mehndi

noun

mehn·​di ˈmen-dē 

variants or Mehndi or less commonly mehendi

mə-ˈhen-dē 

or Mehendi

1

: a temporary design that is painted on the skin with a paste made from henna and that is used especially in Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh religious ceremonies or cultural practices

Bridal henna, often called mehndi, is especially popular and features detailed, artistic patterns on the hands and feet.

—Abdullahi Mustapha Haruna

The festival becomes extra special if the mehndi turns darker; as it is believed in Hindu traditions, the darker the colour of the mehndi, the deeper is the love.

—Krishna Priya Pallavi

—often used before another noun

mehndi designs

a mehendi ceremony

Eid dresses are selected and a schedule for Mehndi tattooing is arranged.

—Nixon Lee

2

plural mehndis or mehendis : an event at which mehndi designs are applied

The memorable moments from the mehndi were expertly captured by acclaimed photographer Irfan Ahson …

—Pakistan Observer

Reservations can be made … for functions such as parties, birthdays, weddings, mehndis, conferences and more.

—Manisha Bhanot

Examples of mehndi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Henna, also called mehendi or mehndi, is a South Asian art form using temporary dye paste to create elaborate designs on hands and palms. — Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026

Arrange a tender ceremony After the explosion of color and dancing that was the mehndi, the couple quieted things down for their wedding ceremony, which was purposefully and carefully organized not to be tied to any one religion or culture. — Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Hindi mehaṃdī, mehṃdī (or a cognate Indo-Aryan form) "the henna plant Lawsonia inermis, wedding feast at which the bride's hands and feet are decorated with henna," going back to Sanskrit mendhīka- "the henna plant"

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 2