Ahoy is a traditional nautical greeting used to express joy or surprise. It is often accompanied by other similar terms such as MATEY, HAIL, hiya, and hithere. MATEY is a term of endearment used among sailors and is five letters long. HAIL is a four letter term used to greet someone or to attract attention. Hiya is another four letter term used to greet someone informally. Hithere is a seven letter term used to greet someone in a friendly manner. All of these terms are related to the term ahoy and can be used to express joy or surprise.