Hello is a salutation or
greeting in the English language and is synonymous with other greetings such as Hi or Hey. Hello
was recorded in dictionaries in 1883.<1> First use Many stories date the first use of hello (with that spelling) to around the time of the invention of the
telephone in 1876. It was however used in print in Roughing It by Mark Twain in 1872 (written between 1870 and 1871),<2> so its first use must have predated the telephone: "A miner came out and said: ''Hello!''" Earlier uses can be found back to 1849.<3> It was listed in dictionaries by 1883.<1> The word was extensively used in literature by the 1860s.<4> Two early uses of hello can be found as far back as 1826.<5> Report on the trade in foreign corn, and on the agriculture of the north of Europe. by William Jacob, 1826. page 213 "On this occasion she switched it on to a patient who was awake and who merely said ''Hello Sister, what''s the matter with you...''" The Every-day Book: Or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastime, Ceremonies,...By William Hone, 1826 Page 1370 "Then hello boys! Hello boys! Shout and huzz.... Telephone The word hello is also credited to Thomas Edison specifically as a way to greet someone when answering the telephone; according to one source due to expressing his surprise with a misheard Hullo.<7>
Alexander Graham Bell initially used Ahoy (as used on ships) as a telephone
greeting.<8> However, in 1877, Edison wrote to T.B.A. David, the president of the Central District and Printing Telegraph Company of Pittsburg: "Friend David, I do not think we shall need a call bell as Hello! can be heard 10 to 20 feet away. What you think? Edison - P.S. first cost of sender & receiver to manufacture is only $7.00." By 1889 central telephone exchange operators were known as ''hello-girls'' due to the association between the greeting and the telephone.<1>