lei

¹

[ley, ley-ee]

noun

plural

leis 

1. (in the Hawaiian Islands) a wreath of flowers, leaves, etc., for the neck or head.

lei

²

[ley]

noun

1. plural of leu.

lei

¹

/ leɪ /

noun

1. (in Hawaii) a garland of flowers, worn around the neck

lei

²

/ leɪ /

noun

1. the plural of leu

Word History and Origins

Origin of lei¹

Borrowed into English from Hawaiian around 1835–45

Word History and Origins

Origin of lei¹

from Hawaiian

Example Sentences

He’s greeted by giggling women who hand him a drink and put flower leis around his neck before the president meets him and gives him a brief tour of Mar-a-Lago.

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A white lei hung around her neck as she attempted to balance her champion’s plaque awkwardly in one hand.

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“I’m sure I’m going to have 50 leis by the time I go home,” he said.

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He added a bookshelf, filling it with items, such as Daniel’s boyhood rock collection and a lei from their trip to Maui.

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I still remember our trip well, that crispy ahi with pineapple salsa, the rainbows in Kauai and the sweet smell of the orchids and plumeria of the leis.

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Related Words

• garland 
• pot 
• vase 
• wreath