Word Interjection
howdy
interj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈhaʊdi/ UK /hˈaʊdi/ howdy UK spelling howdied, howdying
Definition
interj.a friendly way to say hello to someone. It is a casual greeting used mostly in certain parts of the United States.
interj.a casual greeting used as a contraction of 'how do ye' or 'how do you do'. Primarily associated with Southern and Western American English dialects.
Examples
“Howdy, it is nice to meet you.”
“The shopkeeper gave a cheerful howdy to every customer who walked through the door.”
Usage
Used as a standalone greeting or followed by a name; informal in register.
Etymology
Clipping of howdy-do, from how-d'ye-do (“how do you do”).
Unknown.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated