tra-la

American

[trah-lah] / trɑˈlɑ /

Also tra-la-la

noun

nonsense syllables sung as a refrain, expressing gaiety.

tra-la British

/ ˌtrɑːlɑːˈlɑː, ˌtrɑːˈlɑː /

noun

a set of nonsensical syllables used in humming music, esp for a melody or refrain

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tra-la

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Can’t I just take your point, stop interrupting and, tra-la, change the world?

From The Guardian

The "tra-la" was considered to render this sentence incomprehensible to the uninitiated.

From Project Gutenberg

To the tune of ‘The Campbells Are Coming,’ he sang, ‘Your house is on fire, tra-la, tra-la!’

From Project Gutenberg

“You are just as welcome as the flowers in spring, tra-la!” cried Helen, fairly dancing with delight.

From Project Gutenberg

Springtime is here, tra-la, tra-la, Brooklets run clear, tra-la, tra-la, Birds are winging, flowers springing, For springtime is here, tra-la, tra-la.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023