holi: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, cultural, informal (when used metaphorically).
Quick answer
What does “holi” mean?
A vibrant Hindu spring festival, also known as the Festival of Colours, characterized by the throwing of coloured powders and water.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A vibrant Hindu spring festival, also known as the Festival of Colours, characterized by the throwing of coloured powders and water.
The word can be used by extension to refer to any event or situation characterized by bright colours, joyful chaos, or celebration. It is also a Hindi-derived proper noun for the festival itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. British English, due to larger South Asian communities, may have slightly higher passive recognition.
Connotations
Connotations are identical: celebration, colour, joy, spring. Can connote cultural immersion or diversity.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but appears in multicultural contexts, travel writing, and cultural descriptions. Frequency is marginally higher in UK media.
Grammar
How to Use “holi” in a Sentence
[People/We/They] celebrate Holi [in March].The scene was a [complete/total] Holi of colours.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “holi” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They plan to Holi next weekend, so wear old clothes!
- (Note: extremely rare and informal verbal use).
American English
- The students decided to Holi on the quad as a spring event.
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- The room had a Holi-like atmosphere after the party.
American English
- It was a Holi-themed fundraiser with coloured powder stations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in marketing for multicultural events or diversity initiatives.
Academic
Used in religious studies, anthropology, and cultural papers discussing Indian traditions.
Everyday
Used when discussing plans, experiences, or describing a vividly colourful scene.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “holi”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “holi”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “holi”
- Using it as a common noun without article (e.g., 'We played Holi' is correct, 'We played a Holi' is wrong).
- Misspelling as 'holy', 'holey', or 'holly'.
- Incorrect pluralisation ('Holies').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as it is a proper noun (the name of a specific festival), it is typically capitalized.
Yes, but this is a metaphorical extension. It suggests a specific type of joyful, chaotic, colourful scene reminiscent of the actual festival.
The throwing and smearing of dry coloured powder (gulal) and coloured water on participants.
Yes, it is celebrated by Hindu communities and others worldwide, and has become a popular multicultural event in many cities.
A vibrant Hindu spring festival, also known as the Festival of Colours, characterized by the throwing of coloured powders and water.
Holi is usually formal, cultural, informal (when used metaphorically). in register.
Holi: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhəʊliː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhoʊli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was like Holi in there. (Describing a messy, colourful, joyful situation)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HOly + coLourful = HOLI' – a holy, colourful festival.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CELEBRATION IS A BURST OF COLOUR; JOY IS VIBRANT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'Holi' used most precisely?