wa la wa

Old English

FWOTD – 2 August 2015

Alternative forms

• ƿā lā ƿā — wynn spelling

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wɑː lɑː wɑː/

Interjection

wā lā wā

1. alas, oh woe
   • 731, Bede, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, 1722 edition prepared by John Smith, p. 501:

     Wa la wa! Þæt is sarlic

     Oh woe! That is sad

Descendants

• Middle English: weylawey
  • Scots: walawa, wallawa
  • English: welaway, wellaway (archaic)