הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא
hoshia na
Hosanna comes from the Hebrew hoshia na, which means save, please
What it means
Hoshia na, save, please, is a plea in Psalm 118:25. Its short form hosha na passed into Aramaic, then Greek and Latin, and from there into English as hosanna. It began as a cry for help, and in Jewish prayer it is still an appeal to God.
When Israelis say it
In Jewish prayer the word belongs to the Hoshana service of Sukkot, a cycle of prayers from which a selection is sung each morning of the festival. The whole cycle is sung on the seventh day, Hoshana Rabbah, the great Hoshana. In Hebrew hoshana also names the bundle of willow branches that is customarily beaten on that day. English hosanna has also become a shout of praise in Christian worship.
Frequently asked questions
What does hosanna mean in Hebrew?
Save, please: hoshia na. It is a plea for help, not originally a word of praise.
What is Hoshana Rabbah?
The seventh day of Sukkot, when the full cycle of Hoshana prayers is sung.