hallelujah
UK[ˌhælɪˈluːjə]US[ˌhæləˈluːjə]
interj
an expression of worship, joy, or praise to god
n
a song, shout, or expression of praise to god
Etymology
hallelujah is a direct borrowing from the hebrew liturgical expression "hallĕlū yāh," which translates to "praise ye yah (yahweh)." it entered english via the greek transliteration "allēlouia" and the latin "alleluia," used in early christian liturgy. the word's journey into english reflects its central role in religious worship, bypassing the need for translation due to its powerful, established association with divine praise. its retention of the hebrew form preserves the original exclamatory force and sacred character.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from hebrew, adopted as a whole into english. it is not segmented into meaningful morphemes within the english spelling system.
Examples
the choir sang a triumphant hallelujah at the end of the easter service.
a spontaneous hallelujah rose from the congregation when the good news was announced.
the song builds to a powerful climax on the repeated word "hallelujah."