What does hey mean?
Hey is a familiar English interjection used primarily as an informal greeting, as in “Hey, how are you?” It can also call someone’s attention, interrupt an interaction, or introduce a reaction such as surprise, excitement, annoyance, or realization: “Hey, look at that!” Because it is short, direct, and emotionally flexible, hey is especially common in casual conversation and electronic messaging. Its punctuation and context help determine its tone: a comma usually accompanies a greeting, while an exclamation mark can emphasize surprise, urgency, or irritation. Although closely related in sound to hay, hey is not an ordinary noun and has no standard plural. The word is generally understood throughout the United States and Britain, though it belongs to informal speech more than to formal writing. Its usefulness lies in its economy: it can acknowledge another person, seek their attention, or react to an unexpected development without requiring a full sentence.
interjectionAn informal expression used as a greeting or to attract someone's attention, sometimes with an additional tone of surprise, annoyance, or enthusiasm.
- An informal greeting used when meeting someone or beginning a conversation.
- An exclamation used to attract attention, interrupt, or signal that something has happened.
- An expression of surprise, excitement, annoyance, or sudden realization, often depending on the surrounding words and intonation.
"Hey, I was hoping you could help me with something."
"Hey, it's been ages!"
"Hey, watch out—the glass is right there."
One syllable can say hello, call someone over, or sound a warning: hey is among English's most versatile everyday interjections.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hey come from?
The exact origin of hey is uncertain, and its development is disputed. It has often been connected with the older greeting hail, but the derivation is not secure enough to assign confidently to one language or root. In modern English, it is firmly established as both a casual greeting and an attention-getting exclamation.
How hey is actually used
Hey is casual and familiar rather than formal. It is common in conversation, informal writing, and text messages; its tone can range from warm and playful to insistent or mildly irritated.
Easily confused with hey
Hay is dried grass used as animal feed, whereas hey is an informal greeting or an exclamation used to get someone's attention.