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

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."

How to use helluva

Learner’s notes

In 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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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.