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
1
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
1
Used on its own as an emphatic "yes" or strong agreement.
""Are you coming tonight?" "Hella.""
How to use hella
Learner’s notesIn 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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Etymology
Slang that started in Northern California, originally a shortening of "a hell of a" (lot).
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for hella
See all rhymes for hella →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.
