# ahoy

/əˈhɔɪ/ (US) · /ɐhˈɔɪ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ahoy
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a friendly way to say hello, often used by sailors or in a playful way. It is a bit old-fashioned and sounds like a pirate greeting.

For teachers: a greeting used by sailors or in a lighthearted manner to attract attention. Often used in nautical contexts or as a humorous alternative to 'hello'.

## Examples

- Ahoy, mate! How are you today?
- The captain shouted 'Ahoy' as the ship finally came into view of the harbor.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.