Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (73 page)

hey 1
.
a word used to get someone's attention; a sentence opener that catches someone's attention. (Informal. Words such as this often use intonation to convey the connotation of the sentence that is to follow. The brief intonation pattern accompanying the word may indicate sarcasm, disagreement, caution, consolation, sternness, etc. See also say. Often
Hey
!
when used alone.)
B
ILL
: Hey, Tom. Over here. I'm over here by the tree. T
OM
: Hi, Bill. What's up?
T
OM
: Hey, who are you? M
ARY
: Who do you think, Tom?
“Hey, let's go for a ride!” cried little Billy
.
B
OB
: Hey, stop that! A
LICE
: Gee! What did I do?
“Hey, look out!” warned Henry
.
F
RED
: Hey, come over here. B
OB
: What do you want?
F
RED
: Hey, come here, Bob! B
OB
: What's up?
2
.
Hello! (A Southern U.S. greeting.)
M
ARY
: Hey, Bill. B
ILL
: Hey, Mary. What's up?
J
ANE
: Hey! M
ARY
: Hey! J
ANE
: You okay? M
ARY
: Wonderful!

Hi
!
Hello! (Very common.)
“Hi! What's cooking?” asked Tom
.
B
ILL
: Hi, Tom. How are you? T
OM
: Fine. How are you doing?
F
RED
: Hi, old buddy. Give me some skin. T
OM
: Good to see you, man.

Hiya
!
Hello! (Very informal. From
Hi to you.
)
H
ENRY
: Hiya, chum. What are you doing? B
ILL
: Nothing
.
J
OHN
: Hey, man! How's by you? B
OB
: Hiya! Nothing much.