alleluia

Alleluia, also spelled Hallelujah, is an exclamation of praise to God. It derives from the Hebrew הללויה (halleluyah), formed from hallel “praise” and Yah (a rendering of the divine name). In Greek and Latin liturgical usage, the form Alleluia emerged, and in English the spelling Hallelujah is also common.

In Judaism, Hallelujah appears in the Hebrew Bible and in liturgical songs of praise, notably in the Psalms. It is often recited or chanted during services, particularly at festivals and within sections of psalms known as Hallel, where communal praise is emphasized.

In Christianity, Alleluia is a central liturgical exclamation of praise. It appears in hymns, chants, and the Mass or Divine Service across many Western denominations. Among Roman Catholic, Anglican, and some Protestant traditions, it is used as a refrain or acclamation, but its use is often regulated by season; in the Roman Rite during Lent it is typically omitted and replaced by a shorter verse, returning at the Easter Vigil. Other traditions may retain the word throughout the liturgical year.

Musical usage and variants: Alleluia has a long place in Western sacred music, from Gregorian chant to polyphonic settings and modern hymns. The term also appears in secular contexts as an expression of praise. The spelling differences—Alleluia in Latin and many languages, Hallelujah in English—reflect linguistic and liturgical traditions rather than distinct meanings.