Microblog Memes @lemmy.world The Picard Maneuver @startrek.website 11 mo. ago

Nobody says it anymore

I've heard it explained that "hey" used to be more of an urgent way to get someone's attention, rather than a casual "hello" like it is now, so it sounded rude to some older folks.

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Isn’t that just Swedish for “hello”, brought here by Swedish immigrants?
- No, it's been in English since Old English, but is cognate with Swedish hej.
- Hej is definitely Swedish for hello. Not sure about the etymology of hey in America but it certainly makes sense.

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