hey
The English phrase "oi" can be translated into German as hey.
hey is used as an informal way to greet someone or to get a person's attention.
Did you know?
- Unlike the English 'oi', which is often associated with working-class London slang, the German 'hey' is perceived as an international, middle-class borrowing.
- The word hey is part of a wider trend called 'Denglisch', where English words are integrated into German grammar. While hey is an exclamation, other borrowed terms are often conjugated as if they were native German verbs.
- In many German regions, shouting hey to get attention can sound much more aggressive or rude than it does in English.
Examples in context
- Hey, wie geht es dir?Hey, how are you?
- Hey, schau mal da!Hey, look over there!
- Hey, bist du fertig?Hey, are you ready?
Example conversation
Felix and Julia meet at a cafe.
- FelixHey, Julia! Schön dich zu sehen.Hey, Julia! Great to see you.
- JuliaHallo Felix! Wie läuft es?Hello Felix! How is it going?
- FelixAlles super, danke der Nachfrage.Everything is great, thanks for asking.
- JuliaDas freut mich sehr.I am very glad to hear that.
