What's the meaning/point of the word "hello"?

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It means jell-o in hell-o.

Sorry, just had to post that.

i don't mean "happy new year" because we already say that and it does not seem to affect the good day tradition

My theory is that this is for survival reasons. This came up one time when I was walking in a somewhat remote park on the coast with someone I used to know (an NT, considerably more social than me actually, but not a great person I found out later). We passed another couple of people walking and they said Hi in passing, and we did the same. Then he started grumbling about why strangers in the middle of nowhere feel obligated to speak to us and couldn't they just mind their own business. Anyway, I thought about it and I have decided that it is a protection in case something were to happen, such as one person fall into a crevasse and need assistance, the person who had greeted them would feel some sort of obligation to help than if they'd just ignored them and walked on by. Basically you are acknowledging that you recognize them as another human being as as such there is a tie there, and you will recognize them as such again if they need it. I think the remote location led to this being reaffirmed even more so, whereas if we'd passed the same people on a busy street they might not have said anything. Likewise if it's someone you see often, you are not only acknowledging survival assistance but also acknowledging that you know who they are (frankly, with my facial recognition problems, I might not know that I DID know them half the time if they didn't say something to me first).

That theory being formed, I will admit that I tend to greet cats and dogs that I run into more readily and frequently, sometimes to the exclusion of their owners (as I realize when it's too late).

Interesting theory Then again if I saw someone drowning in the water or something, I wouldn't let them die because they didn't give me the magic word! But it's a valid point, "he greeted me, I know him now, I have to help him".

I'm soooo glad I'm not the only one!! !
I live in Brazil and what I hate most is that here it's polite to greet someone - male or female- with a kiss on the cheek, even those you see everyday. People who know me already tell everyone in advance that I will not shake hands or kiss or even say hello because really, what's the point???? I'd rather just start a conversation, why do you have to go through a whole greeting ritual, and then when you're leaving you have to do it all over again!!

well Ellaalle thanks! i don't feel so alone any more!
I can't see the point either, total waste of time if you ask me.

I have wondered this myself.