hi
hi
Pronunciation
/haɪ/
Syllable Breakdown:
hi:
/h/ (as in "hat")
/aɪ/ (as in "eye")
Word Form Variations
"Hi" is primarily an interjection and does not typically have variations for singular, plural, or different verb tenses in the same way nouns or verbs do. It remains "hi" regardless of the context. While less common, it can be used as a noun in very specific, informal contexts (e.g., "She gave a quick hi"), but even then, it doesn't pluralize in the conventional sense
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Interjection
Definition 1: Used as a friendly, informal greeting to acknowledge the presence of another person or to initiate a conversation.
Synonyms: hello, hey, greetings, salutations (formal)
Antonyms: goodbye, bye, farewell
Noun
Definition 1 (Informal): An act or instance of saying "hi"; a brief greeting.
Synonyms: greeting, salutation, hello
Antonyms: farewell, goodbye
Examples of Use
Books:
" 'Hi,' she said, a little breathlessly, as he opened the door. 'I hope I'm not disturbing you.' " (Fictional Dialogue, The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah)
"He extended a hand. 'Hi, I'm Alex. Nice to meet you.' " (Fictional Dialogue, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn)
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"Say 'hi' to your new neighbor: How a community garden is fostering connections." (Headline, The New York Times, specific article unavailable, but representative of common usage)
"In a brief video message, the pop star simply waved and said, 'Hi everyone, hope you're all having a great day!'" (Quote from an entertainment news report, e.g., E! Online or People.com)
"Tech giant unveils new AI assistant: 'It can even say hi in multiple languages,' boasts CEO." (News report on a tech website, e.g., TechCrunch or Wired)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television/Film: (Visual and Auditory)
A character entering a room and casually saying, "Hi, Mom," to their parent. (Common in sitcoms and family dramas)
In a romantic comedy, one character shyly approaches another and mutters, "Hi."
Social Media:
Instagram/Facebook Caption: "Just saying hi from my vacation! 👋 #travel #beachlife" (User-generated content)
Twitter/X: "New follower? Hi there! Thanks for joining the conversation." (Public figure or brand engaging with audience)
TikTok/YouTube: "Hi guys, welcome back to my channel!" (Opening line for countless vlogs and content creators)
Video Games:
Non-player character (NPC) greeting the player: "Hi, adventurer. How can I help you?" (Common in role-playing games)
In-game chat: "Hi everyone, anyone up for a match?" (Player-to-player communication)
General Public Discourse:
Everyday Conversation: "Hi, how are you doing today?" (Common face-to-face greeting)
Phone Call: "Hi, is [Name] there?" (Opening of a typical phone conversation)
Customer Service: "Hi, welcome to [Store Name]. Can I help you find anything?" (Greeting from a retail employee)
Public Speaking (Informal): "Hi everyone, thanks for coming!" (Opening of a casual presentation or speech)
Text Messaging: "Hi, what's up?" (Common informal text message)
10 Famous Quotes Using Hi
"Hi diddle diddle, The Cat and the Fiddle, The Cow jumped over the Moon." (Nursery Rhyme, Hey Diddle Diddle)
"Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go." (Song, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
"Well, hi, there, stranger." (Common conversational phrase, widely used in various media, difficult to attribute to a single source)
"If I said 'hi,' you'd say 'hello.' " (Metaphorical use from a lyric in "Hello Goodbye" by The Beatles)
"And so, hi, I'm a student of yours, and I'd like to ask a question." (Lesser-known, but illustrative of direct address, often heard in academic or Q&A settings)
"Hi, I'm Johnny Knoxville, and welcome to Jackass!" (Johnny Knoxville, Jackass television series and films)
"Just wanted to say hi!" (Common informal closing in messages or brief encounters, unattributable to a single source)
"Oh, hi, Mark." (Tommy Wiseau, The Room)
"And then, from the other side of the room, he just called out, 'Hi!' " (Lesser-known, but representative of a simple, direct greeting in literature or personal anecdotes)
"Hi-de-ho, everybody!" (Cab Calloway, common opening for his performances and in reference to his song "Minnie the Moocher")
Etymology
The word "hi" is a relatively newer addition to the English language compared to some other greetings. It essentially came from older words that people used to get someone's attention.
Think of it this way: people have always had sounds they make to get someone to look their way or to acknowledge them. "Hi" is like a softened-down version of those older shouts.
Its first known uses were around the 15th century in Middle English, often spelled as "hy" or "hey." At that time, its main meaning wasn't necessarily a friendly greeting as we know it today, but more of an exclamation to call attention. Imagine someone shouting "Hey!" across a field to get someone to turn around.
It wasn't until much later, around 1862 in American English, that "hi" really started being recorded as the informal greeting we use all the time now. So, while its roots are in a simple attention-getting sound, it evolved over centuries to become the friendly, casual "hello" we use every day.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Hi
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "hi," supplemented with lesser-known ones and those using synonyms for similar effect:
Hi-def (or Hi-definition): Referring to high definition, especially in electronics and media.
Hi-fi (or Hi-fidelity): Referring to high fidelity, particularly in audio equipment.
Hi-lo: A term indicating a varying or alternating level, from high to low.
Hi-tech (or High-tech): Referring to high technology.
Give a hi-five: To slap palms together as a gesture of greeting, celebration, or agreement.
Hi-ho: An exclamation often used to express cheerfulness or as a call to action (as in "Hi-ho, silver!").
Wave hi: To wave one's hand as a greeting.
Say hi: To offer a greeting.
Big hello: An enthusiastic greeting (using a synonym for "hi").
Shout a greeting: To call out a hello loudly.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of hi from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
