hosanna: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary, Religious, Formal
Quick answer
What does “hosanna” mean?
An exclamation of praise, adoration, or joy directed towards God, especially used in religious contexts.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An exclamation of praise, adoration, or joy directed towards God, especially used in religious contexts.
An expression of fervent praise or jubilation, sometimes used outside of strictly religious contexts to signify great acclaim or welcome.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or core usage. The liturgical pronunciation may follow local traditions (e.g., influenced by Anglican vs. American Protestant chants).
Connotations
Strongly associated with Christian worship, particularly Palm Sunday celebrations. In both varieties, its use outside this sphere is highly marked and literary.
Frequency
Equally low in both varieties, confined almost exclusively to religious texts, hymns, sermons, and literary allusions.
Grammar
How to Use “hosanna” in a Sentence
[Congregation] + cried/shouted + hosanna + [to God/King]Let us + sing/shout + hosannaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hosanna” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The congregation began to hosanna as the procession entered.
- They hosanna'd with great fervour.
American English
- The crowd hosannaed as the figure approached.
- Fans almost hosannaed the returning champion.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in theological, historical, or literary studies discussing religious texts or practices.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
A technical term in liturgy, hymnology, and biblical studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hosanna”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hosanna”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hosanna”
- Using it as a countable noun in plural form without a clear liturgical context (e.g., 'He received many hosannas' is highly marked).
- Mispronouncing the middle syllable with a 'z' sound as in 'zoo' (/zuː/) instead of /zæn/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. While possible (e.g., 'to hosanna'), it is highly literary and almost exclusively found in religious or poetic contexts, not in everyday speech.
Both are cries of praise. 'Hosanna' is originally a plea for salvation ('save, we pray') that became an acclamation, strongly tied to the Palm Sunday narrative. 'Hallelujah' means 'praise Yahweh' and is used more broadly in praise psalms and music.
Yes, as 'hosannas', but this usage is literary. It refers to multiple shouts or expressions of praise (e.g., 'the hosannas of the crowd').
It is a low-frequency word. Recognition is useful for understanding Western culture, literature, and music (e.g., Handel's 'Messiah'), but active use is unnecessary for general communication.
An exclamation of praise, adoration, or joy directed towards God, especially used in religious contexts.
Hosanna is usually literary, religious, formal in register.
Hosanna: in British English it is pronounced /hə(ʊ)ˈzanə/, and in American English it is pronounced /hoʊˈzænə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hosanna in the highest (a fixed liturgical phrase)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HO-SANNA: Picture a crowd HOisting SANNA (like Santa) as a king, shouting 'Hosanna!' to praise him.
Conceptual Metaphor
JOYFUL PRAISE IS A TRIUMPHAL SHOUT; DIVINE ACCEPTANCE IS A WELCOMING CHEER.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'hosanna' MOST appropriately used?