What word is more ever-present in the English language as “hello?” Sure, ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ might often be an infant’s first word. But, ‘hello’ is learned quickly thereafter. You can hardly go for a stroll without uttering the word at least once. Your phone rings and it’s an unknown number. How do you answer? Simple. You tap the ‘answer’ button, and say “Hello.”
There’s a reason why “hello” is the first word you learn when studying a new language: With it, you can introduce yourself, get someone’s attention, and signal that you’re friendly.
Despite the word’s popularity, though, you probably don’t know where “hello” actually comes from. Has it always been a greeting? Was another word used in its place before? And why do we say ‘Hello’ when answering the phone?
Well, the last time we told you the fascinating story of how the word “OK” was invented. If you haven’t checked that out, then do click here to read all about it.
Today we are back with another origin story for those of you who have been curious about the history of “Hello”!
Credit: Giphy
Let’s talk a little etymology – you know, the study of words and how their meanings have changed throughout history.
This might come as a bit of a surprise, but the word “hello” (or at least using it as a greeting) is about as new as the invention of the telephone itself. In addition, the word “hello” was never intended to mean the “hi” we use it for today at all.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first documented use of “hello” was in 1827, less than 200 years ago.
Back then it was used in two ways and neither of them was a friendly greeting. The first use was as an expression of surprise, as in the phrase, “Hello, what do we have here?!” The second was to get sudden attention, as in “Hello, what do you think you’re doing?!” This would be comparable to today’s “hey you!”.
If hello’s popular use only came about as recently as the telephone, what could one be expected to say as a greeting before then?
During the 17th Century in America, pilgrims would typically say “Good morrow,” “How now?” “How do you fare” or “What cheer?” in place of “Hi, how are you?” But that’s quite a disconnect from hello.
The word closest in similarity to hello that was used by people all the way from the Middle Ages through Shakespeare’s time was “hail.” As in, ‘Hail, Caesar!’ This is traced to the Old Norse word, heill, which comes from the word’s meaning “health.”
Health or holiness-either seems like something quite friendly to wish upon someone you are greeting, right?
But the big question remains. But why do we say hello when answering the phone?
Credit: Giphy
First, let’s rid ourselves of myths we may have picked up over the internet. Rumor has it that the standard greeting came about because it was the name of Alexander Graham Bell’s girlfriend at the time of patenting the invention. The story goes that she later married the inventor. Would this mean that his wife’s proper name was Hello Bell? Surely not!
Others suggest that it was a girlfriend that Alexander Graham Bell was honouring when choosing the go-to phrase for answering a call on the telephone. This girlfriend is said to have been named Margaret Hello. Supposedly, a declaration of love is why we say hello when answering the phone.
There is no merit whatsoever to this silly story, as interesting as it may sound. This rumour isn’t based on any historical facts. Someone just made it up!
Credit: Giphy
If you’re wondering what was said as a greeting to the first person that Alexander Graham Bell called, you may be a bit disappointed. Because, in fact, there was no need for a greeting. There wasn’t a ring. The first call was rather brief:
“Mister Watson, come here – I want you.”
Credit: Giphy
Hello began catching on as a greeting through the 19th century, but it wasn’t until the telephone was invented that its future was sealed.
Though we credit Alexander Graham Bell as the inventor of the telephone (whether or not he was, is still up for debate), a different inventor is credited with coining the typical phone greeting. Who? Thomas Edison!
You see, the phone wasn’t intended to be a device that rang. It was expected to be a line of business communication between two parties that was left as an open line. If the caller wanted the person on the other end of the line to know they would like to speak, some sort of greeting would need to occur. Graham Bell had suggested an older maritime greeting: ‘Ahoy!’ In fact, he felt so strongly about “ahoy” that he used it for the rest of his life.
We wonder how would it sound if we say ‘Ahoy’ while answering the calls now! Credit: Giphy
However, his rival, Thomas Edison thought the better word was “Hello” and he urged the people who used his phone to say “hello” when answering.
When the first telephone book was printed in New Haven, Connecticut, USA in 1878, it included a “how to” section as well as tips on phone etiquette. It informed the readers that one should initiate a telephone conversation with “a firm and cheery ‘hulloa.’” By 1880 Edison’s preferred hello had won out.
Will the legacy of using “hello” as the most-used greeting continue in (and perhaps after) the age of cellphones? In a generation whose most oft-used text greeting is the more casual “hey,” or the more fashion-forward “Whassup”, will “hello” be as lost to the archives as “ahoy”? Maybe not.
For programmers beginning to learn computer languages, the first thing they use is a simple “Hello, world!” program. It is simply a display device being used to convey the forthright message, “Hello, world!” onto the computer screen. This has been a programming protocol since at least 1972. With the advent of wireless landlines, then cell phones, and then smartphones, many popular slang greetings have come and gone. “Hello” is a classic, if not universal, way in which to greet the world, and we hope it stays.
So the next time someone asks you about the origin of “hello,” you can explain to them that it goes all the way back to Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison (and that “ahoy” almost ended up being the de facto greeting).
We hope you enjoyed learning something new today. Tell us which part of this Origin Story did you find most fascinating? What other origin stories would you like to read about? Tell us in the comments below.
There are thousands of languages being spoken by people around the word and saying “Hello” is one of the most basic and important form of greeting someone in each of them. Here is how you say “Hello” in ten different languages. Who knows, it might come in handy with you are touring the world.
| Hello in Spanish | hola |
| Hello in French | bonjour |
| Hello in German | guten tag |
| Hello in Italian | salve |
| Hello in Chinese | nǐn hǎo |
| Hello in Portuguese | olá |
| Hello in Arabic | asalaam alaikum |
| Hello in Japanese | konnichiwa |
| Hello in Korean | anyoung haseyo |
| Hello in Russian | Zdravstvuyte |
Also read, about How did telephones go from wired to wireless
Raza has been writing since 2008, be it fiction, poetry, or articles on science, politics, and history. He believes that words can change the world, and he uses them to inspire and empower people through his writing. When he is not working, he is watching nature documentaries or playing with his cats.
Arya C is a 4th grader who talks about her transition from the US to India and how BYJU`S has helped her at that. She also loves how BYJU`S has made learning a lot more fun.
Meet Sourabh who has a ton to say about his BYJU`S learning experience. His love for quizzes, games and other fun activities are paying off!
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Comments
Prerna deshmukh
September 24, 2021
It is so good hello hello
Bye
Divya
September 24, 2021
Very good
Qasim Shaikh
September 24, 2021
The most fascinating part was the use of the word Ahoy! .
It is generally used by sailors but I didn’t knew it was a greeting in older times.I wold like to read about the origin story of python language
Rishikesh
September 24, 2021
Hello Hello I am Rishikesh Kumar
B.lasya reddy
September 24, 2021
Nice
Satya swarup biswal
September 24, 2021
Old high german
Himika Bhakta
September 24, 2021
HELLO ! I am Himika and this blog is so cool!!!
Shruti kaslikar
September 24, 2021
Why we say goodbye
Adhar kumar Gupta
September 24, 2021
Wow very nice amazing A big thanks to byju’s learning app !!
Shrikant Girnare
September 24, 2021
We say hello to check if the other person is hearing our voice or not, if he/she is hearing our voice we get a reply,
That’s why we say Hello
Shrestha Halder
September 24, 2021
What is the History of origin of the word “Please”
Nice & Interesting.
September 24, 2021
Nice & Interesting.
Nihal t manoj
September 24, 2021
What is the story of ok
Hriddhi Mishra
September 24, 2021
The real meaning of hello is- hello is a salutation or greeting in the English language.It is first attested in writing from 1826
GURASEES CHAHAL
September 24, 2021
AMAZING STORY BYJUS THANK YOU BYJUS GIVEING ME A BEST LEARNING
Prateek prabhakar
September 24, 2021
SIR WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BYJUS
Harshita
September 24, 2021
The most Interesting part was the conversation between the Alexander Graham Bell and his girlfriend talking
Ahoy
Anonymous
September 24, 2021
I loved reading your article…
Could you please give the next article origin of the word please?
Vedashri khobe
September 24, 2021
As you told in the force and pressure chapter that we are actually not in touch with things
If it is so why do we feel pain when our head crashes with the wall or when we clap hardly why does it pains
Angel Gupta
September 24, 2021
It’s a very funny history of “Hello”
shresth sahoo
September 24, 2021
Why are games so addictive
Harshini
September 24, 2021
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is very funny and we are able to know where this word HELLO came from in a very funny way.
KEEP ADDING MANY MORE FOR KIDS AND
THANK YOU
Bhautik S.M
September 24, 2021
How did OH MY GOD or OMG originate
Adarsh Tiwari
September 24, 2021
Hi
Yashaswini
September 24, 2021
It’s nice
Anushree
September 24, 2021
This was very interesting piece of information.
Thank you BYJUS….
Krishna goyal
September 24, 2021
Wow!!!!
Ojasvi
September 24, 2021
Because, When we meet someone we say in hindi that, Namashkar, In english we have to say that is Hello. So when we call someone we say very respectively that, Hello.
Vedhika
September 24, 2021
Love reading your article
Bhushan Takzure
September 24, 2021
It was amazing , and HELLO!! ☺️
Bhushan Takzure
September 24, 2021
#Thanks Byju’s#
Sagar Jagadeesh Bhat
September 24, 2021
Nice and interesting .
Nice
September 24, 2021
Very nice, can you choose topic of any ancient and mythical animal . Please🥺🥺🙏.
Ayush Mishra
September 24, 2021
Hello
Roshni Nishant Mone
September 24, 2021
Thank you,
Important information.
M.sashi
September 24, 2021
Because a Alexander Graham Bell’s girlfriend at the time of patenting the invention
Sampurnna Dutta
September 24, 2021
Amazing & interesting
Kumar ANSH RAJ
September 24, 2021
It’s amazing
Nisha Rathore
September 24, 2021
I love byjus
Isha
September 24, 2021
This is new for me, I was also in same myths about Axelandra story. It’s quite funny and simple logic…..
Samarth kanu
September 24, 2021
Hello Hello i am Samarth
Sam Rajveer
September 24, 2021
Thank you Byjus for the information.
I want to know the origin of the word “jungle”
Uttkarsh tiwari
September 24, 2021
This blog was op! Literally,most of us don’t mind upon the origins of the words that we use in our everyday life but just use them instantaneously;as in the case above we all use use the word,’hello’ but don’t ever think of its origins well-well above was the whole story !!
Premium user of byjus
Samiksha Shakya
September 24, 2021
The blog is so good.I also know about the origin of bye.
Manjot kaur
September 24, 2021
Nice and interesting
Akshara Dilip More
September 24, 2021
These types of new and interesting stories I like to read. Thank you BYJU’S
Learning Aap for giving me this beautiful knowledge!!
Shiva
September 24, 2021
Why we say good bye
Karen Sibi
September 24, 2021
👋 Hey,Byjus thx for this wonderful facts and stories 👏🙌Pls keep updating cool articles for kids
Gungun
September 24, 2021
Amazing story thankyou byju’s. Giving my my best learning story.
Nausheen Rahman
September 25, 2021
This was very interesting piece of information …… I LOVE IT A lot
Thank you so much
BYJUS….
PRATYUSH MAURYA
September 25, 2021
HELLO SIR 👋👋
K.sahithi
September 25, 2021
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Sampurna
September 25, 2021
So cool😇😇😇😇
Bhargav Dhar
September 25, 2021
Very nice
ASWINKRISHNA. S
September 25, 2021
Byjus
L.Rishitha
September 25, 2021
Thank u byjus for clearing my doubts
Gurleen
September 25, 2021
~#HELLO…..~
_*IT WAS AMAZING*_
Bhuvanya
September 25, 2021
I am feeling so happy
S.HEMANTH KUMAR JAIN
September 25, 2021
Good
Rudra Yadav
September 25, 2021
In 1826 fist time hello been written
J.Vaishnavi
September 25, 2021
When the telephone was invented , Alexander Graham Bell wanted people to use the word ahoy as a greeting
Bhautik S.M
September 25, 2021
HELLO MY NAME IS BHAUTIK!!!!!!!
Spoorthy
September 25, 2021
Ahoy! Captain
Palak Ujjainiya
September 25, 2021
Very nice story
R. Vedha
September 25, 2021
Answer: first when Alexander found the telephone he called to his wife. And the wife name is Hello so first he told hello so we also calling as hello
Parth dawane
September 25, 2021
REALLY ITS NICE
and the history of hello is very funny
Satadru
September 25, 2021
I liked the atricle. I came to know about ‘hello’. It’s vere fascinating. I like those articles.
Thank you.
Kaustubh kailas kayande
September 25, 2021
Hello, I’m Kauatubh, It’s great😀
Saanvi thakur
September 25, 2021
The most fascinating part was the use of the word Ahoy! .
It is generally used by sailors but I didn’t knew it was a greeting in older times.I like to read about the origin story of python language
Saanvi thakur
September 25, 2021
AMAZING STORY BYJUS THANK YOU BYJUS GIVING ME A BEST LEARNING
Saanvi thakur
September 25, 2021
This was very interesting piece of information.
Thank you BYJUS….
Àñkít kûmàr Gúptà
September 25, 2021
Hello sir
Qareen
September 25, 2021
Hello
Satvik
September 25, 2021
Interesting information..
Thank you BYJU’S
Raman
September 25, 2021
It’s wonderful please send me more like this
Devendra
September 25, 2021
Byju’s best
Satyam Swapnil
September 25, 2021
Thank you Byju’s for this important information.
Shreeja
September 25, 2021
Fully 🤣🤣
Akshatha
September 25, 2021
Very good question
Naman bhardwaj
September 25, 2021
Hello, I am curious to know the word television.
Md umair
September 25, 2021
He/she is hearing our voice we get a reply. That’s way say Hello
Md umair
September 25, 2021
Hello is good for everyone. That that’s why I say hello .thank you for byju’s
Tarun.H.R
September 25, 2021
What is the story of hey!
Sakshi Verma
September 25, 2021
It’s great. 💕
I love this.💕
Nimish
September 25, 2021
Thanks to hello!! An important word of our life. Thanks hello…
Bye!
Vansh
September 25, 2021
Hello
Navita Dinesh Kumar Jatav
September 25, 2021
This story is entertaining
Wow very nice amazing a big thanks to byjus learning app
Ayush Roy
September 25, 2021
Who did this excellent and very funny work
Ayush Roy
September 25, 2021
Omg!!!!!!!!
P.isha sri
September 25, 2021
Hello everyone ☺️☺️…..think hello is now so popular and every one use her name at first meet 😜😜😜😜😜🤣
Hello =god 💯
Kanika
September 25, 2021
Very good and exciting story.
Maji
September 25, 2021
I like to say wassup or hey or hey dude
ARNAV SHARMA
September 25, 2021
Yeh this blog is awesome and cool and its to interesting thanq byjus to make my study interesting and Easy er
Maanvi Bachra
September 26, 2021
Hello! 😆
I would like to hear the origin story of the word ”Yes”…..Would Really Appreciate If You Answer This 🙏🙏😊 Please
Yash kumar
September 26, 2021
It is so good hello hello
Jennyfer josphia
September 26, 2021
It’s amazing I didn’t know and I am also a student of byjus and I like to support
Aadrika Singh
September 26, 2021
Very Nice..😊😊
Shreyanshi parida
September 26, 2021
What is the origin of bye but this wassss amazing 👋👋
Ananya Trivedi
September 26, 2021
Hello! hello!
I really enjoyed it !
Next I want to know about the origin of “LOL”
Shree Gowri
September 26, 2021
Very nice
Haniya bee
September 26, 2021
ii call my brother i say Hello can i wait you here
Haniya bee
September 26, 2021
Hello i am Haniya bee
NEHA chheda
September 26, 2021
Nice
Yuvti Ravindra Chaugule
September 26, 2021
Hello I am Yuvti.
The Origin Stories that Byju’s tell are wonderful.
Manpreet
September 26, 2021
Nice Story
Laxmi Prasanna
September 26, 2021
Because telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell to call his wife. Her wife’s name was Hello
Stuti Dixit
September 26, 2021
Hello is a new word, says dictionary. It was Thomas Edison who put hello into common use. Now people who use his phone say hello when answering. Alexander Graham Bell thought the better word was ahoy
Tanvi Dagar
September 26, 2021
It was a awesome theory but I want to know why we always say bye or goodbye to someone on phone or when we met them for example in a park
Mrunal Sandeep Gadhe
September 26, 2021
Very nice👌👌👌
I didn’t know about the history of ‘HELLO’🙂
But byjus help me to understand the history…?😊
Nithila
September 26, 2021
Wow! This is very interesting. Actually even when we converse in another language on the phone, the first thing we say is hello
SAURYAM
September 26, 2021
It is very good app in my class l sencod in my class because of byjus
Uday
September 26, 2021
This is useful information and interesting
Anugya Chaudhary
September 26, 2021
We sometimes used the word ‘hello’ to start a conversation. Or sometimes to ask ‘somebody is there?or not ?
{Hello}
This word is also used as one word for saying- Who is on the phone?
HIMADRI
September 26, 2021
IT IS AN AWESOME ARTICLE I HAVE FOUND EVER. HELLO THE ORGIN OF INTERACTION. HANDS OFF TO YOU SIR RAZA MEHDI…
Shashank Kumar
September 26, 2021
This is excellent
Radhika bawa
September 27, 2021
OMG! That was a nice history of ‘Hello’. my most favourite word was Good morrow how now😂I am very happy to read this, Now i will tell this to my friends and also about the myths
Rushi Priya
September 27, 2021
HELLO !!!! I am Rushi Priya and this blog is so good👍!!!
Anonymous
September 28, 2021
This was interesting to read!
Anvita Garg
September 28, 2021
Ahoy in pirates/oldentimes ,Hola in Spanish ,Bonjour in French ,Konnichiwa in Japanese ,Mihao in Chinese but saying HELLO is the best. Thank you BYJU’S for sharing this information
Arya Agarwal
September 28, 2021
Soo good. can you make an article on “the origin of Thank you?”
Or “the origin of exams?”
Aditri Das
September 28, 2021
Very nice 👌
Dhruv Hasaragundgi
September 29, 2021
ahoy!
Arnav Zunjare
September 29, 2021
Hello anyone there?
Saksham Paliwal
September 29, 2021
It is a good hello hello
For hello hello is a very beautiful world
Brikesh Pathak
September 29, 2021
That’s good
Mahi Choudhary
September 29, 2021
Very Good
Kuldeep Saini
September 30, 2021
Nice
Sumer Sandilya
September 30, 2021
Hi hello history of hello I like it
Sapana jaychand Gaikwad
October 1, 2021
oh my god hello
lokesh s pokar
October 1, 2021
hi i want a free class on byju;s
Sanyam Agarwal
October 2, 2021
Ahoy
This blog was a nice one. Thanks to Byju’s.
Increment in general knowledge. 😊
Aashna
October 2, 2021
Really nice and explanative!! Found it very interesting!!
thank you.
Mehnaz Parveen
October 3, 2021
SUPERB !! can hardly wait for another one
THANKS TO BYJUS TEAM …. 💐👍
Janhvi Hiwrale
October 3, 2021
“Hello” . Intresting.
Mardav
October 3, 2021
Best best byju is the best
Fatima
October 4, 2021
Wow nice
Vedika
October 8, 2021
Oo I like it nice good
Samrudhi Doifode
October 9, 2021
Nice and really interesting
Anishka Sharma
October 9, 2021
Please share the origin story of word “Thanks you” and “Welcome”
Lokesh
October 16, 2021
Who created word love
Mayra Fatima
October 25, 2021
Hello!! I am mayra and thizs is very interesting
P.Siddharth Rao
October 27, 2021
Hello! to all my teachers.
Ayan Misra
October 28, 2021
HELLO! Yeah, never thought about the topic but now that I think about it it’s quite interesting. And the explanation is stupendous.
Hats off!!!
~Ayan Misra
Swagat Mishra
October 28, 2021
Very very good
Riddhi Banik
October 31, 2021
AMAZING STORY. THANK YOU BYJUS GIVEING ME A BEST LEARNING
ChanamallaBhavana
November 10, 2021
Excellent story
Nitish Kumar Yadav
November 17, 2021
Very nice
Avyukth
November 20, 2021
Wow I love it very good
Aahan Dora
November 23, 2021
thank you for the truth