Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

hello girl

/hɛˈloʊ ˌɡɝl/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.63 in modern English

Syllables: hel-lo girl
IPA: /hɛˈloʊ ˌɡɝl/

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A female telephone operator.

Dated; Informal

Example Sentences

"The latest model of the multiple switch-board is in position, and in a few days the "Hello" girls will render complete the inside view of a modern telephone exchange."
"Surely, we must include the Long-Distance Telephone among the electrical achievements of the year. And if we may add the automatic switch-board, by which the services of the "hello-girl" are to be dispensed with; and if the new company, just formed in Chicago, fulfill its promise to give us telephone service at half the present rates, it will afford us an illustration of "applied science," which I am sure we shall be quick to appreciate."
"The humblest hello-girl along ten thousand miles of wire could teach gentleness, patience, modesty, manners, to the highest duchess in Arthur's land."
"Now imagine that the main automatic exchange is out of service and all those calls have to be made the old-fashioned way, by hello girls, taking ten times as long."

Etymology

From the fact that the telephone operators would greet callers with “Hello” when contacted.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /hɛˈloʊ ˌɡɝl/
British English: /həˈləʊ ˌɡɜːl/

Usage

Inflected Forms

hello girls (plural)

Synonyms

telephone girl

Questions

How do you pronounce hello girl?: The recorded pronunciation is /hɛˈloʊ ˌɡɝl/.
What does hello girl mean?: A female telephone operator.
Where does hello girl come from?: From the fact that the telephone operators would greet callers with “Hello” when contacted.

How to pronounce hello girl

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “hello girl”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/hɛˈloʊ ˌɡɝl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “hello girl”.
Repeat and practice — Say “hello girl” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.