ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lila

adj.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈɫiɫə// lila

adj. having a pale purple color. It is the color of the flowers on a lilac bush.

adj. of a pale violet or light purple color, resembling the flowers of the lilac plant.


SIMPLE

She wore a beautiful lila dress to the party.

CONTEXTUAL

The walls of the nursery were painted a soft lila to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

COMPLEX

The sunset painted the horizon in shades of lila and gold, casting a gentle glow over the quiet valley as the day came to an end.

Usage

Commonly used in European English contexts; in American English, 'lilac' is the standard spelling for both the flower and the color.

Pitfall

a lila flowera lilac flowerWhile 'lila' is used for the color in many languages and some English dialects, 'lilac' is the standard name for the plant itself.

© 2026 English Reference