Anyone from Chicago here? Please answer this for me..

[ObaMania]

What does "hella" mean and how is it used in conversation?

Though I've never heard it spoken before, I've often seen it in posts on various forums and the latest I've seen it is from a dude in Chicago which leads me to believe it is a term used in that area.

Is it some other way of saying "hell of a"?

I've been sitting here trying to say it a bunch of different ways and it sounds stupid.

Please help me on this one. I'd be interested in it's origin.

[wtmusic]

1. That's a hella question

I'm from Chicago and I've never heard that one. :crazy:

[ObaMania]

3. ACK! See? It even looks dumb in writing!

:puke:

[deadparrot]

2. I think it's just a word used to emphasize a point,

ala "really" or "very". When someone says something is hella cool, it means it's especially cool.

At least where I'm from (eastern Missouri).

[grace0418]

6. That's the way I understand it as well.

There's a No Doubt song called "Hella Good" and it means pretty much that she's feeling really, really good.

[ObaMania]

9. Ah yes... I will need to revisit that CD to give it another listen..

.. to broaden my understanding of the term. 'Course it wouldn't be to check out Gwen Stefani's picks in the liner notes or anything like that! :evilgrin:

[ObaMania]

7. Oh, so like "wicked" coined in N.E. huh?

Makes sense. Does it reference Hell or something else?

[deadparrot]

8. Yeah, like "wicked."

I have no idea if the reference stems from "hell." I'd probably guess that it does, but I'm not sure how, exactly. :shrug:

[mark414]

4. go to the west coast...it's all you'll hear

something like...hella cool, i suppose it would mean the same as calling something super cool

i guess it is to add emphasis to something, be it good or bad

[GRLMGC]

5. In Northern CA

there's this stupid rivalry between Southern and Northern CA and one of the main points of conflict is the use of the slang word "hella" I personally only use it to make fun of the people who use it. Otherwise, that word will never come out of my mouth

[Nailzberg]

10. I'm from Chi-town, and familiar, but never thought Hella was unique to Chi

I live half the year in Cali, and they say it here, too.

The party was hella wild. That girl was hella gorgeous. I was hella drunk.

It's pretty much the equivalent to the Bostonian vernacular "Wicked". But I don't think it is a purely Chicago thing.

[NeoTraitors]

11. I first heard the term 'hella' on the back of a

Metallica album in the 80's. I think it was Garage Days Revisited. Check it out if you have that one.