noun Uncommon

lei

lay

Lei (noun) means a garland made of flowers, leaves, or shells, traditionally worn around the neck in Hawaii as a sign of welcome or celebration. Example: “She was greeted at the airport with a lei of fresh orchids.”

noun

A garland made of flowers, leaves, or shells, traditionally worn around the neck in Hawaii as a sign of welcome or celebration.

"She was greeted at the airport with a lei of fresh orchids."

"Guests at the luau each received a lei made of plumeria."

How to use lei

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA flower garland, especially the kind draped over your shoulders as a Hawaiian greeting.

Common pairings

flower lei given a lei lei ceremony

Word forms

leis plural, Leis plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She was greeted at the airport with a _____ of fresh orchids.

Etymology

Borrowed directly from Hawaiian lei.

Synonyms

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garland wreath coronal leu chaplet

Related words

garland wreath corona chaplet coronal leu

Rhymes for lei

sei rei kei Mei Wei Pei Fei Kohei Brunei sensei Taipei Andrei

See all rhymes for lei →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lei” mean?

The word “lei” means a garland made of flowers, leaves, or shells, traditionally worn around the neck in Hawaii as a sign of welcome or celebration. In plain terms, a flower garland, especially the kind draped over your shoulders as a Hawaiian greeting.

How do you pronounce “lei”?

“Lei” is pronounced lay (/leɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “lei” in a sentence?

Here is “lei” used in a sentence: “She was greeted at the airport with a lei of fresh orchids.”

What part of speech is “lei”?

“Lei” is a noun.

Is “lei” a common word?

“Lei” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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garland wreath corona chaplet coronal leu