, the Malay Archipelago
  • But I's 'fraid dat poor Spinkie's a'most used up--hallo! —  Blown to Bits The Lonely Man of Rakata, the Malay Archipelago
More examples »
 

Tags

hallo hasn't been tagged yet.

Sign up or sign in to add tags.

Stats

This word has been looked up 180 times.

stop updating
On Twitter

Photos from

flickr images

Etymologies (2)

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. In early modern English also written hallow, halow, alow, and even a lo; Middle English halow; in modern English also hello, hullo, and halloo, q. v. Such forms, being mere syllables to call attention, are freely varied for sonorous effect; hallo, hello, halloo, may be regarded as the modern representatives of the common Anglo-Saxon eá lā or eálā, used similarly to call attention, whether loudly from afar, like hallo, hello, halloo, or quietly from near by, like hello colloquially, or like modern ah, oh, well, and similar preliminary syllables. Anglo-Saxon eá represents English ah or oh, and lā is English lo. These forms, in hunting use, are represented by Old French halle, an interjection of cheering or setting on of a dog, modern F. haler, set (dogs upon one), encourage with shouts. So G. hallo, halloh, perhaps after the English The form hallow, as a noun or verb, with accent on the first syllable, is a variant of hollow, hollo, holla, now scarcely used as an interjection, and is in so far different from hallo, hello: see holla, hollow, etc. Cf. hallabaloo, hullabaloo, etc., French halali, a hunting-cry, etc.
  2. from Middle English halowen; cf. Old French halloer, also haller, halloo in pursuit, incite with cries; from the interjection: see hallo, interj., and cf. halloo, v., hollo, hollow, v.
 

Pronunciations
Record your own »

If you'd like to prod us on getting a pronunciation for this word, sign in (or sign up) and let us know.

Charts
frequency chart

Bubble size: how much this word was used in a year

Bubble height: used more or less than expected, vs. all uses evenly distributed

You can expect to see this word a few times a year.

Recently looked up

Diorama · footloose · enjoys · peterel · pickier

Recent Favorites

pygopagus · sanglant · Astacus · sweetbread · qualms

Recent Pronunciations

Im dichten Fichtendickicht sind dicke Fichten wichtig. · Häufungspunkte · superkalifragilistischexpiallegetisch · wub wub · merch