hella
adverb, adjectiveRegionalWest Coast
A American English slang term. Browse all American slang.
What it means
Very; a lot of. Northern Californian, and a reliable regional marker — Bay Area speakers use it constantly and Southern Californians largely don't.
In use
It's hella far from here.
There were hella people at the show.
Where it comes from
From 'a hell of a', attested in the Bay Area from the 1970s. It has spread nationally but still carries a strong Northern California association.