hallelujah

American  

[hal-uh-loo-yuh] / ˌhæl əˈlu yə /

Or halleluiah

interjection

1. Praise ye the Lord!

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noun

1. an exclamation of “hallelujah!”

2. a shout of joy, praise, or gratitude.

3. a musical composition wholly or principally based upon the word “hallelujah.”

hallelujah British  

/ ˌælɪˈluːjə, ˌhælɪˈluːjə /

interjection

1. an exclamation of praise to God

2. an expression of relief or a similar emotion

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noun

1. an exclamation of "Hallelujah"

2. a musical composition that uses the word Hallelujah as its text

Etymology

Origin of hallelujah

First recorded in 1525–35; from Hebrew halĕlûyāh “praise Yahweh,” from halĕlû (masculine imperative plural of hīlēl “to praise”) + -yāh Yahweh

Explanation

Hallelujah is both an exclamation –- Hallelujah! –- and what that act of exclaiming is called. When hallelujahs ring through the church, a lot of people are yelling "hallelujah!" Kind of like "bingo!" in the church basement. Hallelujah came into English through Latin and Greek, but originally comes from Hebrew, where it means "praise the lord." In spite of traveling through those languages, hallelujah's meaning has not changed. Remember that the "j" in hallelujah is pronounced like a "y."

Example Sentences

“That was really a hallelujah moment, because I could do it in London and could recover at home,” she recalls.

From BBC • Aug. 10, 2024

Then one day she left, and the skies opened as a heavenly host sang hallelujah.

From Salon • Oct. 27, 2023

To borrow from his lyrics, it was a cold and a broken hallelujah.

From Washington Times • May 15, 2023

And here Farrell turns into a one-man hallelujah chorus.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2023

Emma and I jumped and hugged each other; Horace fell to his knees and tossed up his arms in a wordless hallelujah!

From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs

Related Words

• chant
• ditty
• oratorio
• paean
• psalm