Tehillah
/te.hiˈlaː/noun
A Hebrew word meaning praise, especially a song or expression of praise to God.
Did you know?The biblical Book of Psalms is called Tehillim in Hebrew—literally “praises,” from the same root as Tehillah.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*hll
“Reconstructed root associated with praising or celebrating; the exact prehistoric form is uncertain.”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
הלל (h-l-l)
“To praise, boast, celebrate, or shine, depending on the grammatical form and context.”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
תְּהִלָּה (tehillah)
“Praise, song of praise, or an expression of glory.”
Second Temple Period
Hebrew
תְּהִלִּים (Tehillim)
““Praises,” the Hebrew name for the collection later known as the Book of Psalms.”
Medieval Hebrew
Hebrew
tehillah
“A term used in Jewish prayer and religious commentary for praise directed toward God.”
Modern English
English
tehillah
“A transliterated Hebrew religious term meaning praise or a song of praise.”
Explore more surprising origins