# hi

> English word · Interjection · IPA /haɪ/ · frequency rank #1,079

## Definitions
1. A friendly, informal, casual greeting said upon someone's arrival.
2. An exclamation to call attention.
3. Expressing wonder or derision.

## Etymology
American English. First recorded reference is to speech of a Kansas Indian (1862); originally to attract attention, probably a variant of Middle English hey, hy (circa 1475). Also an exclamation to call attention. See hey.

## Easily confused with
- **ho** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-ho)
- **HR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hr)
- **HP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hp)
- **hm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hm)
- **HQ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hq)
- **Hu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hu)
- **HK** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hk)
- **hv** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hv)
- **hn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hn)
- **his** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-his)
- **how** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-how)
- **him** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-him)
- **hit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hit)
- **hot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hot)
- **hip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hip)
- **hop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hop)
- **huh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-huh)
- **HIV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hiv)
- **hmm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hmm)
- **hug** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hi-vs-hug)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hi