meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Bay Curious

Where Did The Word ‘Hella’ Come From?

Bay Curious

KQED

History, Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.9999 Ratings

🗓️ 17 November 2016

⏱️ 7 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Long associated with the Bay Area, the word 'hella' has gained widespread use. But how was the word born?

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

From K-QED.

0:02.0

You know those days when your burrito isn't very good?

0:08.0

You know those days when your burrito isn't very good?

0:27.0

It isn't really good or super good or even amazingly good. There are some days when a burrito can only be described as hella good. I'm Olivia Allen Price and this is Bay Curious.

0:31.0

If you've lived in Northern California for any amount of time you have come to

0:35.2

know the word Hella.

0:36.5

I am Hella hungry right now. I'm Hella fool right now. That concert last night was Hella

0:41.0

cool. Hella jealous. Hella cool. Oh yeah, Hella Kool. Hella Jealous?

0:43.0

Oh yeah, Hella.

0:44.0

Today's question comes from listener Ventura Albor.

0:47.0

How is it that Hella became synonymous with the bay?

0:50.0

Such a good question.

0:51.0

So good, in fact, we're sharing the answer again.

0:54.4

The story first ran back when Bay Curious was a wee baby back in 2015.

0:59.2

We'll get to it right after this break.

1:17.0

Support for Bay Curious is brought to you by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, still family owned, operated, and argued over. Explore their brews wherever fine beverages are sold and taste how trailblazing runs in the family.

1:23.2

Visit Sierra Nevada.com to find your new favorite beer today.

1:28.0

I think it's going to take a true local to unwind this one.

1:33.3

Ladies and gentlemen, Adiza Egan.

1:35.3

As a child of the Bay Area, I grew up saying Hella, and I feel it in my bones that it's a Bay Area

1:40.7

word. People here will tell you they think it is too. Like

1:44.2

So Cal transplant, Brie Durabio, who I met at a coffee shop in San Jose. She

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from KQED, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of KQED and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.