What does hi mean?
Hi is an informal English greeting used when meeting someone or acknowledging their presence. It is spoken rather than written, though “hi” also appears in casual messages and captions. The expression is shorter and less formal than “hello” and is especially associated with everyday American speech, while also being widely understood in Britain and other English-speaking communities. As a noun, “a hi” refers to the greeting itself, as in “give someone a hi.” Because it is friendly but brief, “hi” often carries a note of casual familiarity rather than solemnity or formality. It is especially useful in quick encounters, online chat, and casual correspondence. Although it can sound slightly abrupt when used without further attention, its warmth and brevity make it one of the most immediately recognizable English greetings.
An informal greeting used when meeting someone or acknowledging their presence.
"Hi, everyone—thanks for coming."
Casual and familiar; less formal than a conventional full greeting.
The informal greeting itself.
"He gave her a friendly hi."
Chiefly informal and less common in this noun use than the interjection.
The regular plural is hi's; some dictionaries also record the unmarked plural his.
"The hosts welcomed their guests with warm hi's."
The world's most efficient greeting: two letters, no small talk required.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hi come from?
The greeting appears in early 19th-century English and is generally traced to an alteration of “hie!”, an older call to hasten or move quickly. It subsequently became established as a casual greeting, particularly in American English. Its development is separate from the adjective “high,” despite the shared modern spelling.
How hi is actually used
More associated with American English, though common in informal British speech as well. It is generally warmer but more casual than a formal greeting and can sound abrupt when used without further attention or courtesy.
Easily confused with hi
Hi is an informal greeting, whereas high describes considerable height or the upper part of something.