adj
helluva
HEH-luh-vuh
Helluva (adj) means Informal: remarkable, impressive, or extreme — a slurred form of "a hell of a". Example: “That was a helluva performance.”
adj
1
Informal: remarkable, impressive, or extreme — a slurred form of "a hell of a".
"That was a helluva performance."
"We had a helluva time getting the car started."
"They had a helluva row over where to spend the weekend."
"Where were you? - Lost in Paris. - Wow! Helluva place to get lost!"
How to use helluva
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual way of saying something is impressively good, bad, or extreme.
When to use it
Very informal; used mainly in speech and casual writing.
Common pairings
a helluva job
a helluva lot
a helluva time
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That was a _____ performance.
Etymology
A written spelling of the relaxed pronunciation of "hell of a".
Frequently asked questions
What does “helluva” mean?
The word “helluva” means informal: remarkable, impressive, or extreme — a slurred form of "a hell of a". In plain terms, a casual way of saying something is impressively good, bad, or extreme.
How do you pronounce “helluva”?
“Helluva” is pronounced HEH-luh-vuh (/ˈhɛləvə/ in IPA).
How do you use “helluva” in a sentence?
Here is “helluva” used in a sentence: “That was a helluva performance.”
What part of speech is “helluva”?
“Helluva” is an adjective.
