noun
lorelei
LAW-ruh-leye
Lorelei (noun) means a woman viewed as dangerously alluring, like the legendary siren said to lure sailors to their doom. Example: “She played the lorelei in the film, drawing men into ruin with her charm.”
noun
1
A woman viewed as dangerously alluring, like the legendary siren said to lure sailors to their doom.
"She played the lorelei in the film, drawing men into ruin with her charm."
name
1
A female given name of German origin.
"Lorelei grew up near the Rhine, close to the rock that shares her name."
How to use lorelei
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA seductive, dangerous woman (from German legend), or a given name inspired by the same story.
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Word forms
- Plural
- loreleis
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She played the _____ in the film, drawing men into ruin with her charm.
Etymology
From the Lorelei, a rock cliff on the Rhine river in Germany said in legend to be haunted by a siren who lured sailors to their deaths.
Rhymes for lorelei
See all rhymes for lorelei →Frequently asked questions
What does “lorelei” mean?
The word “lorelei” means a woman viewed as dangerously alluring, like the legendary siren said to lure sailors to their doom. In plain terms, a seductive, dangerous woman (from German legend), or a given name inspired by the same story.
How do you pronounce “lorelei”?
“Lorelei” is pronounced LAW-ruh-leye (/ˈlɔːɹəlaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “lorelei” in a sentence?
Here is “lorelei” used in a sentence: “She played the lorelei in the film, drawing men into ruin with her charm.”
What part of speech is “lorelei”?
Depending on how it is used, “lorelei” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “lorelei” come from?
The word “lorelei” comes from German. From the Lorelei, a rock cliff on the Rhine river in Germany said in legend to be haunted by a siren who lured sailors to their deaths.
How many meanings does “lorelei” have?
“Lorelei” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a woman viewed as dangerously alluring, like the legendary siren said to lure sailors to their doom.
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