ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hala

interj.
C2 Proficiency ha·la Archaic Dialect

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.


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.

Origin

Borrowed from Hawaiian hala, ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *paŋdan. Doublet of pandan via Malay.

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'Hala Madrid' or as a standalone greeting in informal settings.

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