Alleluia is a joyful exclamation of praise, most commonly used in religious worship to express happiness and gratitude toward God. When a church congregation sings “Alleluia!” during a service, they're celebrating something wonderful, like the resurrection of Jesus at Easter or simply expressing their joy in worship.

The word comes from Hebrew and means “Praise the Lord.” You'll hear it sung in churches, especially during happy occasions and holidays. Many famous composers, from Bach to Handel, wrote stirring musical settings of “Alleluia” because the word itself seems to call for celebration.

The word is spelled several ways: alleluia and hallelujah both mean the same thing. In Handel's famous Messiah, the “Hallelujah Chorus” is one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music, with the word sung over and over in powerful, triumphant harmonies.

While alleluia is primarily religious, people sometimes use it more generally to express relief or joy, like shouting “Alleluia!” when a long, difficult project finally ends successfully. The core feeling remains the same: grateful, exuberant celebration.