# henna

> English word · Noun · IPA /hɛnə/ · frequency rank #35,332

## Definitions
1. A shrub, Lawsonia inermis, having fragrant reddish flowers.
2. A flower of this plant.
3. A reddish plant substance, prepared from the dried leaves of this plant, used for temporary tattoos and hair coloring. Hair colorings range from bright red to earth brown to near black.
4. A rich reddish-brown colour.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Arabic حِنَّاء (ḥinnāʔ), the name of the tree used to make the dye, probably from Middle Persian [script needed] (*hannāy-, “to smear, anoint”).

## Easily confused with
- **Hera** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/henna-vs-hera)
- **hewn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/henna-vs-hewn)
- **henry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/henna-vs-henry)
- **honda** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/henna-vs-honda)
- **hyena** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/henna-vs-hyena)
- **Henny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/henna-vs-henny)
- **hentai** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/henna-vs-hentai)
- **hernia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/henna-vs-hernia)
- **hen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hen-vs-henna)
- **hea** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hea-vs-henna)
- **Hana** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hana-vs-henna)
- **Hein** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hein-vs-henna)
- **hence** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hence-vs-henna)
- **Hanna** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanna-vs-henna)
- **hella** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hella-vs-henna)
- **Heinz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/heinz-vs-henna)
- **Helga** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/helga-vs-henna)
- **Heine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/heine-vs-henna)
- **Henan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/henan-vs-henna)
- **Hannah** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hannah-vs-henna)

## Common misspellings (4)
`ehnna`, `hena`, `hhenna`, `hnena`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/henna