Hello vs Hey vs Hi

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Hello

High-frequency chunk A1

Hey

Informal Top 1,000 (very common) A1 exclamation

Hi

Informal High-frequency chunk A1 exclamation

Most formal: Hello

	Hello	Hey	Hi
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/həˈləʊ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/həˈləʊ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/heɪ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/heɪ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/haɪ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/haɪ/"]/
Meaning	A word used to greet someone.	A casual greeting used to say hello.	A casual way to greet someone.
Example	Hello John, how are you?	Hey, can I just ask you something?	Hi guys!
Register	Neutral	Informal	Informal
How common	High-frequency chunk	Top 1,000 (very common)	High-frequency chunk
CEFR level	A1	A1	A1
Part of speech		exclamation	exclamation
Collocations	say hello, hello there, hello everyone, hello friend, hello world	say hey, hey there, hey buddy, hey dude	say hi, wave hi, hi there
Antonyms	goodbye, farewell	goodbye, farewell, bye	bye, goodbye, farewell, see you
Common mistakes	Using 'hello' in overly formal situations., Confusing 'hello' with 'hi' for informal contexts., Not varying the greeting based on time of day.	Using 'hey' in formal emails or letters., Spelling it as 'hay' when greeting someone.	Using 'hi' in overly formal contexts., Spelling it as 'hey' which is more informal., Confusing with 'hello' which is slightly more formal.
Usage notes	Use 'hello' in most situations when greeting someone. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using in very formal settings where a greeting like 'good afternoon' might be more appropriate.	Primarily used in informal situations among friends or acquaintances. It's less appropriate in formal contexts or professional settings. Avoid using it with people you don't know well.	Used among friends and in casual settings. Avoid in formal situations like interviews or professional meetings.

See it in real clips

Top Gear › S1 E1

Hello.

Stranger Things › S1 E1

- MIKE: You’re disgusting! - Hello?

Top Gear › S1 E1

Hello.

Stranger Things › S1 E1

- MIKE: You’re disgusting! - Hello?

Hello

Succession › S1 E1

Hey!

Hey

Frequently asked questions: Hello vs Hey vs Hi

What's the difference between Hello, Hey, and Hi?

Hello: A word used to greet someone. Hey: A casual greeting used to say hello. Hi: A casual way to greet someone.

Which is more formal: Hello, Hey, and Hi?

Hello is the most formal of these.

Are Hello, Hey, and Hi the same CEFR level?

Hello: A1, Hey: A1, Hi: A1 on the CEFR scale.

Can you show an example of each?

Hello: Hello John, how are you? Hey: Hey, can I just ask you something? Hi: Hi guys!

Can I use Hello, Hey, and Hi interchangeably?

Not always. Hello, Hey, and Hi are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.