lei

See also: Appendix:Variations of "lei"

Languages (28)

Translingual • English

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Afrikaans • Basque • Bavarian • Bourguignon • Dutch • Finnish • Friulian • Galician • Hawaiian • Italian • Luxembourgish • Ma'di • Mandarin • Mizo • North Frisian • Northern Sami • Norwegian Bokmål • Norwegian Nynorsk • Occitan • Old French • Portuguese • Romanian • Sardinian • Scots • Spanish • Zou

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Page categories

Translingual

Etymology

Abbreviation of English Lemio.

Symbol

lei

1. (international standards) ISO 639-3 language code for Lemio.

See also

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Lemio terms

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: lā, IPA^(key): /leɪ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪ
• Homophones: lay, ley

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Hawaiian lei.

Noun

lei (plural leis)

1. A garland of flowers in Hawaii.
   • 2013 August 30, Kat Kinsman, “Something borrowed: Wedding traditions from around the world”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     Both brides and grooms in native Hawaiian tradition wear flower garlands as a physical manifestation of their love for one another, and to some, the twining of the stems is reflective of two families now becoming one. A more tourist-friendly version established in the past couple of decades involves winding the leis around the couple’s hands to bind them together.

Derived terms

• haku lei
• Lei Day
• leied

Translations

garland of flowers in Hawaii

Chinese: Mandarin: 花環 / 花环 (zh) (huāhuán) Esperanto: havaja kolĉeno Finnish: lei (fi) Hawaiian: lei Māori: hei Russian: ле́и n (léi), лей (ru) m (lej) Tagalog: ley Tahitian: hei

See also

• Lei (Hawaii) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Romanian lei.

Noun

lei

1. plural of leu

Anagrams

• EIL, lie, ile-, Eli, Lie, LIE, Ile, -lie, -ile, %ile, ELI, ile

Afrikaans

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [lə̟i̯]
• Homophone: ly

Etymology 1

From Dutch leiden, from Middle Dutch leiden, from Old Dutch leiden, from Proto-Germanic *laidijaną.

Verb

lei (present lei, present participle leidende or leiende, past participle gelei)

1. to lead

Derived terms

• leier

Etymology 2

From Dutch lei, from Middle Dutch leye, probably from Celtic and ultimately from a substrate language.

Noun

lei (uncountable)

1. slate (stone)

Basque

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lei̯/ [lei̯]
• Rhymes: -ei̯
• Hyphenation: lei

Noun

lei inan

1. ice, frost

Declension

Declension of lei (inan V-stem)

	indefinite	singular	plural	proximal plural
absolutive	lei	leia	leiak	leiok
ergative	leik	leiak	leiek	leiok
dative	leiri	leiari	leiei	leioi
genitive	leiren	leiaren	leien	leion
comitative	leirekin	leiarekin	leiekin	leiokin
causative	leirengatik	leiarengatik	leiengatik	leiongatik
benefactive	leirentzat	leiarentzat	leientzat	leiontzat
instrumental	leiez	leiaz	leiez	leiotaz
inessive	leitan	leian	leietan	leiotan
locative	leitako	leiko	leietako	leiotako
allative	leitara	leira	leietara	leiotara
terminative	leitaraino	leiraino	leietaraino	leiotaraino
directive	leitarantz	leirantz	leietarantz	leiotarantz
destinative	leitarako	leirako	leietarako	leiotarako
ablative	leitatik	leitik	leietatik	leiotatik
partitive	leirik	—	—	—
prolative	leitzat	—	—	—

Further reading

• “lei”, in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy] (in Basque), Euskaltzaindia [Royal Academy of the Basque Language]
• “lei”, in Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia [General Basque Dictionary], Euskaltzaindia, 1987–2005

Bavarian

Alternative forms

• lai

Adverb

lei

1. (Austria, Tyrol) only, just

Bourguignon

Alternative forms

• leu (Morvan)

Etymology

From Latin locus.

Noun

lei m (plural leis)

1. place

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lɛi̯/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛi̯

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch leye, probably an old Germanic loan from Gaulish *lēi, from Proto-Celtic *līwanks (compare *līwos (“stone”)), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₁w- (“stone”), see also Ancient Greek λᾶας (lâas, “stone”), Albanian lerë (“boulder”).

Noun

lei f (plural leien, diminutive leitje n)

1. (uncountable) slate (material)
2. (countable) slate (object)

Derived terms

• leien
• leisteen
• met een schone lei herbeginnen

Descendants

• → Papiamentu: lei (dated)

See also

• -lei
• griffel

Etymology 2

From Middle Dutch leide, with the same development as in zeggen > zei.

Verb

lei

1. (archaic) singular past indicative of leggen

Anagrams

• iel

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlei̯/, [ˈle̞i̯]
• Rhymes: -ei
• Syllabification^(key): lei
• Hyphenation^(key): lei

Etymology 1

From Hawaiian lei.

Noun

lei

1. lei (Hawaiian garland of flowers)

Declension

Inflection of lei (Kotus type 18/maa, no gradation)
nominative	lei	leit
genitive	lein	leiden leitten
partitive	leitä	leitä
illative	leihin	leihin
	singular	plural
nominative	lei	leit
accusative	nom.	lei	leit
gen.	lein
genitive	lein	leiden leitten
partitive	leitä	leitä
inessive	leissä	leissä
elative	leistä	leistä
illative	leihin	leihin
adessive	leillä	leillä
ablative	leiltä	leiltä
allative	leille	leille
essive	leinä	leinä
translative	leiksi	leiksi
abessive	leittä	leittä
instructive	—	lein
comitative	See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of lei (Kotus type 18/maa, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative leini leini accusative nom. leini leini gen. leini genitive leini leideni leitteni partitive leitäni leitäni inessive leissäni leissäni elative leistäni leistäni illative leihini leihini adessive leilläni leilläni ablative leiltäni leiltäni allative leilleni leilleni essive leinäni leinäni translative leikseni leikseni abessive leittäni leittäni instructive — — comitative — leineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative leisi leisi accusative nom. leisi leisi gen. leisi genitive leisi leidesi leittesi partitive leitäsi leitäsi inessive leissäsi leissäsi elative leistäsi leistäsi illative leihisi leihisi adessive leilläsi leilläsi ablative leiltäsi leiltäsi allative leillesi leillesi essive leinäsi leinäsi translative leiksesi leiksesi abessive leittäsi leittäsi instructive — — comitative — leinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative leimme leimme accusative nom. leimme leimme gen. leimme genitive leimme leidemme leittemme partitive leitämme leitämme inessive leissämme leissämme elative leistämme leistämme illative leihimme leihimme adessive leillämme leillämme ablative leiltämme leiltämme allative leillemme leillemme essive leinämme leinämme translative leiksemme leiksemme abessive leittämme leittämme instructive — — comitative — leinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative leinne leinne accusative nom. leinne leinne gen. leinne genitive leinne leidenne leittenne partitive leitänne leitänne inessive leissänne leissänne elative leistänne leistänne illative leihinne leihinne adessive leillänne leillänne ablative leiltänne leiltänne allative leillenne leillenne essive leinänne leinänne translative leiksenne leiksenne abessive leittänne leittänne instructive — — comitative — leinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative leinsä leinsä accusative nom. leinsä leinsä gen. leinsä genitive leinsä leidensä leittensä partitive leitään leitänsä leitään leitänsä inessive leissään leissänsä leissään leissänsä elative leistään leistänsä leistään leistänsä illative leihinsä leihinsä adessive leillään leillänsä leillään leillänsä ablative leiltään leiltänsä leiltään leiltänsä allative leilleen leillensä leilleen leillensä essive leinään leinänsä leinään leinänsä translative leikseen leiksensä leikseen leiksensä abessive leittään leittänsä leittään leittänsä instructive — — comitative — leineen leinensä

See also

• kukkaseppele

Further reading

• “lei”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[2] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 1 July 2023

Etymology 2

From Romanian lei.

Noun

lei (nonstandard, obsolete)

1. leu (unit of currency of Romania and Moldova)

Declension

Inflection of lei (Kotus type 18/maa, no gradation)
nominative	lei	leit
genitive	lein	leiden leitten
partitive	leitä	leitä
illative	leihin	leihin
	singular	plural
nominative	lei	leit
accusative	nom.	lei	leit
gen.	lein
genitive	lein	leiden leitten
partitive	leitä	leitä
inessive	leissä	leissä
elative	leistä	leistä
illative	leihin	leihin
adessive	leillä	leillä
ablative	leiltä	leiltä
allative	leille	leille
essive	leinä	leinä
translative	leiksi	leiksi
abessive	leittä	leittä
instructive	—	lein
comitative	See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of lei (Kotus type 18/maa, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative leini leini accusative nom. leini leini gen. leini genitive leini leideni leitteni partitive leitäni leitäni inessive leissäni leissäni elative leistäni leistäni illative leihini leihini adessive leilläni leilläni ablative leiltäni leiltäni allative leilleni leilleni essive leinäni leinäni translative leikseni leikseni abessive leittäni leittäni instructive — — comitative — leineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative leisi leisi accusative nom. leisi leisi gen. leisi genitive leisi leidesi leittesi partitive leitäsi leitäsi inessive leissäsi leissäsi elative leistäsi leistäsi illative leihisi leihisi adessive leilläsi leilläsi ablative leiltäsi leiltäsi allative leillesi leillesi essive leinäsi leinäsi translative leiksesi leiksesi abessive leittäsi leittäsi instructive — — comitative — leinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative leimme leimme accusative nom. leimme leimme gen. leimme genitive leimme leidemme leittemme partitive leitämme leitämme inessive leissämme leissämme elative leistämme leistämme illative leihimme leihimme adessive leillämme leillämme ablative leiltämme leiltämme allative leillemme leillemme essive leinämme leinämme translative leiksemme leiksemme abessive leittämme leittämme instructive — — comitative — leinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative leinne leinne accusative nom. leinne leinne gen. leinne genitive leinne leidenne leittenne partitive leitänne leitänne inessive leissänne leissänne elative leistänne leistänne illative leihinne leihinne adessive leillänne leillänne ablative leiltänne leiltänne allative leillenne leillenne essive leinänne leinänne translative leiksenne leiksenne abessive leittänne leittänne instructive — — comitative — leinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative leinsä leinsä accusative nom. leinsä leinsä gen. leinsä genitive leinsä leidensä leittensä partitive leitään leitänsä leitään leitänsä inessive leissään leissänsä leissään leissänsä elative leistään leistänsä leistään leistänsä illative leihinsä leihinsä adessive leillään leillänsä leillään leillänsä ablative leiltään leiltänsä leiltään leiltänsä allative leilleen leillensä leilleen leillensä essive leinään leinänsä leinään leinänsä translative leikseen leiksensä leikseen leiksensä abessive leittään leittänsä leittään leittänsä instructive — — comitative — leineen leinensä

Synonyms

• (unit of currency): leu

Anagrams

• eli, lie

Friulian

Etymology

From Latin legere.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɛj/

Verb

lei (past participle let)

1. to read

Related terms

• letôr
• leture
• lezion

Galician

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lei/

Etymology 1

From Old Galician-Portuguese lei, ley, from earlier lee, from Latin lex, lēgem, from Proto-Italic *lēg-, from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-s < *leǵ-.

Noun

lei f (plural leis)

1. law (clarification of this definition is needed)
2. religion, credence, worship of a god

Related terms

• leal

Etymology 2

Noun

lei m pl

1. plural of leu

Hawaiian

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlei̯/, [ˈlɛj]

Noun

lei (ka)

1. lei, a wreath of flowers or leaves
2. necklace
3. (by extension) child, carried on the shoulders like a lei

Derived terms

• lei o manō

Descendants

• → English: lei

Verb

lei

1. to leap

Italian

Etymology

Inherited from Latin illaei.

The formal address Lei appears in the 16th century in connection with Signoria (“Lordship”), Eccellenza (“Excellency”), Santità (“Holiness”) and Magnificenza, alongside Voi.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɛj/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Homophone: Lei
• Rhymes: -ɛj
• Hyphenation: lèi

Pronoun

lei f (plural loro, masculine lui)

1. she

   Synonym: ella

2. her
3. it
   • 1320, Dante Alighieri, Divine Comedy, Amadeo Augusto Lange (1788), page 161:

     La pioggia cadde, e a’ foſſati venne / Di lei ciò che la terra non ſofferſe

     The rain fell and into the channels ran / Whatever of it was not absorbed by the ground

   • ca. 1349-1353, Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron, Tipografia della Società Belgica (1841), page 228:

     […] videro il drappo, et in quello la testa, non ancor sì consumata, che essi alla capellatura crespa non conoscessero lei esser quella di Lorenzo.

     […] they saw the cloth and the head wrapped inside it, which was not yet sufficiently decomposed that they could not help but identify it, from the curly hair, as being Lorenzo’s.

   • ca. 1349-1353, Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron, Tipografia della Società Belgica (1841), page 512:

     […] Filomena in ciò che dell’amistà dice, racconta il vero, e con ragione nel fine delle sue parole si dolse lei oggi così poco da’ mortali esser gradita.

     […] Philomena is in the right as to what she has said upon friendship; and it was with reason she complained, last of all, of its being in such little esteem with mankind […]

   • 1984, Stefano Benni, Stranalandia, Feltrinelli, published 2015, page 76:

     La banana di Stranalandia è alla base dell’economia dell’isola. Senza di lei la vita qui sarebbe molto dura.

     The banana of Strangeland forms the basis of the island’s economy. Without it, life here would be very tough.

Synonyms

• essa

Related terms

• colei

Pronoun

lei sg

1. (formal, polite) you

   Synonym: (uncommon) voi

Alternative forms

• Lei

Derived terms

• a lei
• dare del lei

See also

Italian personal pronouns

	singular		plural
first	second	second formal / polite5	third	first	second	second formal / polite5	third
m or f	m	f	m or f	m	f
nominative	io	tu	Lei, Ella8	lui, egli8, ello8, elli3, 8, esso8	lei, ella8, essa8	noi	voi, Voi7	Loro	loro
elli3, 8, ellino4, 8, eglino4, 8, essi8	elle3, 8, elleno4, 8, esse8
atonic (clitic)11	accusative / dative-reflexive	mi, m', -mi, me9	ti, t', -ti, te9	―	si6, s', -si, se9, ci13	ci, c', -ci, ce9	vi, Vi7, v', V'7, -vi, -Vi7, ve9	―	si, s', -si, se9
accusative	La, -La, L'	lo, l', -lo, il4	la, l', -la	Le, -Le	li, -li	le, -le
dative	Le, -Le	glie9	Loro10	loro10, gli2, -gli2, glie9
gli, -gli	le, -le, gli2, -gli2
locative	―	ci, c', vi1, v'1	―	ci, c', vi1, v'1
partitive	ne, n'	ne, n'
tonic12	prepositional-reflexive	―	sé	―	sé
oblique	me	te	Lei	lui, esso8	lei, essa8	noi	voi, Voi7	Loro	loro,
essi8	elle8, esse8
1	Formal.
2	Informal.
3	Archaic.
4	Obsolete.
5	Grammatically third person forms used semantically in the second person as a formal or polite way of addressing someone (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead.
6	Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive.
7	Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous).
8	Traditional grammars still indicate the forms egli (animate), ello / ella (animate), esso / essa and their plurals as the nominative forms of the third person pronouns; outside of very formal or archaizing contexts, all such forms have been replaced by the obliques lui, lei, loro.
9	Forms used when followed by a third-person direct object proclitic (lo, la, li, le, or ne).
10	Used after verbs.
11	Unstressed forms, stand alone forms are found proclitically (except dative loro / Loro), others enclitically (-mi, -ti, etc.).
12	Disjunctive, emphatic oblique forms used as direct objects placed after verbs, in exclamations, along prepositions (prepositional) and some adverbs (come, quanto, etc.); also used with a to create alternative emphatic dative forms.
13	Only in "ci si", replaces indefinite si (“one”) before reflexive si (“oneself”).

Anagrams

• -ile, eli

Luxembourgish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lɑɪ̯/

Verb

lei

1. second-person singular imperative of leien

Ma'di

Etymology 1

Cognate with Lugbara lɛ́ɛ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [lɛ́(j)ɨ́]
• Hyphenation: le‧i

Noun

léí

2. milk

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation 1

• IPA^(key): [lé(j)í]
• Hyphenation: le‧i

Noun

lẹ́ị́ (plural lẹ̃ị)

2. herdsman
3. babysitter

Pronunciation 2

• IPA^(key): [lè(j)ī]
• Hyphenation: le‧i

Noun

lẹ̃ị

2. plural of lẹ́ị́

References

• Mairi Blackings; Nigel Fabb (2003), A Grammar of Ma'di, New York: Mouton de Gruyter, page 64

Mandarin

Romanization

lei (lei⁵ / lei⁰, Zhuyin ˙ㄌㄟ)

1. Hanyu Pinyin reading of 嘞

lei

1. nonstandard spelling of lēi
2. nonstandard spelling of léi
3. nonstandard spelling of lěi
4. nonstandard spelling of lèi

Usage notes

• Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

Mizo

Etymology 1

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *lay (“earth”), from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *mV-lej.

Noun

lei

1. earth
2. the ground
3. soil

Etymology 2

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *(h)lay (“to buy”), from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *laj (“to exchange”).

Verb

lei

1. to buy, purchase

Etymology 3

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *(h)lay (“bridge”), from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *sV-ləj (“ladder, bridge”).

Noun

lei

1. bridge

Etymology 4

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *lay (“tongue”), from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m/s-laj ~ s-lej.

Noun

lei

1. tongue (organ in mouth)

Further reading

• Lorrain, J. Herbert (1940), “lei”, in Dictionary of the Lushai language, Calcutta: Asiatic Society

North Frisian

Alternative forms

• läie (Goesharde)
• laie (Halligen)
• lai (Heligoland)
• lade (Mooring)
• lii (Sylt)
• läde (Wiedingharde)

Etymology

From Old Frisian ledza, from Proto-West Germanic *liggjan, from Proto-Germanic *ligjaną (“to lie”), from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“to lie”).

Verb

lei (Föhr-Amrum)

1. to lie; to be situated
2. to lay

Northern Sami

Pronunciation

• (Kautokeino) IPA^(key): /ˈlej/

Verb

lei

1. third-person singular past indicative of leat

Norwegian Bokmål

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /læɪ̯/

Etymology 1

From Old Norse leiðr.

Adjective

lei (masculine and feminine lei, neuter leit, definite singular and plural leie, comparative leiere, indefinite superlative leiest, definite superlative leieste)

1. uncomfortable, bothersome
2. bored, tired
3. sad, unfortunate

Etymology 2

From Old Norse leið.

Noun

lei f or m (definite singular leia or leien, indefinite plural leier, definite plural leiene)

1. direction
2. distance

Etymology 3

Alternative forms

• led (of lide)

Verb

lei

1. simple past of lide
2. imperative of leie

References

• “lei” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lɛɪː/

Etymology 1

From Old Norse leið.

Noun

lei f (definite singular leia, indefinite plural leier, definite plural leiene)

1. (maritime) route, sea route (a route, mostly along a coastline or between islands, that is safe to sail)
2. direction

Etymology 2

From Old Norse leiðr.

Adjective

lei (masculine and feminine lei, neuter leitt, definite singular and plural leie, comparative leiare, indefinite superlative leiast, definite superlative leiaste)

1. tired, fed up, bored
2. uncomfortable

Derived terms

• dritlei
• lei seg
• lutande lei

Etymology 3

Verb

lei

1. imperative of leie

Etymology 4

Verb

lei

1. past of li

References

• “lei” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Occitan

Pronunciation

• Audio (Béarn):

  (file)

Article

lei m pl or f pl

1. (Provençal) plural of lo

Old French

Alternative forms

• lai
• loi
• leye
• laye

Etymology

From Latin lex, legem.

Noun

lei oblique singular, f (oblique plural lez, nominative singular lei, nominative plural lez)

1. a law

Related terms

• leal

Descendants

• Middle French: loy
  • French: loi
    • ⇒ Haitian Creole: lalwa
    • → Moore: laloa
• Norman: louai

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• ley (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese lei, ley, from earlier lee, from Latin lēgem, from Proto-Italic *lēg-, from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-s < *leǵ-.

Cognate with Galician lei, Spanish ley, Catalan llei, Occitan lei, French loi, Italian legge and Romanian lege.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈlej/ [ˈleɪ̯]

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈlɐj/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈlɐj/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈlej/
  • (Central Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈlej/
  • (Southern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈle/

• Audio (Portugal (Porto)):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: lei

Noun

lei f (plural leis)

1. law
   • 1572, Luís Vaz de Camões, Os Lusíadas, 1st canto:

     E aqueles, que por obras valerosas / Se vão da lei da morte libertando.

     And those who by valourous deeds free themselves from the law of Death.

Related terms

• leal
• legal
• legítimo
• lídimo

Further reading

• “lei”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lej/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ej
• Hyphenation: lei

Noun

lei m pl

1. plural of leu

Descendants

• → Hungarian: lej

Sardinian

Alternative forms

• leze

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish ley, from Latin lex, legem.

Noun

lei

1. (Campidanese) law

Scots

Verb

lei (third-person singular simple present leis, present participle leiin, simple past and past participle leid)

1. (Southern Scots) Alternative form of lee.

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlei/ [ˈlei̯]
• Rhymes: -ei
• Syllabification: lei
• Homophone: ley

Noun

lei m pl

1. (proscribed) plural of leu

Zou

Etymology 1

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *lay, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m-lay.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [lēi̯]
• Hyphenation: lei

Noun

lei

1. tongue

Etymology 2

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *lay, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *mV-lej.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [léi̯]
• Hyphenation: lei

Noun

léi

1. earth, land
   • 1992, Holy Bible In Zou, Siemchilbu 1:1:

     Achiil in Paisan Lei leh Van asiem.

     In the beginning God created the Earth and Heaven.

2. ground, soil

Etymology 3

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *lay, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *sV-ləj.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [lèi̯]
• Hyphenation: lei

Noun

lèi

1. bridge

References

• Philip Thangliènmâng (2010), Minimal dictionary and Self-tutor Functional Grammar in Zo-English-Hindi, New Delhi: Zoculsin, →ISBN, page 20; 41; 47
• Lukram Himmat Singh (2013), A Descriptive Grammar of Zou (PhD thesis), Canchipur: Manipur University, page 62