different between helluva vs helluv

English

Etymology

Written form of a reduction of hell of a.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h?l?v?/

Adjective

helluva (not comparable)

1. (colloquial) (A) hell of a; extreme.

   They had a helluva row over where to spend the weekend.

   Where were you? - Lost in Paris. - Wow! Helluva place to get lost!

Adverb

helluva (not comparable)

1. (colloquial); (expletive) (A) hell of a; extremely or very.

   We had a helluva good time at the party.

Derived terms

• helluvalot

Related terms

• hella, helluv

See also

• heckuva
• hella

English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From "hell of (a)", like hella (originally Northern California slang). See also Wikipedia:Hella (word).

Adjective

helluv (not comparable)

1. (slang, chiefly Northern California) Intensifier, signifies an abundance of a thing; much or many.

   Hey, if you guys get the munchies, there's helluv candy in the cupboard.

   • 2006, Joylynn Jossel, When Souls Mate, [1]

     […] and all of the other people I have met who show me helluv love when I come through your town.

Synonyms

• mad

Adverb

helluv (not comparable)

1. (slang, chiefly Northern California) Intensifier (modifies verbs); to a large extent; totally; very much.

   Dude, I helluv want to go to the show with you, but I'm soooo grounded.
2. (slang, chiefly Northern California) Intensifier (modifies adjectives); to a large degree; extremely; exceedingly.

   That new girl is helluv sexy.

Synonyms

• (extremely, modifies adjectives): wicked (NE US)

Interjection

helluv

1. (slang, chiefly Northern California) For sure; totally; hell yeah; used as a strong affirmation of something that was just said, accomplished, or revealed.

   "Hey, you wanna come to the concert tonight?" "Oh, helluv!"

Usage notes

• To many speakers, helluv is the more emphatic or more intensified form of hella.

Related terms

• helluva
• hella
• hell
• the hell

Etymology 2

Shortened form, or elision, of phrases like "hell of" or "hell have", approximating casual speech in writing.

Contraction

helluv

1. (colloquial) Elision of "hell of".
2. (colloquial) Elision of "the hell of".
3. (colloquial) Elision of "hell have"

References