noun

lei

LAY/leɪ/

A Hawaiian garland worn around the neck or on the head.

A lush flower lei encircles the man's neck and rests on his chest.

A chest-up portrait of a casually dressed young man wearing a lush flower lei, with the continuous garland clearly encircling his neck and resting on his chest.

Etymology

leiHawaiianornament worn around the neck or head

Hawaiian lei names an ornament worn around the neck or head. The flower garland in this English sense is a particular form of that wearable ornament.

In context

Great Big Story2:39

There's many different styles of leis. I'm, personally, specialized in making Haku lei. A Haku lei is generally worn on your head, lei po'o. Like I'm wearing mine on my head. Some people wear them around their neck.

Hawaii’s Long Legacy of Lei Making

More examples

He carefully arranges the lei on his head.
The graduates receive colorful leis from their families.
She strings tiny shells together to make a lei.

Forms

lei · leis

Similar words

garland: Garland also covers decorative strands not intended to be worn.
wreath: Wreath usually means a ring displayed rather than worn.