verb
heil
hyl
Heil (verb) means to greet someone with the raised-arm "Sieg Heil" salute, historically associated with Nazi Germany. Example: “Newsreels showed the crowd heiling as the motorcade passed.”
verb
1
To greet someone with the raised-arm "Sieg Heil" salute, historically associated with Nazi Germany.
"Newsreels showed the crowd heiling as the motorcade passed."
noun
1
The raised-arm salute and greeting itself.
"The soldier gave a stiff heil before stepping back into line."
How to use heil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe Nazi-era salute and greeting, or the act of performing it.
When to use it
Strongly associated with Nazi Germany; used in modern English almost exclusively in historical, documentary, or critical contexts.
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Word forms
- Plural
- heils
- Third person singular
- heils
- Past tense
- heiled
Fill the gap
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Newsreels showed the crowd _____ as the motorcade passed.
Etymology
Borrowed from German heil ("hail, whole, healthy"), the same ancient root that gives English "whole," "hail," and "hale."
Rhymes for heil
See all rhymes for heil →Frequently asked questions
What does “heil” mean?
The word “heil” means to greet someone with the raised-arm "Sieg Heil" salute, historically associated with Nazi Germany. In plain terms, the Nazi-era salute and greeting, or the act of performing it.
How do you pronounce “heil”?
“Heil” is pronounced hyl (/haɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “heil” in a sentence?
Here is “heil” used in a sentence: “Newsreels showed the crowd heiling as the motorcade passed.”
What part of speech is “heil”?
Depending on how it is used, “heil” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “heil” come from?
The word “heil” comes from German. Borrowed from German heil ("hail, whole, healthy"), the same ancient root that gives English "whole," "hail," and "hale.".
How many meanings does “heil” have?
“Heil” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to greet someone with the raised-arm "Sieg Heil" salute, historically associated with Nazi Germany.
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