This is the 812th most frequent Japanese word.
ねえ
"ねえ" is an interjection used to get attention, express surprise, or emphasize a statement, similar to "hey" or "you know" in English.
In this sentence, 'ねえ' acts as a casual way to get someone's attention before starting a conversation.
ねえ、お元気ですか？
Hey, how are you doing?
Here 'ねえ' is used to express the speaker's shared sentiment or observation, inviting agreement.
今日は暑いねえ。
It is hot today, isn’t it?
In this instance, 'ねえ' serves as an exclamation to draw someone's attention urgently or excitedly.