WordGarden.iolanai
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /lˈænaɪ/
US
- /ləˈnaɪ/
Meanings
Noun
a covered patio or veranda attached to a house
Proper-noun
an island in Hawaii
Beyond the definition
Imagine warm breezes and a comfortable place to sit outside. That is the feel of a lanai. The word comes from Hawaiian and usually means a covered porch, veranda, or patio connected to a home. It is an outdoor area, but it often feels like part of the house. You might drink coffee there in the morning, read in the shade, or have dinner in the evening.
The word is still strongly linked with Hawaii, but it is also used in places like Florida for a covered or screened outdoor space. In everyday use, it suggests a calm, open area made for relaxing and enjoying fresh air.
The word lanai comes from Hawaiian and refers to a roofed porch, veranda, or patio that opens to the outside. In Hawaii, it often means a covered outdoor area attached to a house, apartment, or hotel room. The space is meant for sitting, eating, resting, or simply enjoying the air and the view while still having some shelter from sun or rain.
Over time, the meaning has widened a little in American English. People may use lanai for different kinds of outdoor living spaces, especially covered patios or screened porches in warm places. In Florida, for example, it often refers to a screened-in patio or pool area. Even when the exact design changes, the basic idea stays the same: it is a sheltered outdoor space that feels like part of the home.
In use, the word often carries a relaxed, tropical feeling because of its Hawaiian origin, but its main meaning is still practical rather than poetic. If someone says they had breakfast on the lanai or booked a room with a private lanai, they usually mean a covered outdoor area where they can sit and enjoy the surroundings.
Examples
- 1
Outdoor breakfast
We ate breakfast on the lanai while it was still cool outside.
- 2
Hotel room
The hotel room has a private lanai overlooking the pool.
- 3
Mosquito screens
They screened in the lanai to keep mosquitoes out.
- Phrasescreened in
covered with mesh screens
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- lanainoun