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• dal
  dal

  noun

  dried and often split legumes, especially lentils or peas.
• dāl
  dāl

  noun

  the eighth letter of the Arabic alphabet.
• Dal
  Dal

  noun

  a river in S Sweden, flowing SE from the W border to the Gulf of Bothnia. About 250 miles (405 km) long.

dal

¹ American  

[dahl] / dɑl /

Or dhal,

noun

1. dried and often split legumes, especially lentils or peas.

2. a sauce or dish made from cooked lentils and spices, common in South Asian cuisine.

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dal ² American  

abbreviation

1. dekaliter; dekaliters.

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dāl ³ American  

[dahl] / dɑl /

noun

1. the eighth letter of the Arabic alphabet.

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Dal ⁴ American  

[dahl] / dɑl /

noun

1. a river in S Sweden, flowing SE from the W border to the Gulf of Bothnia. About 250 miles (405 km) long.

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dal ¹ British  

/ dɑːl /

noun

1. split grain, a common foodstuff in India; pulse

2. a variant spelling of dhal

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dal ² British  

symbol

1. decalitre(s)

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Etymology

Origin of dal¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Hindi dāl “split pulse, cooked pulse,” from Sanskrit dala, from dāl- “to split”

Origin of dāl³

From Arabic

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Explanation

Dal is an Indian dish made using lentils and many delicious spices. Next time you go to an Indian restaurant, try ordering dal. The Hindi word dal can be used for any bean or legume that's split in half and can be cooked without soaking it first. Its Sanskrit root, also dal, means "to split." Dal is also the soup or stew made from split lentils, one of the most popular dishes in South Asia. A typical dal is made with onions, tomatoes, and whole spices fried in oil, and it is eaten with rice or a flat bread.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dal dāl Dal

Theo dal Pozzo, 23, has a first class master's degree in computer science.

From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026

Bone Sine in Portland, Ore., flecks its mix of nuts and chana dal with ground lime leaves.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 17, 2025

Whether that means making a big pot of red lentil dal to sustain me throughout my overscheduled weeks or joining family and friends to commune in grief and regret while also holding space for hope.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2024

I love the sizzle of the hot, spiced ghee when it is poured into the lentils, the way that dal envelops a bowl of rice like a hug.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 8, 2024

After only eating old roti and dal and not much water, it was like eating a fruit custard made out of honey and butter.

From "The Night Diary" by Veera Hiranandani

Their local subdivisions are Leve and Karwa and many of them are also known as Dālia, because they made the dāl or pulse of Burhānpur, which had a great reputation under native rule.

From The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India - Volume IV of IV Kumhar-Yemkala by R. V. (Robert Vane) Russell

Dale, dāl, Dell, del, n. the low ground between hills: the valley through which a river flows.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Ben Aitchison was lbw playing across the line before Anuj Dal was bowled by a beauty that dipped in late to beat his defensive push.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

However, she had previously published one book called How Not to Dal Dy Dir under the alias Izzy Wyn-Thomas, her lawyers confirmed on her behalf in the BBC Sounds podcast Secrets of the Salt Path.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

Raynor Winn has never previously admitted that she wrote the book, but it was confirmed by her solicitors that she did write How Not to Dal Dy Dir.

From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026

Dal Babu, a former Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent, told BBC News that by arresting the King's brother, officers will be able to "to access computer equipment, files, photographs, any other evidence".

From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2026

“We’re both sympathists,” Dal said, giving me a friendly wave as I gathered my things and headed for the door.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

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