"ullaloo" means: An Irish word for a loud cry of grief or lamentation — the kind of wailing, keening sound associated with mourning at funerals in traditiona.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
ullaloo
An Irish word for a loud cry of grief or lamentation — the kind of wailing, keening sound associated with mourning at funerals in traditional Irish culture.
Definitions
#1·Apr 28, 2026
An Irish word for a loud cry of grief or lamentation — the kind of wailing, keening sound associated with mourning at funerals in traditional Irish culture. Also spelled 'ululu' or 'ullalu,' it captures the raw, communal expression of sorrow. The ullaloo was part of the Irish wake tradition where family and community would gather to mourn loudly together. Today it's mostly a literary or historical term, but it's occasionally used to describe any dramatic or theatrical outburst of grief.
When the news spread through the village, you could hear the ullaloo rising from the house at the end of the lane.
Origin: From Irish Gaelic 'ulagón' (lamentation, keening) or possibly echoing the sound of keening itself. Related to the traditional Irish funeral practice of 'keening' — a form of ritualized communal mourning dating back centuries. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora (model-assisted, hedged).
For parents
"ullaloo" means: An Irish word for a loud cry of grief or lamentation — the kind of wailing, keening sound associated with mourning at funerals in traditiona.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
"ullaloo" means: An Irish word for a loud cry of grief or lamentation — the kind of wailing, keening sound associated with mourning at funerals in traditiona.... Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (Irish) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in
Cluster: hedging
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(Ireland) lamentation; coronach.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Semantically related
- whillaballoo69%
An archaic Irish variant of 'hullabaloo' — meaning a loud, chaotic uproar, commotion, or noisy fuss. While 'hullabaloo' is still in everyday English use, 'whillaballoo' is the older Irish form, carrying the same sense of disorder and noise but with a more distinctly Irish sonic character. It might describe the chaos of a crowded pub, a community dispute, or any situation where everyone is shouting at once and nothing is getting resolved. Evocative and wonderfully Irish in its sound.
- tooraloo62%
Tooraloo is an Irish and Australian informal farewell expression meaning goodbye or cheerio — a warm, informal parting word. As a verb it can also mean to express something in song, trilling in a light manner. The Irish and Australian usage as a goodbye follows the tradition of musical or nonsense syllables being repurposed as social phrases. It carries a light, cheerful register — not a solemn farewell but the kind of thing you say to someone you'll see again soon.
- whillaballoo59%
(Ireland, archaic) hullabaloo.
- philliloo59%
Irish dialect word for a noisy disturbance, row, or commotion. Typically used in a slightly amused or exasperated tone when describing the kind of chaotic scene that involves shouting, confusion, or a small-scale brawl. Found in older Irish English and regional speech rather than mainstream contemporary usage.