Definitions
Lay is a verb that means to put something down in a flat position, typically with the object placed on a surface.
Example
He lay the book on the table.
Example
I'm going to lay the baby down for a nap.
Ley is a noun that refers to a piece of land that is used for grazing animals.
Example
The cows were grazing on the ley.
Example
The farmer has a large ley for his cattle.
Lei is a noun that refers to a garland or wreath of flowers, leaves, or shells, typically worn around the neck.
Example
She wore a beautiful lei around her neck.
Example
The hula dancers wore leis made of fresh flowers.
Tips To Remember the Differences
Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:
- To remember the difference between lay and lei, think of the 'a' in lay as standing for 'action', since it is a verb. - For ley, think of the 'e' as standing for 'earth', since it refers to a piece of land. - To remember lei, think of the 'i' as standing for 'island', since leis are often associated with Hawaii and other tropical islands.
Remember this!
Remember, lay is a verb that means to put something down, ley is a piece of land used for grazing, and lei is a garland of flowers worn around the neck.
