Howdy vs. Hello — What's the Difference?

Howdy is an informal greeting, originally a shortened form of the greeting How do ye? It originated in South England dialect in 1563/87.

Hello is a salutation or greeting in the English language. It is first attested in writing from 1826.

Used to express a greeting.

Used to greet someone, answer the telephone, or express surprise.

An informal greeting.

A calling or greeting of "hello."

(transitive) To greet informally, especially by saying "howdy"

To call "hello."

(Scotland) A wife.

A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence.

(Scotland) A midwife.

A greeting used when answering the telephone.

A midwife.

A call for response if it is not clear if anyone is present or listening, or if a telephone conversation may have been disconnected.

An expression of greeting;

(colloquial) Used sarcastically to imply that the person addressed has done something the speaker considers to be foolish, or missed something that should have been obvious.

An expression of puzzlement or discovery.

"Hello!" or an equivalent greeting.

(transitive) To greet with "hello".

An exclamation used as a greeting, to call attention, as an exclamation of surprise, or to encourage one. This variant of Halloo and Holloo has become the dominant form. In the United States, it is the most common greeting used in answering a telephone.

An expression of greeting;