hei

Hei is a common informal greeting in Norwegian and Finnish. In Norwegian, it is used as a casual hello in everyday conversation, messages, and public signage. In Finnish, hei serves as a neutral greeting or a way to attract attention in spoken language and written communication.

Pronunciation in both languages is close to the English word “hey.” In Norwegian it is typically pronounced as /hei/, and in Finnish as /ˈhei/. The vowel pair ei is central to the sound in both forms.

Etymology and usage context vary by language. In Norwegian, hei is descended from historical greetings rooted in expressions related to health and well-being, reflecting a traditional sense of wishing someone good health. In Finnish, hei is a long-established interjection in Finnic languages used to greet someone or to call attention, with no single settled origin.

Other uses of the term hei may appear in personal names, transliterations, or titles in various languages, but this article concentrates on its role as a spoken and written greeting.

See also: hej, hi, hello.