Do anyone knows when they word hey lost it’s meaning for getting someone’‘s attention? Nowadays it just seams to be used as a greeting word. But what to say if you want to get someone’'s attention? It puzzles me. I expect a person to stop when saying that word.
Well in Sweden that word has always been used for getting someone’s attention but not among hard of hearing people and people who works with hard of hearing people. When someone says hey, we expect them to stop. Sometimes we waves at the person too if he has a grave hearing loss.
As far as I know, to draw somebody’s attention in a polite way, the phrase “Excuse me” is used. You just come to a person you don’t know and start with “Excuse me,Sir/Madam.”
“Hey” is widely used to get attention in an informal environment. “Hey there, come over.” But it should be used only if you know the person you are addressing and your relationship allows that. I would not say it to your boss, no matter how well you know him or her:):)Also, mind your intonation. It can sound harsh.
In Australia they say “Oi” for some reason.:)
Hope, it helps.
P.S. Do not what to sound like a teacher, but you should say “Does anyone know?” and “its meaning,” as it is possessive case.
I thought that word was used before only in the USA. I have heard it on the telly. A person says hey, hey and then the other stops. But these words are not translated on the subtitles. I just hear these words as it is an interjection but I don’t understand what they say next so I am very happy for the subtitles.
/Maria
You’re right about the use of “Hey” to mean “Hi”. In the US, it is not at all unusual to hear “Hey” instead of “Hi” nowadays. “Hey” is also still used to get someone’s attention, but of course the intonation will be different.
I’d guess that people here in the US have been using “Hey” as a very informal way to say “hello” for at least 20 years now.
Interestingly, Dictionary.com suggests that this usage is limited to the southern US, but it is definitely more widespread than that. People in the northeast regularly use “hey” to say “hello” as well. It’s just one of many possible ways to greet someone casually. dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Hey&r=66
Hello Natasha,
Have you also heard the Aussies using “noi” instead of “no”?
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I was unsure if I would use the word somebody or someone thats why I forgot to write in the first person I think. I am both Swedish and hard of hearing so thats why this word still puzzles me. I can’t hear the difference in intonation.
/Maria
I feel it too, as you mean.
In Germany also, it is a tradition and an etiquette of behaviour to say: ‘Excuse me please’, … “Bitte entschuldigen Sie, …” or “Entschuldigung, …”.
But it is getting widespread to use, ‘Hi’ or accasionally ‘Hey’.
It is an American way of talking. I pressume it was derived from the slang of cowboys there, who knew each other as comrades in rough life and as such their language was also rough. Usually it was in usage to drive the cattle and animals saying: ‘Hey’!
In some countries it is considered as respectless. To say ‘Hey’ is impolite, would be quite OK to call Hallo, (H)olla in Spanish, Please in Germany, Mr./Md. in UK, etc. But that’s it! Everywhere Americanization!
I use to say “hey” when I want someone’s attention at a counter at a shop, and it works. I don’t like to use the Swedish word “hallå” it almost sounds like hallo. I hate both this words. Hi is a better word then hallo. In Sweden we use the word hej sounds the same as hey. In Sweden the word hej has always been used among hearing people for greeting someone.
Many hard of hearing people in Sweden shout hey, hej and start waving at the person and we hard of hearing always stop and wait for the other persons reaction. It’s the same with people who works with deaf and hard of hearing people. They stop too when they are together with deaf and hard of hearing people and someone is saying hey.
/Maria
When I was in Sweden years ago. I remember people often say “heyso” or “du” or something like that to draw attention. I had never asked what exactly the words are because when I talked to them we speak English. But I am quite curious to know.
Thanks.
Sandsoppa (my nickname is a name of mushroom in Swedish).
