Both terms can be used to refer to a henna tattoo. Henna is an English word derived from the Arabic word al hinna. In English and in Arabic-speaking countries, henna and al hinna can be used for the plant, the ground henna leaf paste, and the henna tattoo. Mehndi is a word derived from the Saskrit word mendhikā and it refers specifically to henna paste dye and henna tattoos.