Quick Answer
What is zaghareed?
Zaghareed (also called zalghouta or zaghrouta) is a high-pitched, trilling vocal sound — ululation — made by rapidly moving the tongue while vocalizing, typically produced by women at moments of celebration during Arab and Moroccan weddings. It punctuates key moments such as the couple's entrance, the cutting of the antarpat-equivalent curtain moments, the zaffe procession, or the amariya being lifted.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What is zaghareed?
Also called: zalghouta, zaghrouta, ululation.
Zaghareed is the sound that tells everyone in the room, without a word being said, that something joyful just happened. A sharp, sustained trilling call rises above the music the instant the bride enters, the groom arrives, or the couple is lifted on the amariya — usually started by one woman and quickly echoed by others nearby.
When and how zaghareed is used
- •Produced by rapidly moving the tongue side to side against the roof of the mouth while making a high-pitched vocal sound, sustained for several seconds.
- •Typically performed by women, though the exact custom and who leads it varies by family and country.
- •Common trigger moments include the couple's entrance or zaffe, the amariya procession in Moroccan weddings, the cutting of the cake, and the exchange of rings or vows.
- •In Morocco, a similar sound is often referred to locally as "youyou" alongside the more widely used Arabic term zaghareed or zaghrouta.
Planning notes
- •Brief the photographer and videographer to watch for zaghareed moments — they tend to happen fast and are easy to miss if the camera isn't already pointed at the right spot.
- •If sound levels matter for the venue (indoor acoustics, microphones), flag to the audio team that spontaneous loud ululation is expected at certain points in the program.
- •No special vendor or booking is needed for zaghareed itself — it is guest-led, not a performance element that needs planning like a zaffe or dabke troupe.
Brief your photo and video team on key moments
Share a shot list of key celebratory moments with your photographer and videographer using Weddingkart's shared wedding checklist, so fast-moving traditions like zaghareed don't get missed.
Try the wedding checklist tool →Frequently Asked Questions
Is zaghareed only heard at weddings?
No — the same ululation is used at other joyful occasions across Arab and Moroccan culture, such as births, graduations and homecomings, though weddings are one of the most common settings for it.
Is zaghareed the same everywhere in the Arab world?
The core technique is broadly shared, but the name and exact style vary by country and dialect — zaghareed, zalghouta and zaghrouta are commonly used terms, while "youyou" is the more typical Moroccan usage.
Do men ever perform zaghareed?
It is predominantly performed by women in most traditions, though customs vary by family and region, and men's celebratory calls or chants can accompany it at some weddings.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated