Hella

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈhÉ›.lÉ™/

Related to "a hell of a". Originally Northern California slang. Also helluv.

Full definition of hella

Determiner

1. (slang, chiefly Northern California) Intensifier, signifies an abundance of a thing; much or many.There are hella people here.

Synonyms

• (intensifier; much or many) mad

Pronoun

1. (slang, chiefly Northern California) a lot; or, a hell of a lot.We paid hella for that Chinese cuisine.

Adverb

1. (slang, chiefly Northern California) Intensifier (modifies verbs); to a large extent; totally; very much.I can't tell you how much I hella love the new track.Jane was driving away, and the door was open, so I hella ran for it.Oh, today's Cyrell's bday. We hella sang her happy birthday at the spot.
2. (slang, chiefly Northern California) Intensifier (modifies adjectives); to a large degree; extremely; exceedingly.I guess she seems hella stoned in her commercial.I've been a Star Wars fan since I was hella young.

Synonyms

• (extremely, modifies adjectives) wicked North East US

Interjection

1. (slang, chiefly Northern California) For sure; totally; hell yeah; used as a strong affirmation of something that was just said, accomplished, or revealed."We definitely rocked that shit man!" "Hella!"

Related terms

• hecka (bowdlerization)
• helluv
• helluva

Shortened form, or elision, of phrases like "hell have", approximating casual speech in writing.

Contraction

1. (nonstandard) Hell have.Where the hella you been?