Quick answer
Ululation means a long wavering cry, howl, or wail, often high-pitched and repeated. It is usually pronounced yoo-luh-LAY-shun, and today it is still readable to modern audiences, even if it sounds more deliberate than everyday speech.
Word page
Ululation
Ululation means a long wavering cry, howl, or wail, often high-pitched and repeated. It belongs to speech, noise, and verbal nonsense and works best in complaints about jargon, gossip, fuss, and the many noises people make with language. It is still understandable today, but it usually sounds more vivid and deliberate than ordinary modern vocabulary.
At a glance
speechnoiseverbal-nonsensespeech
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, ululation refers to a long wavering cry, howl, or wail, often high-pitched and repeated. It is most useful when a plain label would tell the truth but miss the tone, flavor, or comic edge.
Why this word feels absurd
Ululation feels absurd because its repeated sounds give it a bounce or wobble that makes the word feel half descriptive and half sound effect.
Origin and history
Ululation is generally traced to from Latin ululare, meaning to howl or wail.. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Is this word still used today?
Ululation is uncommon today, but it still makes sense to modern readers because the tone and meaning come across quickly once you see it in context.
Example sentences
- The ululation of mourners carried across the valley.
- Celebration erupted in drums, singing, and ululation.
- Writers often choose ululation for a more vivid effect than simply cry or howl.
- The word has a built-in sense of ritual and intensity.
When should you use this word?
Use ululation when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in complaints about jargon, gossip, fuss, and the many noises people make with language.
Similar words
wail, howl, keen, lament
Opposite or contrasting words
silence, murmur, stillness
Common questions
- What does ululation mean? A long wavering cry, howl, or wail, often high-pitched and repeated.
- How do you pronounce ululation? It is commonly pronounced yoo-luh-LAY-shun.
- Is ululation still used today? Ululation is uncommon today, but it still makes sense to modern readers because the tone and meaning come across quickly once you see it in context.
- When should you use ululation? Use ululation when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in complaints about jargon, gossip, fuss, and the many noises people make with language.
- What words are similar to ululation? Similar words include wail, howl, keen, and lament.
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.