What does holla mean?
Holla means to make a loud cry or call out, and it can also name the shout itself. The word has a forceful, energetic quality: someone holla may be trying to attract attention, express excitement, greet another person, or simply make a noise heard over a distance. It is closely related to holler, which is more common in contemporary American English, but holla can sound more deliberate, emphatic, or informal. A further greeting sense is associated particularly with some African American English speakers, though the word's use in that context should reflect the speaker's own community and register. In ordinary descriptions of noise, holla is vivid because it captures the volume and social energy of a call rather than merely the act of speaking loudly.
A loud shout or cry.
"A holla from the crowd announced the winner."
Informal and expressive; often used with give, raise, or let out.
To shout or call out loudly, especially to attract attention or greet someone.
"She hollaed our names from the porch."
Common in informal American English; the word is also used in some African American English greetings.
The regular plural is rarely necessary because the word is usually used in the singular for a single shout.
"The distance swallowed their hollas."
Holla preserves the old-fashioned ring of a shouted call, but today it is most often heard as a lively alternative to holler.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does holla come from?
Holla is a variant of holler, a word used for a shout or cry. The form hollo also appears historically in expressions such as holla hey, helping to establish the word in older English. Holler and its variants developed as expressive forms associated with calling out and greeting.
How holla is actually used
Holla is informal and expressive. It is especially associated with American English and with the greeting sense used in some African American speech communities; its use in the latter sense may be unfamiliar or inappropriate outside that context.
Easily confused with holla
Holla and holler are closely related words for a shout; holler is the more common form, especially in American English, while holla is often a more emphatic or stylized variant.