Term used to indicate personal superiority. When spoken in conversation, the receiving party immediately knows that the person saying the word is of a high class because of that person's Bay Area roots. Thus, if the receiver is not of the same geography and stature, negative emotions arise from envy. A primary example is that of the frustrated SoCal dweller who is frequently subjected to the mighty and humbling presence of Bay Areans.
by the_dude_jr October 27, 2009
THE REAL DEFINITION:
East Bay (Fremont/Hayward originally), early-mid 1980's. Original slang was "hecka" (a bastardization of the GREEK prefix "heka", meaning 100, or more generally, a large nonspecified quantity). So it originally had nothing to do with profanity/cursing. However, it was soon upgraded to "hella" by those who thought that it was somehow related to the word "heck".
East Bay (Fremont/Hayward originally), early-mid 1980's. Original slang was "hecka" (a bastardization of the GREEK prefix "heka", meaning 100, or more generally, a large nonspecified quantity). So it originally had nothing to do with profanity/cursing. However, it was soon upgraded to "hella" by those who thought that it was somehow related to the word "heck".
My definition is hella sweet.
by Joel Day December 02, 2004
Modifier, meaning either "very much" or "a large number of." A Bay Area (specifically East Bay) regionalism that dates from the mid-1970s, if not earlier, later popularized by the No Doubt song "Hella Good."
"I met this girl and she was hella fine and I tried to talk to her, but I'd drunk hella beers and was hella wasted." -- Actual quote spoken by East Bay high school student.
by Raider Nation O.G. April 21, 2006
San Francisco Bay Area Slang. First became widely used during the early 1980's.
Became more mainstream after the band No Doubt's song entitled, "Hella Good" was released.
The term is shortened from "hell of" and most likely derived from "a hell of a lot of"
Became more mainstream after the band No Doubt's song entitled, "Hella Good" was released.
The term is shortened from "hell of" and most likely derived from "a hell of a lot of"
by Aeronius January 16, 2006
A word that many undereducated people argue over the originations of. A vast majority of people don't realize it's a hella waste of time, and that no one gives a shit. Some would even argue that 'hella' spawned from hell itself as a mind-numbing reminder of Satan's evergrowing control of human souls and the stupidity of mankind.
by The Luam August 23, 2007