もしもし
もしもし · moshimoshi · JLPT N5 · expression
Hello? (used on the phone)
📞 From mosu (to say), doubled: I say, I say — the phone opener
Shortened from moshimasu moshimasu, the humble verb for to speak, said twice. Early telephone operators used it to check the line, and it stuck as the phone-only hello. Sound hook: mushy-mushy with an o.