what does excelsis deo mean

“Excelsis Deo” is Latin and means “to God in the highest” or “to God most high.”

Basic meaning

• Excelsis = “the highest” or “on high,” referring to the supreme or most exalted place or rank.

• Deo = “to God,” the dative form of Deus (God) in Latin.

So when you see or sing “Gloria in excelsis Deo,” it literally means “Glory to God in the highest.”

Where you’ll hear it

• It comes from an ancient Christian hymn known as Gloria in excelsis Deo , also called the Greater Doxology or Angelic Hymn.

• The phrase is especially famous from Christmas carols and liturgies that echo the angels’ song in the Nativity story: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…”.

TL;DR: “Excelsis Deo” = “to God in the highest,” most often heard as part of “Gloria in excelsis Deo” = “Glory to God in the highest.”

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.