'Hullo, hillo, holla': The 600-year-old origins of the word 'hello'
'Hullo, hillo, holla': The 600-year-old origins of the word 'hello'
This article delves into the 200-year history of the word "hello" in print, tracing its origins back to 15th-century Old High German and French roots. It explores the evolution of "hello" and other greetings across cultures, highlighting how their pronunciation, spelling, and usage reflect social norms and are continuously reshaped by digital communication.
Note
i like the caveat that we shouldn't read too much into what a greeting says about society or culture, but rather to focus on what it says about the two people greeting each other.
Published
2026
Summary
This article delves into the 200-year history of the word "hello" in print, tracing its origins back to 15th-century Old High German and French roots. It explores the evolution of "hello" and other greetings across cultures, highlighting how their pronunciation, spelling, and usage reflect social norms and are continuously reshaped by digital communication.
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