Introducing the Zaghrouta, the Joyous Sound You Heard During Sabrina Carpenter’s Coachella 2026 Set
Getty Images
At this year’s Coachella, 2026 headliner Sabrina Carpenter, along with people from all over the world, is learning what a Zaghrouta is.
This past weekend, Coachella 2026 headliner Sabrina Carpenter not only brought fans and festival goers to “Sabrinawood,” but also unintentionally brought Arab culture into the spotlight. During her Coachella set, a fan vocalized a trilling sound, which Carpenter mistakenly referred to as a “yodel.” While the pop singer drew flak for her reaction to the sound, initially calling it “weird” (which she has since apologized for), the Zaghrouta has now entered the latest internet discourse, and people all over the world want to know more.
What is the Zaghrouta?
The trilling sound is, in fact, part of Middle Eastern culture. In Arab culture, the Zaghrouta is an ululation, characterized by a long, wavering, high-pitched vocal sound representing joy. The sound is produced by emitting a high-pitched, loud voice with the rapid back-and-forth movement of the tongue.
Where and when is the Zaghrouta used?
It is usually performed at celebrations, weddings, and parties, and occasionally at funerals, as a way of honoring someone. In traditional wedding songs, ululations are incorporated, as seen in the Zaghareed, a collection of traditional Palestinian wedding songs. Various forms of ululation can be found across the Middle East, as well as in Africa and some parts of Asia, typically used as an expression of joy and as a spiritual practice. In Europe and the Americas, ululation is used to some extent to signal happiness, praise, and war cries.
In pop culture, this year’s Coachella isn’t the first time that an ululation has been in the spotlight. At the 2020 Super Bowl LIV halftime show, Shakira, whose father is Lebanese, ululated during her performance. In the 90s, the television show Xena: Warrior Princess had a version of ululation, created by actress Lucy Lawless for Xena’s battle cry.
While Carpenter is facing backlash for her initial reaction, she apologized on the social media platform X. The singer wrote: “my apologies i didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly. My reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm, and not ill-intended. Could have handled it better! Now i know what a Zaghrouta is! I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out.”
Though it may not have been the best situation, people from all over the world, just like Carpenter, are now learning what a Zaghrouta is: a sound of joy, meant to be shared with others.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Zaghrouta is a high-pitched, wavering vocal ululation traditional to Middle Eastern and Arab cultures. It functions as a collective expression of celebration, honor, and profound joy, executed by emitting a loud vocalization paired with the rapid back-and-forth lateral movement of the tongue.
The Zaghrouta entered global digital discourse after a festival attendee vocalized the traditional ululation during Sabrina Carpenter’s 2026 Coachella performance. The pop singer’s initial confusion on stage and subsequent public apology on X prompted widespread internet interest regarding the sound’s Middle Eastern origins.
In Arab culture, the Zaghrouta is primarily performed during joyous milestones such as weddings, pre-wedding celebrations, and graduation parties. It is also found in traditional folklore like the Zaghareed—a collection of historic Palestinian wedding songs—and occasionally executed at funerals to honor the deceased.
Beyond Coachella 2026, vocal ululation notably entered Western pop culture during the 2020 Super Bowl LIV halftime show, where pop artist Shakira performed it as a nod to her Lebanese heritage. It was also adapted as a cinematic battle cry for the 1990s television series Xena: Warrior Princess.
While known as the Zaghrouta in Arab regions, variations of vocal ululation exist globally across Africa, parts of Asia, and indigenous cultures in Europe and the Americas. Across these distinct geographies, the vocal technique historically serves as a spiritual practice, a signal of praise, or a traditional war cry.