I’ve heard it explained that “hey” used to be more of an urgent way to get someone’s attention, rather than a casual “hello” like it is now, so it sounded rude to some older folks.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    27 months ago

    They literally don’t (with the possible exception of onomatopoeic words), one of the defining factors of language is that it is arbitrary.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        27 months ago

        This is an old pattern, language changes. You can react to it however you like, but things have already changed in your lifetime. Wicked or hot, for example,