FROM THE ARCHIVESaturday, October 17, 2026
ululate
YOO-lyoo-layt/ˈjuːljuleɪt//verb
01 / MEANING
To make a long, wavering cry, especially in grief or celebration.
In a sentence.
- 01
The crowd began to ululate as the dancers entered.
- 02
The mourners began to ululate when the procession passed.
Where it came from.
Ululate was borrowed from Latin ululō, ‘to howl.’ The Latin word is imitative: its repeated sounds echo the cry it names.
Explore the sourceWhy it’s interesting.
Its sound enacts its meaning, and the same vocal cry can express opposite emotions: sorrow or joy.