dal

1 of 2

noun

ˈdäl How to pronounce dal (audio)
variants or dahl or dhal or less commonly dholl
: dried legumes (such as lentils, beans, or peas)
also : an Indian dish made of simmered and usually pureed and spiced legumes

dal

2 of 2

abbreviation

variants or less commonly daL
dekaliter

Examples of dal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Including, of course, a dal that has been cooking since yesterday. — Rachel Dube, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 Dinner that night was a whole baked catfish with red cabbage and mustard sauce, a dal made with black-eyed peas, and lemon custard for dessert. — Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026 One of his favourites was dal paran — a traditional folk competition which involves hurling stones off the side of a mountain. — Colin Millar, New York Times, 27 June 2026 Its north-of-the-Vindhyas offerings– such as the raan and the dal makhani – are possibly the best that Chennai has to offer. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dal

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Hindi & Urdu dāl

First Known Use

Noun

1673, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dal was in 1673

Phrases Containing dal

Rhymes for dal

See All Rhymes for dal

Browse Nearby Words

da-kua
dal
Daladier
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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