houri

[ hoor-ee, houuhr-ee, hou-uh-ree ]

noun

, plural hou·ris.

1. one of the beautiful virgins provided in paradise for all faithful Muslims.

houri

/ ˈhʊərɪ /

noun

1. (in Muslim belief) any of the nymphs of Paradise
2. any alluring woman

Word History and Origins

Origin of houri¹

1730–40; < French < Persian hūrī < Arabic ḥūr plural of ḥaurāʾ gazelle-eyed (woman)

Word History and Origins

Origin of houri¹

C18: from French, from Persian hūri, from Arabic hūr, plural of haurā' woman with dark eyes

Example Sentences

“Is she original? Is she piquant? I would not exchange this one little English girl for the Grand Turk’s whole seraglio, gazelle-eyes, houri forms, and all!”

From Literature

Women seem to surround and attend to him as the houris do to the devout immortals in Islam’s paradise.

From New York Times

“The riders came into the hall, disarmed and removed their riding gear, revealing themselves as women more beautiful than the houris of Paradise.”

From Washington Post

Hurriya is the Arabic word for “freedom,” and is the plural of houri, the dark-eyed virgins that suicide bombers are promised in the afterlife.

From New York Times

These celestial virgins we commonly call houris, but learned and accurate Mr-Lane terms them hooreeyehs, vividly suggesting that the Muslim saints burst into rapturous and prolonged hoorays on first perceiving them.

From Project Gutenberg