What does alleluia mean?
"Alleluia" is an exclamation of praise to God, derived from the Hebrew phrase meaning "praise the Lord," and it occupies a central place in Jewish and Christian worship. It functions both as an interjection of joyful acclamation — shouted or sung in moments of religious celebration — and as a noun naming a specific chant or musical setting within the liturgy, most famously the Alleluia verse sung before the Gospel reading. The word carries strong connotations of triumph, gratitude, and festivity; many Christian traditions suppress it during the penitential season of Lent and reintroduce it with special ceremony at Easter, underscoring its association with resurrection joy. In English, two spellings coexist: "alleluia," the Latinized form favored in formal church usage, and "hallelujah," which predominates in general speech and popular music. Whether spoken, chanted, or set to soaring melody, the alleluia remains one of the most universally recognized expressions of sacred rejoicing across centuries of worship.
An exclamation of praise or joy to God, especially as used in Christian liturgy.
"The Easter service ended with a thunderous alleluia from the whole congregation."
A chant or musical composition based on the exclamation 'alleluia', sung as part of a religious service.
"The composer set the alleluia for unaccompanied voices."
Standard English plural; used chiefly when referring to multiple instances of the chant or repeated exclamations in a service.
"The choir rehearsed the Easter alleluias all week."
'Alleluia' and 'hallelujah' are literally the same word — one passed through Greek and Latin church tradition, the other straight from Hebrew.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of alleluia
Alleluia derives from the Hebrew phrase haleluya, meaning "praise the Lord," composed of the imperative plural hallelu ("praise ye") plus Yah, a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh. The word entered English through Greek (allēlouia) and Latin (alleluia), which transmitted the liturgical form used by early Christians. Its doublet "hallelujah" arrived more directly from Hebrew via German-influenced Protestant usage. Cognates appear throughout the Psalms, where several begin with the Hebrew exclamation translated as "Praise ye the Lord."
How alleluia is actually used
The spelling 'alleluia' is preferred in formal, especially Roman Catholic and Anglican, liturgical contexts; 'hallelujah' predominates in everyday English. The word carries connotations of joy, triumph, and celebration rather than ordinary prayer. In some traditions the Alleluia is omitted during Lent and restored with emphasis at Easter.
Easily confused with alleluia
Both spellings refer to the same Hebrew exclamation of praise, but 'alleluia' is the Latinized spelling favored in formal liturgical contexts, while 'hallelujah' is the more common general English form.