Ululation ( / ˌ j uː lj ʊ ˈ l eɪ ʃ ən , ˌ ʌ l -/ , from Latin ululo ), also called trilling or lele, is a long, high-pitched sound that sounds like a howl. It has a wavy, changing quality. This sound is made by using a high-pitched, loud voice. The tongue and uvula move quickly back and forth while making the sound.

Around the world

Ululation is a vocal sound used in many cultures around the world. It is performed by individuals or groups during special events such as weddings, religious ceremonies, and celebrations. People use ululation to show strong emotions like joy, pride, or excitement.

Ululation is practiced in many regions, including Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Central and South Asia, and parts of Europe where communities from these areas live. In the Middle East, ululation is often heard at weddings. In Arab cultures, a type of ululation called zaghrouta is used to honor people. For example, in Egypt, long and loud ululations are performed in movies and real-life weddings to celebrate the bride and groom. In Palestine, a group called El-Funoun created a collection of traditional wedding songs that include ululation.

In Kurdish culture, ululation is part of celebrations such as weddings, henna nights, and Newroz. Among Mizrahi Jews, ululation is used during festive events like weddings, bar mitzvahs, and the celebration of a Torah scroll. These sounds are also found in music by artists who perform Mizrahi styles.

In Iran, a form of ululation called kel or kel keshidan is performed by women during weddings and other celebrations. During traditional ceremonies, women enter a home by placing their hands over their mouths and making the kel sound. This is a way to greet others and express joy together.

In Iranian art and culture, ululation is shown in movies and TV shows. These works explain how ululation is tied to traditions, such as the idea that marriage is a lifelong journey. In some scenes, the bride herself plays a musical instrument and makes ululation sounds, which are usually done by others in traditional settings.

The Shanbehzadeh Ensemble, a music group from Iran, performs traditional songs, dances, and cultural practices from the Persian Gulf region. They include ululation in their music as part of celebrations and rituals.

In Ethiopia and Eritrea, ululation is part of Christian religious services. It is also used in music. In Somalia, it is called Alalaas, and in other African cultures, it has different names such as guda (Hausa), lilizela (Zulu), and nkulungwani (Tsonga). In African music styles like Tshangani, ululation is used by audiences to participate in songs through clapping and singing.

In Tanzania, ululation is a way to celebrate good news, weddings, and other events. It is called vigelegele in Swahili and udhalili in Luo. Women often yell lililili in high-pitched voices during these times. Girls take pride in learning to ululate like their mothers and aunts.

In parts of India, ululation is called Ululudhvani and is used in religious rituals, weddings, and festivals. Different regions have their own names for it, such as Hulahuli in Odisha and uruli in Assam. In Kerala, it is called kurava, and in Kashmir, it is called Zagruta. It is often used during weddings, birthdays, and other joyful events.

Ululation is also found in many African countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, and South Africa. It is used by women to celebrate weddings, births, and other events. During weddings, women gather around the bride and groom, dancing and ululating together. At graduation ceremonies, ululation is used to show pride in academic achievements.

In parts of Europe, some women use ululation. For example, the irrintzi in the Basque region is a sound used by shepherds to show happiness. It has also been studied as a way to help people with vocal issues. In Galicia, a sound called aturuxo is made with throat singing.

Some Native American tribes also use ululation. In the Lakota tribe, women yell lililili to praise warriors. The Apache, Cherokee, and other tribes use ululation as war cries or expressions of pride.

In ancient times

In Ancient Egypt, mentions of ululation are found in the Pyramid Texts of Unas, on the West Wall of the Corridor (section XIII), and in the Spells for Entering the Akhet of Pepi I. In ancient Greece, ululation (Greek: ὀλολυγή, romanized: ololuge) was often used to express joy during celebrations or when an animal was sacrificed. However, in Aeschylus' play Agamemnon, it also shows anger, and in Sophocles' play Electra, it is used to express sorrow. Like in many cultures, the meaning of ululation depended on the situation: it could be a cry of sadness or a shout during battle.

Homer and Herodotus both wrote about ololuge (ululation). Herodotus described ululation in North Africa, where it is still practiced today.

The Hebrew word Hallelujah, meaning "praise the Lord," comes from the root H-L-L, which is connected to the idea of "praise." This root may have originally been a sound similar to ululation used in Israelite rituals.

In popular culture

In the 1990s television show Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena's famous battle cry is an adapted version of an Arabic ululation. Actress Lucy Lawless developed the sound after observing women at a funeral, as requested by the show's creator, Rob Tapert, who wanted a unique sound for the character.

During the 2020 Super Bowl LIV halftime show, Colombian singer Shakira, who has a Lebanese father, made an ululating sound toward the camera during her performance.