aleluya
/aleˈluʝa/feminine
The Spanish word for hallelujah is aleluya.
aleluya is an exclamation used to praise God. While its primary use is religious, it is also used colloquially to express relief when a long-awaited event finally occurs.
Meaning: exclamation to praise God (intj)
Which one should you use?
The noun aleluya refers to a shout of Hallelujah. For general praise, you might use felicitación or congratulación.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
aleluya is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/aleˈluʝa/
Did you know?
- In the Catholic tradition of Spanish-speaking countries, the aleluya is strictly forbidden from being sung or spoken during the liturgical season of Lent.
- While it means praise, Spanish speakers often use aleluya sarcastically to mock someone who finally realizes something obvious.
- The word passed through Ancient Greek and Latin before entering Spanish, which explains why the initial 'h' from the Hebrew 'halləlū' disappeared in the Spanish aleluya.
Examples in context
- ¡Aleluya!Hallelujah!This example shows the exclamation aleluya.Tatoeba #8116381 by ecorralest101, translation #8116377 by mccarras
- Por favor, dadle más agua al hada Ḥlima ya que de veras quiere mearnos cálidamente en cuanto que se le llene la vejiga. ¡Aleluya!Please, give more water to the fairy Hlima since she really does want to piss on us warmly, once her bladder is full. Hallelujah!Tatoeba #10274917 by Seael, translation #10273682 by AmarMecheri
- ¡Aleluya, he encontrado a mi perro!Hallelujah! I've found my dog.Tatoeba #1084895 by alexmarcelo, translation #1122565 by Shishir
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are attending a church service.
- Elena¡Aleluya! Qué canción tan hermosa.Hallelujah! What a beautiful song.
- JavierSí, me llena el corazón de alegría.Yes, it fills my heart with joy.
- ElenaEs un momento muy especial, ¿verdad?It is a very special moment, right?
- JavierTotalmente. ¡Aleluya por este día!Totally. Hallelujah for this day!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hallelujah” translations and entries aleluya, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aleluya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
