Henna

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Henna

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun and verb

Pronunciation

HEN-uh  /ˈhɛnə/

Definition

A shrub (Lawsonia inermis) native to North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, whose leaves yield a reddish-brown dye; the dye itself; a traditional art form in which this dye is applied in intricate patterns to the skin, especially for weddings and festivals. As a verb: to dye or decorate with henna.

Plain meaning

Henna is the reddish-brown dye made from the leaves of the henna plant, used across North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia to decorate skin and dye hair. As an art form, henna designs are applied for weddings and festivals — most famously as mehndi in South Asian wedding traditions.

Register

Neutral. Henna is used in cosmetic, cultural, and botanical contexts. Mehndi is the South Asian term for the art form specifically; henna is the more widely understood English term for both the plant and the dye.