English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

henna

heh-nuh

Henna (noun) means a reddish-brown dye made from a flowering shrub, used to color hair or create temporary tattoos on skin. Example: “She had intricate henna patterns painted on her hands for the wedding.”

noun
1
A reddish-brown dye made from a flowering shrub, used to color hair or create temporary tattoos on skin.
"She had intricate henna patterns painted on her hands for the wedding."
"He used henna instead of chemical dye to color his beard."
verb
1
To dye or decorate something with henna.
"Her grandmother hennaed her hair every few months."

How to use henna

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA natural reddish-brown dye from a plant, used for hair color or temporary body art.

Common pairings
henna tattoo henna design dye with henna

Word forms

hennaed past tense, hennas plural, hennas singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “henna” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She had intricate _____ patterns painted on her hands for the wedding.

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic hinna, the name of the plant the dye comes from.

Origin: Arabic

Rhymes for henna

See all rhymes for henna →

Frequently asked questions

What does “henna” mean?

The word “henna” means a reddish-brown dye made from a flowering shrub, used to color hair or create temporary tattoos on skin. In plain terms, a natural reddish-brown dye from a plant, used for hair color or temporary body art.

How do you pronounce “henna”?

“Henna” is pronounced heh-nuh (/hɛnə/ in IPA).

How do you use “henna” in a sentence?

Here is “henna” used in a sentence: “She had intricate henna patterns painted on her hands for the wedding.”

What part of speech is “henna”?

Depending on how it is used, “henna” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “henna” come from?

The word “henna” comes from Arabic. Borrowed from Arabic hinna, the name of the plant the dye comes from.

How many meanings does “henna” have?

“Henna” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a reddish-brown dye made from a flowering shrub, used to color hair or create temporary tattoos on skin.

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial