Meaning & use
leis
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“leis” is a form of “lei”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounplural
More than one lei: rings of flowers worn around the neck, especially in Hawaii.
Grammar: This is the plural form; the singular is 'lei' and takes a singular verb: a lei is, leis are.
Patterns
- wear leis
- make leis
- give someone a lei
The dancers wore bright leis around their necks.
Visitors are often greeted with leis at the airport.
She made leis from fresh plumeria flowers for the party.
Word forms
| singular | lei |
|---|
Common combinations
- wear a lei
- Guests were asked to wear a lei to the luau.
- a garland of leis
- The stage was decorated with garlands of leis.
- fresh leis
- They sold fresh leis near the beach.
Synonyms and how they differ
- garland
- A garland is a general word for any decorative ring of flowers or leaves; a lei is the Hawaiian flower necklace in particular.
Word family
- lei noun
- The singular form: one flower necklace.
Commonly confused: leis or lays?
leis vs lays
'Lays' is the third-person form of the verb 'lay' (to put something down); 'leis' is the plural noun for flower necklaces.
Practice
Which sentence uses the plural noun correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Leis' is the standard plural of 'lei', so 'two leis' is correct. 'Two lei' keeps the singular form, which is not the usual plural in English.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “leis”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.