Calla is a noun used for a plant name. It can refer to the water arum genus, and more commonly to the ornamentalgrown for beauty rather than for food or practical use calla lily, a South African plant known for its white flower-like spathea large leaflike part that encloses a flower cluster and yellow spadixa fleshy flower spike with many tiny flowers.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈkælə/
Easy pronunciation: KAL-uh (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: KAL-uh.
Use this pronunciation for the ornamental plant, a calla lily.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Calla Meaning
a calla lily, an ornamental plant with a white flower-like part and a yellow center
Part of speech: noun
Definition: South African plant widely cultivated for its showy pure white spathe and yellow spadix
Example: She put a vase of callas on the table for the wedding reception.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- arum lily — Common name for the same ornamental plant.
- calla lily — Direct common-name equivalent.
- zantedeschia aethiopica — Scientific name for this plant.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Calla
Meaning 2
a water arum plant, or the genus Calla
Part of speech: noun
Definition: water arum
Example: The book described the calla growing near the marsh.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- genus calla — Matches the taxonomic sense of the word.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Calla Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- arum lily
- calla lily
water arum; the genus Calla
- genus calla
the ornamental South African plant
- arum lily
- calla lily
- zantedeschia aethiopica
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Calla is often used to mean the ornamental calla lily, not just any lily.
- The botanical senses are easy to mix up: one refers to the water arum genus, while the other refers to the cultivated South African plant.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does calla mean?
Calla is a noun that names a plant. Most often it refers to the ornamental calla lily, and it can also refer to the water arum genus.
What are calla synonyms?
For the ornamental plant, common synonyms include arum lily and calla lily. In the botanical sense, genus calla is the matching term.
Is calla the same as calla lily?
Yes, in ordinary use it usually refers to the same ornamental plant called the calla lily.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.