What does “hi” mean?

hi


Oh, easy one — this is a great place to start!

"Hi" is just a friendly, casual way to say hello. It's how you greet someone when you see them or start a conversation.

It's super common in everyday life. Like, you walk into work and see a coworker — you just say "Hi!" and smile. Or you start a text message with "Hi Sarah, how are you?" It works with friends, family, coworkers, even strangers sometimes.

"Hi" is a little more casual than "hello." So with a boss or someone you don't know well, some people might say "hello" instead — but honestly, "hi" is fine in most situations these days. You could even make it warmer by adding a name, like "Hi Tom!" or stretch it out like "Hiii!" when you're really excited to see someone.

It's basically the most natural, everyday way to greet someone in English! 😊

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