alack and alas

Questions

What does alack and alas mean?

Used to express regret or sadness.

Where does alack and alas come from?

An idiom combining a pair of terms with similar meaning. The first syllable in each word is like a sigh; las is from Old French meaning weariness; and lack is from Middle English meaning loss.

How to pronounce alack and alas

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “alack and alas”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “alack and alas”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “alack and alas” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.