hallelujah
/ˌhælɪˈluːjə/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌhælɪˈluːjə/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌha-lə-ˈlü-yə/ (ame, mw)
hallelujah — exclamation
1. a word shouted or sung to express joy, praise, and thanks to God, especially in
a word shouted or sung to express joy, praise, and thanks to God, especially in Christian worship.
The choir sang "Hallelujah" at the end of the Easter service, and the whole congregation joined in.
common in Christian worship settings
Miriam raised her hands and shouted "Hallelujah!" when the pastor announced the aid had arrived.
standalone exclamation of joy and thanks
David heard the choir sing "Hallelujah" and felt a deep sense of peace fill the room.
During the baptism ceremony, the congregation repeated "Hallelujah" after the priest.
- praise the Lord
more formal and explicitly Christian; 'hallelujah' is a single-word exclamation
- amen
used to agree with a prayer or statement rather than to praise directly
文法句型
standalone exclamation
用法筆記
Frequently used in religious music and spoken worship. Often repeated for emphasis. The word comes from Hebrew and literally means 'praise the Lord'.
常見錯誤
2. used humorously to express relief or satisfaction when something happens that yo
used humorously to express relief or satisfaction when something happens that you were beginning to doubt would ever happen — for example, finding lost keys, or a long-awaited delivery finally arriving.
Mei-Lin searched for twenty minutes before she found her passport. "Hallelujah!" she cried, holding it up.
standalone exclamation of ironic relief
After three hours of trying to fix the printer, Omar finally saw it print. He whispered "Hallelujah" under his breath.
humorous relief after effort
The package was supposed to arrive on Tuesday. When Elena saw it on the doorstep on Friday, she laughed and said "Hallelujah!"
Kwame had been stuck in traffic for an hour. When the cars finally started moving, he muttered "Hallelujah" and shifted into gear.
- finally!
less dramatic and without religious reference; the most neutral alternative
- at last!
similar meaning but slightly more formal than the ironic 'hallelujah'
- thank heavens
keeps the mild religious metaphor but is a fixed everyday phrase
文法句型
standalone exclamation
用法筆記
This is an informal, often humorous or ironic use. The speaker does not mean religious praise — they are imitating the religious exclamation for comic effect in everyday situations. Common in conversation and social media, but not in formal writing.
常見錯誤
hallelujah — noun
1. a song or shout that expresses praise and thanks to God; a piece of music or a m
a song or shout that expresses praise and thanks to God; a piece of music or a moment in a religious service that celebrates joy and gratitude.
The organist played a joyful hallelujah as the bride and groom walked back down the aisle.
countable noun: 'a hallelujah'
Tariq had never heard the "Hallelujah Chorus" before, and the power of the music brought him to tears.
proper name: 'Hallelujah Chorus'
The congregation let out a loud hallelujah when the children's choir finished their performance.
Amara bought a recording of Handel's Messiah just to hear the famous hallelujah section.
- praise song
wider meaning; a hallelujah is a specific type of praise song
- anthem
any uplifting song; hallelujah is specifically religious in origin
文法句型
a/the + hallelujah
hallelujah + [noun]
用法筆記
The noun form is less common than the exclamation. It often refers to a specific musical piece (like the 'Hallelujah Chorus' from Handel's Messiah) or to the act of shouting praise collectively. As a countable noun, it can take an article ('a hallelujah').