- An exclamation expressing great joy, relief, praise, or gratitude, often after a long wait or difficulty.
Explanation
Origin
- From Hebrew halləlūyāh, meaning praise Yahweh (God).
- It has deep roots in Jewish and Christian religious traditions, used in psalms and hymns.
- Its secular use retains the strong sense of relief and thanksgiving, often used when something positive finally happens or a problem is resolved.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Yes!
- Sweet!
- Awesome!
- Finally!
- Get in! (UK)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Fuck yes!
- Fucking finally!
- About fucking time!
Milder/Common:
- Thank goodness!
- What a relief!
- Great! / Wonderful!
Situational Appropriateness
- Mostly informal, though its religious origin means it can appear in formal religious contexts.
- In secular use, it's generally acceptable in casual and semi-formal situations where strong positive emotion is appropriate. Avoid in very formal or strictly secular professional environments unless the context is clearly lighthearted.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Unlikely to be misunderstood. The context of relief or joy is usually very clear. Some might perceive it as overly dramatic or religious if unfamiliar with its common secular usage.
Examples
- Hallelujah! The project is finally finished!
- The rain finally stopped, hallelujah!
- I found my keys! Hallelujah!
Dialogue
Student A: I just got my exam results back. I passed!
Student B: Hallelujah! I was worried for you!
Student A: Me too! Such a relief.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Internet is back online after 3 hours! Hallelujah! 🙏 #firstworldproblems #relief
- Facebook Post: After weeks of searching, we finally found the perfect apartment! Hallelujah! 🎉
- Instagram Story: (Video of rain stopping) Text overlay: Sunshine! Hallelujah!
Response Patterns
- Agreement or shared relief: I know, thank goodness!, Finally!, About time!
- A smile or cheer.
- Sometimes a curious look followed by What happened? if the reason isn't obvious.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- After hearing it: What's the good news?, What are you so happy about?
- The person saying it might follow up by explaining the source of their relief or joy: Hallelujah! My tax refund just arrived.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a reaction to a positive event or resolution.
Intonation
- Typically exclaimed with strong emphasis and often elongated syllables, with a rising or high-falling intonation expressing joy or relief. HAL-le-LU-jah!
Generation Differences
- Widely understood across generations. Its use might be more common or pronounced among those with religious backgrounds, but it's frequently used secularly by many.
Regional Variations
- Common across all major English-speaking regions.