Word
hala
Phoneticsha·la
Definition
interj. a word used in Arabic-speaking cultures to say 'welcome' or to tell someone to hurry up. It is often used to show excitement or to encourage someone to start moving.
interj. an Arabic loanword used as a greeting or an exhortation to action. Often functions as a synonym for 'welcome' or 'let's go' in multicultural English contexts.
Examples
“Hala! Please come inside and join us for dinner.”
“As the players walked onto the pitch, the fans shouted 'Hala!' to encourage them to start the match with energy.”
“The term hala has transcended its linguistic origins to become a recognizable marker of hospitality and collective enthusiasm in diverse urban centers.”
Examples
simple
“Hala! Please come inside and join us for dinner.”
contextual
“As the players walked onto the pitch, the fans shouted 'Hala!' to encourage them to start the match with energy.”
complex
“The term hala has transcended its linguistic origins to become a recognizable marker of hospitality and collective enthusiasm in diverse urban centers.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'Hala Madrid' or as a standalone greeting in informal settings.
Etymology
Borrowed from Hawaiian hala, ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *paŋdan. Doublet of pandan via Malay.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/hala