Word 'Hey' in Other Languages
- Hey in Assamese অসমীয়া
- Hey in Bengali বাংলা
- Hey in Bodo बड़ो
- Hey in Dogri डोगरी
- Hey in English
- Hey in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
- Hey in Hindi हिन्दी
- Hey in Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ
- Hey in Kashmiri कॉशुर
- Hey in Konkani कोंकणी
- Hey in Maithili মৈথিলী
- Hey in Malayalam മലയാളം
- Hey in Manipuri মৈতৈলোন্
- Hey in Marathi मराठी
- Hey in Nepali नेपाली
- Hey in Oriya ଓଡ଼ିଆ
- Hey in Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
- Hey in Sanskrit संस्कृतम्
- Hey in Santali
- Hey in Sindhi سنڌي
- Hey in Tamil தமிழ்
- Hey in Telugu తెలుగు
- Hey in Urdu اُردُو
Hey
Part of Speech
Interjection
Pronunciation
IPA: /heɪ/
Phonetic: HAY
Definitions
- Used to attract attention or express surprise.
- A casual greeting similar to "hello."
- Used to express annoyance or concern.
Usage Examples
- Hey! Look over here!
- Hey, how have you been?
- Hey! That was my seat!
Etymology
Originates from Middle English "hei," used as an exclamation to call attention. Related to Old Norse "hei" and Old High German "hei."
Synonyms
- Hello
- Hi
- Yo
- Oi
- Heya
Antonyms
- Goodbye
- Farewell
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | ¡Oye! | /ˈoʝe/ |
| French | Hé! | /e/ |
| German | Hey! | /haɪ/ |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 嘿 (hēi) | /hei̯/ |
| Hindi | अरे! (are!) | /əɾe/ |
| Tamil | ஹே! (hē!) | /heɪ/ |
| Bengali | এই! (ei!) | /eɪ/ |
| More languages... | ... | ... |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
In American English, "hey" is often pronounced with a clear long "a" sound. In some British dialects, it may sound more like "hay" with a softer ending.
Historical Usage
Used since medieval times as an exclamation for attention. It evolved into a casual greeting in the 20th century.
Cultural Nuances
"Hey" can be friendly, informal, or abrupt depending on the tone of voice and context.
More Information
The word "hey" is widely used in informal conversations across cultures. It is also common in song lyrics, movies, and social media. The tone and context determine whether it conveys friendliness, excitement, or annoyance.