hey

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈheɪ/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/heɪ/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(hā)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
hey /heɪ/USA pronunciation   interj. 
  1. This word is used to call attention or to express pleasure, surprise, bewilderment, etc.:Hey, come back here, you!

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
hey  (hā),USA pronunciation interj. 
  1. (used as an exclamation to call attention or to express pleasure, surprise, bewilderment, etc.)
  2. Dialect Terms[Southern U.S. Informal.]hello: used as a greeting.
  • Middle English hei 1150–1200

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
hey /heɪ/ interj
  1. an expression indicating surprise, dismay, discovery, etc, or calling for another's attention
  2. South African an exclamation used for emphasis at the end of a statement, or alone to seek repetition or confirmation of another person's statement
  3. hey prestoan exclamation used by conjurors to herald the climax of a trick
Etymology: 13th Century: compare Old French hay, German hei, Swedish hej
'hey' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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