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hoy

hoy

8 9.9
A loud old-fashioned call to get someone's attention
  • interjection
  • /hɔɪ/
  • Archaic
: ¡eh!
  • Hoy, hoy.
  • hoy, ahoy
  • hoy, hop
  • saying 'hoy'

Then I was going to I was going to be like Hoy, but then I didn't.

Examples

Synonyms

hey
vshoy
  • Informal
∞ 3.6

A short informal call to get someone's attention, greet, or show feelings such as surprise and annoyance

is older and more old style than this modern informal call
hiya
vshoy
  • UK
82 8.0

A friendly, informal way to say hello

is older and less familiar in tone than this warm greeting
hola
vshoy
60 7.8

A friendly call to get someone's attention or say hello

is older and not tied to this widely used greeting form
yoo
vshoy
  • Informal
41 9.9

A short shout people use to greet someone or get their attention

is older and less current than this casual greeting or call
looky
vshoy
  • Informal
29 9.9

You say it to get someone to look at something you see

is older and focuses on addressing a person rather than pointing
oye
vshoy
  • Informal
21 9.9

A spoken call in Spanish used to get someone's attention

is older English usage rather than a culturally specific call
holla
vshoy
  • Slang
10 9.9

A short, informal shout to greet someone or get attention

is older in style rather than this informal shouted greeting
lookee
vshoy
  • Informal
9 9.9

A short word people say to get attention to something surprising or important

is older and aimed at calling a person rather than pointing out things
hoi
vshoy
  • UK
7 9.9

A short shout to get attention, for example to show surprise or annoyance

is older in tone rather than showing surprise or disapproval
ahoy
vshoy
6 8.5

A shout sailors make to greet or get attention at sea

is older in general use rather than a nautical shout
heya
vshoy
  • Informal
5 8.6

A friendly informal way to say hello

is older and less friendly sounding than this casual greeting
woa
vshoy
  • Informal
5 9.9

A short shout showing surprise or asking for attention

is older and more formal sounding than this surprised exclamation
hallo
vshoy
  • UK
5 1.0

A short friendly word used to greet someone or get their attention

is older in style rather than the regular modern greeting
yoy
vshoy
  • Informal
5 9.9

An excited shout used to say hello to someone

is older and less enthusiastic in tone than this casual shout
hullo
vshoy
  • UK
2 8.6

A friendly greeting used to get someone's attention

is older and more old style than this neutral contemporary call
yos
vshoy
  • Slang
2 9.9

A casual greeting shouted to say hello or get someone's attention

is older and more restrained than this excited informal greeting
hia
vshoy
  • UK
1 9.9

A friendly informal greeting to say hello

is older in phrasing rather than this casual friendly greeting

Surface Forms

hoy main

Etymology

Hoy as a shout is an old call, like the English hey, used to get someone's attention. That's why people would cry hoy to call across a deck or a field.