mona lisa: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Cultural, Academic
Quick answer
What does “mona lisa” mean?
A famous 16th-century portrait painting by Leonardo da Vinci, depicting a woman with an enigmatic smile.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A famous 16th-century portrait painting by Leonardo da Vinci, depicting a woman with an enigmatic smile; the artwork itself.
A person or thing of mysterious or elusive quality, often associated with a puzzling smile or expression. A cultural icon representing high art, mystery, or beauty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both refer to the same painting and concept.
Connotations
Identical connotations of artistic mastery, mystery, and cultural value.
Frequency
Equally common and understood in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “mona lisa” in a Sentence
be + like + the Mona Lisahave + a + Mona Lisa + smilecompared to + the Mona LisaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mona lisa” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She gave a Mona Lisa smile.
- The actor's Mona Lisa expression was perfect for the scene.
American English
- He had a Mona Lisa-like grin.
- Her Mona Lisa demeanor made her hard to read.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in marketing as a metaphor for a product with classic, timeless appeal.
Academic
Used in art history, cultural studies, and history. Refers to the specific artwork, its techniques, and its cultural impact.
Everyday
Used to refer to the famous painting, often in the context of travel (visiting the Louvre) or as a metaphor for a mysterious smile.
Technical
Used in art conservation, museology, and scientific analysis of paintings.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mona lisa”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mona lisa”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mona lisa”
- Writing 'Monna Lisa' (archaic spelling). Using it as a common noun without the definite article 'the' (e.g., 'It is Mona Lisa' should be 'It is the Mona Lisa').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Mona' is a polite form of address for a woman, short for 'Madonna' meaning 'My Lady' in Italian.
The subject is widely believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine merchant named Francesco del Giocondo.
Its fame stems from Leonardo da Vinci's revolutionary painting techniques (like sfumato), the subject's enigmatic expression, its historical intrigue, and its highly publicised theft in 1911.
No, it is not used as a standard verb in English. It functions almost exclusively as a proper noun and, metaphorically, as an adjective.
A famous 16th-century portrait painting by Leonardo da Vinci, depicting a woman with an enigmatic smile.
Mona lisa is usually formal, cultural, academic in register.
Mona lisa: in British English it is pronounced /ˌməʊnə ˈliːsə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmoʊnə ˈliːsə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a Mona Lisa smile (an enigmatic, slight smile)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Mona Lisa = 'My Lady Lisa' in Italian. Think of the most famous 'Mona' (lady) with a mysterious smile.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN ENIGMATIC PERSON IS THE MONA LISA; HIGH ART IS THE MONA LISA.
Practice
Quiz
Where is the original Mona Lisa painting housed?