הַלְּלוּיָהּ
hal'luyáh
In Hebrew, the phrase "praise the lord" is translated as הַלְּלוּיָהּ (hal'luyáh). If unsure, use הַלְּלוּיָהּ. Wiktionary also lists הַלְּלוּקָהּ (hal'lukáh).
Meaning: phrase used to thank God (intj)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| הַלְּלוּיָהּ | hal'luyáh |
| הַלְּלוּקָהּ | hal'lukáh |
הַלְּלוּיָהּ (Hallelujah) is used as a religious exclamation of praise to thank God. It is also used as a common loanword in many languages, including English, to express feelings of joy or gratitude.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase can be understood through its components: הַלְלוּ means "praise" and יָהּ is a shortened form of the name of God.
How do you pronounce it?
hal'luyáh
When do people say it?
The phrase הַלְלוּ יָהּ is frequently used during religious ceremonies and within prayers.
Did you know?
- Because the phrase ends with the name of God, it is traditionally avoided in bathrooms or other 'unclean' areas in strictly observant Jewish households.
- The word הַלְּלוּיָהּ is a command in the plural form, literally telling a group of people to 'praise' rather than the speaker doing it alone.
- The final syllable יָהּ acts as a linguistic shorthand for the Tetragrammaton, a name of God so sacred that it is traditionally never spoken aloud in Jewish practice.
Examples in context
- הַלְלוּ יָהּ עַל-כָּל־הָאֱרֶץPraise the Lord on all the Earth
- הַלְּלוּיָהּ, הוא עזר לנו.Hallelu-yah, hu azar lanu.Praise the Lord, he helped us.
Example conversation
Noam and Noa find their lost keys.
- נועם Noamנועה, מצאתי את המפתחות!Noa, matzati et hamaftachot!Noa, I found the keys!
- נועה Noaהַלְּלוּיָהּ! חיפשתי אותם שעה.Hallelujah! Chifashti otam sha'a.Praise the Lord! I looked for them for an hour.
- נועם Noamהם היו מתחת לספה.Hem hayu mitachat hasapa.They were under the sofa.
- נועה Noaבוא נצא עכשיו, נועם.Bo netze achshav, Noam.Let's leave now, Noam.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “praise the lord” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
