lah

Lah is an informal interjection with several closely related uses. It may serve as a casual greeting, as in “Lah, everyone,” or attract a listener's attention, as in “Lah, look at this.” It can also convey surprise, amusement, or emphatic interest without necessarily expressing a precise emotion. The word is particularly associated with British English, where it sounds friendly and conversational, though comparable spellings also appear in informal American usage. “Lah” also forms part of the comic or dismissive expression “lah-di-dah,” which suggests affected or pretentious behavior. In careful formal writing, alternatives such as “hello,” “well,” “hey,” or “wow” will usually sound more natural. The word's value is largely tonal: it can make a sentence feel informal, animated, and deliberately conversational rather than restrained or official.

An informal interjection used to attract attention, express surprise, or greet someone. It is especially associated with British usage and is also encountered in informal American English.

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Where does lah come from?

Lah is a variant spelling of the older interjection lo, which could mean “look!” and was also used as a greeting. The altered spelling lah was adopted to suggest a broad, emphatic vowel and became especially common in British colloquial speech. The interjection ultimately reflects a vocal call intended to attract attention.

How lah is actually used

Informal rather than formal or neutral. It is especially characteristic of British English; in informal American English, the spelling is more often encountered in the expression “lah-di-dah” or as a regional variant of related greetings.

What's another word for lah?

Words and phrases paired with lah

Rhymes with lah