How to pronounce hello
Say it like huh-LOH. Hello has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hello. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- huh
- LOH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hello pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- huhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of hello
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: heh-LOH.
What does hello mean?
- an expression of greeting“every morning they exchanged polite hellos”
Where does hello come from?
The Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster Dictionary also suggested that it is a variant of holla, a variant of holloo.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with hello
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hello.
Questions about saying hello
How do you pronounce hello?
Say huh-LOH. The American pronunciation is /həˈloʊ/. In British English it is /hɛˈləʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hello?
Hello has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOH). Broken into parts: huh · LOH.
Is hello pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /hɛˈləʊ/ (heh-LOH).