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Glite Dictionary
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Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras

1 3.7
The last day before Lent when people have parades and parties
  • proper noun
  • /ˈmɑrdi ˈɡrɑ/
translation icon : Martes de Carnaval
  • On Mardi Gras, the city comes alive with colorful costumes and lively street performances.

First of all, happy Mardi Gras, everybody.

Examples

  • First of all, happy Mardi Gras, everybody.

    The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

  • It was our first Mardi Gras.

    Gothic Harvest (2019)

  • Booked my reservation for Mardi Gras Day (Feb. 12). Whoa boy!

    Blog text (13)

  • Also, my parade, the Krewe of Morpheus, rides on Friday night and Mardi Gras is next Tuesday.

    Blog text (13)

  • Mardi Gras is a vibrant celebration filled with parades, music, and parties in Mardi Gras.

  • Every year, thousands of people gather to enjoy the festivities of Mardi Gras before Lent begins.

Synonyms

Fat Tuesday
vsMardi Gras
3 4.3

A day of feasting and parties before Lent, also called Mardi Gras

has the same meaning but is strongly associated with New Orleans celebrations
pancake day
vsMardi Gras
  • UK
1 4.0

The day before Lent when people eat pancakes

is broader and centered on public festivals parades and parties
Shrove Tuesday
vsMardi Gras
8.3

A day before Lent when Christians often eat pancakes

is more associated with public festivals and parades rather than private religious rites

Surface Forms

Mardi Gras main

Morphology

Mardi + Gras

Mardi Gras is a borrowed French phrase literally meaning 'Fat Tuesday' (Mardi = Tuesday, Gras = fat), so a learner who knew those constituents could infer it names a special Tuesday associated with feasting. However the specific cultural sense — the last day before Lent and the festival/parade customs — is not fully derivable from the parts and requires cultural or lexical knowledge, so the transparency is partial.

Etymology

Mardi Gras comes from the French words Mardi and Gras, which mean 'Tuesday' and 'fat'. Because people used to enjoy a final day of rich food before the fast of 'Lent', the name now refers to the loud, colorful festivals and parades held on that last day.