adv Uncommon

hella

HEHL-uh

Hella (adv) means Informal: very, extremely, or a lot — used to intensify an adjective or verb. Example: “That movie was hella good.”

adv

Informal: very, extremely, or a lot — used to intensify an adjective or verb.

"That movie was hella good."

"He hella overreacted to a simple question."

intj

Used on its own as an emphatic "yes" or strong agreement.

""Are you coming tonight?" "Hella.""

How to use hella

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA casual slang word meaning "extremely" or "a lot", big in West Coast US speech.

When to use it

Very informal — fine in speech and texting, out of place in formal writing.

Common pairings

hella good hella tired hella people

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That movie was _____ good.

Etymology

Slang that started in Northern California, originally a shortening of "a hell of a" (lot).

Rhymes for hella

Ella Bella Della Fella Stella paella Capella Estella Louella Nutella Cruella umbrella

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Frequently asked questions

What does “hella” mean?

The word “hella” means informal: very, extremely, or a lot — used to intensify an adjective or verb. In plain terms, a casual slang word meaning "extremely" or "a lot", big in West Coast US speech.

How do you pronounce “hella”?

“Hella” is pronounced HEHL-uh (/ˈhɛl.ə/ in IPA).

How do you use “hella” in a sentence?

Here is “hella” used in a sentence: “That movie was hella good.”

What part of speech is “hella”?

Depending on how it is used, “hella” can be an adverb and an intj.

Is “hella” a common word?

“Hella” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “hella” have?

“Hella” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal: very, extremely, or a lot — used to intensify an adjective or verb.