Who invented the word hi?

There isn't a single inventor of the word "hi." It evolved over time from a more formal greeting. Here's a breakdown:

* Origins: The word "hi" comes from the informal greeting "how do you do?" This phrase was shortened to "how do" and then to "howdy" in the 18th century.

* Evolution: "Howdy" further contracted to "hi" in the late 19th or early 20th century. This happened through casual speech and gradually became widely accepted.

* Informal Nature: "Hi" reflects a casual and friendly tone, making it a popular choice for informal greetings.

Therefore, "hi" didn't have a single inventor but developed organically as a shortened form of a longer greeting through common usage.