Tiaré
/tiːˈɑːreɪ/noun
A fragrant white flower of the Tahitian gardenia, especially Gardenia taitensis.
Did you know?In Tahiti, the tiaré is woven into leis and used to scent monoi oil, making its fragrance part of Polynesian welcome rituals and cultural identity.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Polynesian
Proto-Polynesian
*tia(le)
“Reconstructed term associated with a flower or flowering plant; the exact reconstruction is debated.”
Traditional Tahitian
Tahitian
tiare
“Flower; especially the intensely fragrant gardenia used in ceremonial adornment.”
19th Century
French
tiaré
“The Tahitian gardenia or its flower, adopted into French descriptions of Polynesia.”
Modern English
English
tiare
“The Tahitian gardenia, commonly encountered in botanical, travel, and fragrance writing.”
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