Etymology Related to a hell of a. Originally Northern California slang. Compare helluv, helluva.
1
Northern California, Slang An intensifier, signifying an abundance of a thing; much or many.
There are hella people here.
Now, let’s talk bidness. I got nothing for you. Wrong. You got hella cash.2016, Life Is Strange, spoken by Chloe Price (Ashly Burch), Square Enix, via Dontnod Entertainment:
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(“We practiced it hella times, but it’s new, and I can’t really get it on top of the music yet,” she explained.)2023 August 20, Kelefa Sanneh, quoting Fatimah Nyeema Warner, “Noname’s Ambivalent, Triumphant Comeback”, in The New Yorker, →ISSN:
Etymology Related to a hell of a. Originally Northern California slang. Compare helluv, helluva.
1
Northern California, Slang Intensifier, modifying 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.
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Oh, today's Cyrell's bday. We hella sang her happy birthday at the spot.
You’re right. We hella deserve it. Splish splash! Did you actually just say "hella"? I think I’m a good bad influence on you.2016, Life Is Strange, spoken by Chloe Price (Hannah Telle as Max Caulfield and Ashly Burch), Square Enix, via Dontnod Entertainment:
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US, Regional, Slang Intensifier, modifying adjectives; to a large degree; extremely; exceedingly.
Potentially considered vulgar; African-American Vernacular; potentially considered vulgar; African-American Vernacular
I guess she seems hella stoned in her commercial.
I've been a Star Wars fan since I was hella young.
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"And to the fella over there / With the hella good hair / Won't you come on over, baby / We can shake, shake, shake"2014, Taylor Swift, “Shake It Off”:
The storm got hella crazy and... and you said we would be safe at the lighthouse.2016, Life Is Strange, spoken by Chloe Price (Ashly Burch), Square Enix, via Dontnod Entertainment: