Pronunciation: [hˈaluː] (IPA) 
The word "halloo" is spelled with two "l's" and two "o's" because it represents a specific sound in the English language. In IPA phonetic transcription, this sound is represented by the symbol /uː/. This sound is typically made by rounding the lips and producing a long, high-pitched vowel sound. When spelled with two "l's" and two "o's", the word "halloo" accurately represents this unique sound in written form.
"Halloo" is a verb typically used as a form of greeting or attracting attention, usually at a distance. It is an exclamatory call intended to get someone's attention or to initiate communication. The term is often associated with rural or old-fashioned contexts, where people rely on shouts to communicate over long distances.
The word is derived from the Middle English "halowen" which meant to shout, with origins in Old English and Old High German. It is similar to the more common term "hello," but differs in that "halloo" is generally used when one person wants to get someone's attention from afar.
The act of hallooing often involves raising one's voice and projecting it in a particular direction to reach the intended person or group. It can be used in various situations, such as when calling someone from a distance, hailing a ship or boat, or even attracting attention during hunting or outdoor activities.
In addition to its primary usage as a verb, "halloo" can also be used as a noun to describe the act or sound of a shout or call. The noun form can also refer to a shout or cry of excitement, encouragement, or alarm.
Overall, "halloo" is a term that conveys the act of shouting or calling out in order to draw attention or initiate communication, especially in situations where distance is a factor.
• A shout to attract attention.
• To cry loudly after; to shout to.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "halloo" has its roots in Middle English and Old English. The term originally appeared as "hallo" in the 14th century, deriving from the Old French word "haleter", meaning "to breathe" or "be out of breath". This Old French term, in turn, can be traced back to the Old High German word "halōn", meaning "to fetch" or "to fetch breath". Ultimately, the source of the word is believed to be the Proto-Germanic word "halōną", which means "to call" or "to fetch". Over time, the spelling of the word evolved to "halloo" in Modern English, while still retaining its original meaning of a loud call or shout.
