Why do people say hello when answering the phone?

hi blessing2u. I learned from watching tv in one country ( i just forgot what country it is) that instead of saying "hello" they would say "heaveno". the explanation is that there's a word hell in the word hello they say it's "hell-o". So they replace it from "hell-o" to "heaven-o". So next time you pick up the phone and greet somebody on the line, you can now say "heaven-o" instead of "hell-o".

Actually we don't say "hello" when we answer the phone in the office we say "Good morning" or "good evening" or "thank you for calling".

I just smile when I read your discussion because what you have stated is true to me most of the time. When I pick up the phone, the first word that comes out of my mouth is the word hello. It has been a habit already since I am used to using it. But the responder above has a great idea of saying heaveno when we answer the phone or call someone. Good day.