tra-la

American  

[trah-lah] / trɑˈlɑ /

Also tra-la-la

noun

1. nonsense syllables sung as a refrain, expressing gaiety.

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tra-la British  

/ ˌtrɑːlɑːˈlɑː, ˌtrɑːˈlɑː /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of tra-la

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

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

From The Guardian • Oct. 24, 2020

Like the flowers that bloom in the spring, tra-la, her present employment has little to do with her case.

From Time Magazine Archive

She is up and going, no look bestowing Through the dark forest, tra-la! tra-la!

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume XXIV. by Leighton, Alexander

Then Kipps began to sing, "Ar pars eight tra-la, in the lane be'ind the church."

From Kipps The Story of a Simple Soul by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)

And its members are not even waiting for a Re-leaf Fund, which will, however, soon come, with "the flowers that bloom in the Spring, tra-la!"

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104, March 11, 1893 by Burnand, F. C. (Francis Cowley), Sir