Valhalla

noun

Val·​hal·​la val-ˈha-lə How to pronounce Valhalla (audio)
also
väl-ˈhä- How to pronounce Valhalla (audio)
1
: the great hall in Norse mythology where heroes slain in battle are received
2
: a place of honor, glory, or happiness : heaven
an academic's Valhalla

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In Norse mythology, the souls of warriors who died nobly in battle were brought to a magnificent palace, where they spent their days fighting for diversion, immune from lasting injury, and their evenings lustily feasting on freshly killed boar and quaffing the free-flowing mead. In Old Norse, the word for this warrior heaven is Valhǫll (literally, "hall of the slain"); in German, it is Walhalla. English speakers picked up the name as Valhalla in the 18th century. Nowadays, we can use the word figuratively, and induction or admission into a modern-day Valhalla doesn't require passing from this life. It can be a place of honor (a hall of fame, for example) or a place of bliss (as in "an ice cream lover's Valhalla").

Examples of Valhalla in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Zoe Kazan — the granddaughter of Elia Kazan, who directed a 1955 feature film based on the novel — and Jeb Stuart (Die Hard, Vikings: Valhalla) are co-showrunners, with Kazan adapting Steinbeck’s book. Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Oct. 2024 Banks' shirt is made by the Til Valhalla Project, which helps provide mental health treatment to U.S. veterans, has renovated veterans' homes and more. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 19 Oct. 2024 Located in the Asheville Mall, the biggest shopping center in western North Carolina with dozens of specialty stores, Valhalla Indoor Axe Throwing isn't expected to reopen for at earliest a month, at least until water and power restored. Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 5 Oct. 2024 The actor can also be seen in Season 3 of Vikings: Valhalla and the BBC series Wreck. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Valhalla 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Valhalla.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German and Old Norse; German Walhalla, borrowed from Old Norse Valhǫll, literally, "hall of the slain," from valr "the slain" (akin to Old English wæl "slaughter, the slain" and probably to Latin vulnus "wound") + hǫll "hall"; akin to Old English heall "hall" — more at vulnerable, hall

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Valhalla was in 1768

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Dictionary Entries Near Valhalla

Cite this Entry

“Valhalla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Valhalla. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

Valhalla

noun
Val·​hal·​la val-ˈhal-ə How to pronounce Valhalla (audio)
: the hall of Odin in Norse mythology to which the Valkyries take heroes killed in battle
Etymology

derived from an early Norse word Valhǫll, literally "hall of the slain," from valr "those slain (in battle)" and hǫll "hall"

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