hej (Swedish)

Where does "hej" come from?

The Swedish interjection 'hej' is an expressive term with a natural exclamatory origin[1]. It traces its roots to the Latin 'hei' which signifies 'oh' or 'ah'[1][2]. The word subsequently entered the language via Old Norse 'hei', with likely influence from Low German 'hei' or German 'hei'[1]. First appearing in written records in 1541, it has evolved to function as a versatile greeting for both hello and bye, as well as an expression of intensity or a filler[1].

Open questions

• The exact influence of Low German and German forms on the Swedish adoption of the word remains a subject of academic debate. [1]

Full etymology tree

• hej (Swedish), 'hi, hello'
  • derived hei (Low German)
    • inherited hei (Latin), 'ah! oh!; an expression of grief or fear'
  • derived hei (German)
    • inherited hei (Latin), 'ah! oh!; an expression of grief or fear'

Ancestors

• hei (Latin)

Descendants and derived words

• hej kom och hjälp mig (Swedish)

Sources

1. hej (Swedish) - Wiktionary
2. hei (Latin) - Wiktionary

Updated August 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris