Hella

Hella (adverb, adjective / US Slang)

(Also heard as: Hella good, Hella tired, Hella lot, Hella cool)

Definition:

Hella means very, really or a lot of. It is an intensifier, like “super” or “well” in British English. “Hella good” means very good, and “hella people” means a large crowd.

Where Hella Comes From:

Hella is a contraction of “hell of a”, as in “a hell of a lot”. It began in Northern California in the 1990s, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, and spread through hip-hop and skate culture. Today it is known across the USA, especially in the West, and it has become familiar to young people in the UK through music and social media.

How People Actually Use Hella:

It goes in front of an adjective or noun to add emphasis, as in “hella tired” or “hella expensive”. It is casual and friendly, and it marks the speaker out as Californian, or at least someone who enjoys a laid-back style. In formal writing it is best avoided.

Is Hella Used in the UK?

Occasionally. British speakers have their own versions, such as “well”, “proper”, “mad” and “bare”, but hella is easily understood and sometimes used for a Californian flavour.

Examples in the Wild:

• “That concert was hella good.”

  Meaning: It was really good.

• “There was hella traffic on the bridge.”

  Meaning: There was a huge amount of traffic.

• “I am hella tired after that flight.”

  Meaning: I am extremely tired.

Similar Slang:

Bare, Mad, Peak, Lowkey, Nuff, Proper

🛍 Shop on eBay › (affiliate)