Hello: Why do we say "Hello" first on picking up the phone? The story behind this is very interesting..

The phone has now become an important part of our life. We depend on the phone to talk to each other. Now if you have noticed, no matter who you talk to, the first word (first telephone greeting) that comes out of your mouth is 'hello'.

Not only the person calling, but the person picking up the phone also says 'hello' first. But have you ever wondered why this happens (why do we say hello on the phone)? Why is the word "hello" used (hello word origin) only to start a conversation on the phone? There is an interesting story behind this. Let's find out.

Graham Bell's girlfriend 'Hello'

You may have also heard the story that the name of the girlfriend of telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell was 'Margaret Hello'. He took his girlfriend's name while talking on the phone and since then the conversation is started by saying hello first on the phone.

But let us tell you that there is no concrete proof of this story. Graham Bell's girlfriend's name was Mabel Howard, whom he later married.

Use of the word 'Ahoy'

The word Hello started in the 19th century. Before this, the word Ahoy was used to talk on the phone. Graham Bell was the first to say Ahoy, not Hello. Before "Hello", people used different words to talk on the phone, such as "Ahoy" or "Do you hear me?". This proves the girlfriend's story to be false.

Edison started 'Hello'

Now the question arises that if the story of Graham Bell's girlfriend is not true, then why is Hello spoken first on the phone? In 1877, the inventor of the bulb, Thomas Edison, suggested the use of the word "Hello" to start a conversation on the phone. Edison believed that this word is clear and easily heard. Gradually it became popular and today "Hello" is used to start a conversation on the phone all over the world.

So now you know why the first thing we say as soon as we pick up the phone is Hello. By the way, we also use the word Hello as a greeting when we meet someone face to face.

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