حناء
hinna'
The Arabic word for "henna" is حناء (hinna').
The term حناء refers to both the henna plant itself and the dye produced from it.
Meaning: dye (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Gulf Arabic, the word is referred to as حِنَّه (ḥinnah).
How do you pronounce it?
hinna'
When do people say it?
In many Arabic-speaking cultures, henna is traditionally applied to the hands and feet during celebrations such as weddings.
Did you know?
- The Middle Persian root that gave us حناء is also a distant relative of the word for 'Messiah' in Manichaean Middle Persian, referring to 'the anointed one'.
Examples in context
- هل لديك حناء؟hal ladayka ḥinā'?Do you have henna?
Example conversation
Layla and Ziad are at a traditional market.
- ليلى Laylaهل تبيع الحناء هنا؟hal tabī' al-ḥinā' hunā?Do you sell henna here?
- زياد Ziadنعم، لدينا حناء ممتازة.na'am, ladaynā ḥinā' mumtāza.Yes, we have excellent henna.
- ليلى Laylaأحتاج حناء للزينة.aḥtāju ḥinā' lil-zīna.I need henna for decoration.
- زياد Ziadهذه هي أفضل أنواع الحناء.hādhī hiya afḍal anwā' al-ḥinā'.This is the best kind of henna.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries حناء, CC BY-SA 4.0.
