lala
Low (C2)Informal, colloquial, onomatopoeic
Definition
Meaning
Meaningless vocalizations or sounds, typically associated with singing nonsense syllables or baby talk.
Used to represent singing without words, frivolous or nonsensical talk, or a state of being carefree and oblivious. Can refer to the stereotypical singing style of scat in jazz, or a simple repetitive tune.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Lala" is a reduplicative, onomatopoeic word primarily used for its sound rather than a fixed lexical meaning. Its usage is highly contextual and often conveys a dismissive or playful tone towards someone's speech or singing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. In the US, it is strongly associated with the phrase "la-la land" meaning a state of being out of touch with reality. In the UK, this association exists but is less dominant.
Connotations
UK: Slightly more childish or associated with simple nursery tunes. US: More strongly connotes unrealistic daydreaming or naivety via "la-la land".
Frequency
Rare in formal contexts in both varieties. The phrase "la-la land" is more frequent in American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Sing [lala]Go [lala]Be in [la-la land]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In la-la land (out of touch with reality)”
- “Lalapalooza (US: something excellent, from the festival name)”
- “Sing a different tune (idiom with a related concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in informal criticism: "He's in la-la land with those projections."
Academic
Virtually never used, except perhaps in linguistics or music studies as an example of onomatopoeia or reduplication.
Everyday
Used playfully with children or to mockingly describe someone's humming or unrealistic thinking.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He just lala'd his way through the entire meeting.
- Stop lala-ing and pay attention!
American English
- She was lala-ing along to the radio.
- Don't just lala through your responsibilities.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby sings 'lala'.
- It's a lala song.
- She hummed a little lala tune while working.
- He's not listening; he's in his own lala world.
- The jazz singer began to scat, singing 'lala-bop-shoo-be-doo'.
- His financial plan is pure la-la land; it's completely unrealistic.
- The politician's speech was just so much lala, devoid of any substantive policy.
- Critics dismissed the optimistic report as a product of the government's la-la land mentality.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a baby or cartoon character singing "la la la" with their eyes closed, happily ignoring everything else.
Conceptual Metaphor
NONSENSE IS MEANINGLESS SOUND; IGNORANCE IS BEING UNAWARE (as in 'la-la land').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the affectionate term "лёля" (lyolya) for an older sister or nanny.
- Avoid direct translation; it's a sound, not a standard noun. "Петь ля-ля" would be understood but is very colloquial/childish.
Common Mistakes
- Capitalizing it as a proper noun (unless part of a title like 'Lala').
- Using it in formal writing.
- Trying to assign it a rigid definition.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'lala' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a recognized onomatopoeic and reduplicative word in dictionaries, used to represent singing without words or meaningless sounds.
They are very similar. 'Tra-la-la' is often more specifically associated with a cheerful, skipping tune, while 'lala' is more general for any wordless vocalizing.
It originated as 1970s/80s American slang for Los Angeles (LA), playing on the city's stereotype of dreamers and unrealistic people, before generalizing to mean a state of being out of touch with reality.
Informally, yes. It can be used to mean 'to sing nonsense syllables' or 'to act in a carefree, oblivious manner' (e.g., 'He lala'd through his chores').