Hosanna
/hoʊˈzæn.ə/noun
An expression of praise or adoration, especially in Christian worship, traditionally derived from a plea for salvation.
Did you know?In the New Testament, “hosanna” appears in crowds welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem, preserving a Hebrew-Aramaic plea that gradually became a liturgical acclamation.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא (hôšîʿâ-nāʾ)
“Save, please; a supplication for deliverance”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Aramaic
הוֹשַׁעְנָא (hôšaʿnā)
“A plea meaning “save us, please,” used in Jewish religious language”
1st Century CE
Greek
ὡσαννά (hōsanná)
“A transliteration of the Semitic cry, used in the Greek New Testament”
4th Century CE
Late Latin
hosanna
“A Christian liturgical acclamation adopted from Greek”
12th Century
Old English / Medieval English
hosanna
“A cry of praise or appeal to God in Christian worship”
Modern English
English
hosanna
“An exclamation of praise, triumph, or adoration”
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