गाली देना (gaalii denaa)

verb A compound expression meaning 'to abuse/curse someone verbally' -- literally 'to give an abusive word.' गाली (gaalii) is the noun for a swear word or insult, and देना (denaa) 'to give' supplies the light verb; the recipient of the abuse is marked with को (ko).
Sense 1 : to verbally abuse, to swear at someone
verb, transitive The person being abused is marked with को (ko): उसे गाली दी (use gaalii dii, 'swore at him/her'). गाली (gaalii) can be singular or plural (गालियाँ देना, gaaliyaan denaa) depending on how much abuse is heaped on.
Synonyms: गाली-गलौज करना (gaalii-galauj karnaa, emphasizes a heated exchange of abuse), भला-बुरा कहना (bhalaa-buraa kahnaa, milder, 'to say harsh things')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In everyday Delhi-NCR speech, गाली देना (gaalii denaa) is used both literally (real cursing, often family-related insults that are considered quite serious) and hyperbolically among close friends where swapping गालियाँ (gaaliyaan) is almost a form of banter or bonding. Context and tone matter enormously -- the same words among friends can be playful, while directed at a stranger they are a serious provocation.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to mark the target of abuse with से (se) by analogy with 'at,' but Hindi uses को (ko): राम को गाली दी (raam ko gaalii dii, 'swore at Ram'), not राम से. 2) The plural गालियाँ (gaaliyaan) is very common in casual speech even when only one instance of abuse is meant, so don't assume plural means multiple separate insults.
Sample Sentences:
वो गाड़ी वाले को गाली दे रहा था। He was cursing at the driver.
(vo gaadii vaale ko gaalii de rahaa thaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यार, दोस्तों में तो हम रोज़ एक दूसरे को गाली देते हैं, बुरा मत मानो। Dude, among friends we curse each other every day, don't take it seriously.
(yaar, doston men to ham roz ek doosre ko gaalii dete hain, buraa mat maano।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुमने उसे गाली दी तो वो पुलिस बुला लेगा। If you swear at him, he'll call the police.
(agar tumne use gaalii dii to vo pulis bulaa legaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
किसी अनजान आदमी को गाली मत दो, बात बढ़ सकती है। Don't swear at a stranger, things could escalate.
(kisii anjaan aadmii ko gaalii mat do, baat badh saktii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
काश वो उसे इतनी गंदी गाली न देता। I wish he hadn't sworn at him with such a filthy curse.
(kaash vo use itnii gandii gaalii n detaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
सड़क पर उसे किसी अनजान आदमी ने गाली दी। Some stranger swore at him on the street.
(sadak par use kisii anjaan aadmii ne gaalii dii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बॉस के सामने उसे गाली दी गई, सबने देखा। He was cursed at in front of the boss, everyone saw it.
(bos ke saamne use gaalii dii gaii, sabne dekhaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
उसकी माँ की गाली सुनकर सब चौंक गए, ये तो हद हो गई। Everyone was shocked hearing him curse using his mother, that was really crossing the line.
(uskii maan kii gaalii sunkar sab chaunk gae, ye to had ho gaii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम मुझे गाली दे रहे हो या मज़ाक कर रहे हो? Are you cursing at me or just joking around?
(kyaa tum mujhe gaalii de rahe ho yaa mazaak kar rahe ho?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अध्यापक ने चेतावनी दी कि कोई भी छात्र किसी को गाली न दे। The teacher warned that no student should curse at anyone.
(adhyaapak ne chetaavnii dii ki koii bhii chhaatr kisii ko gaalii n de।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
इतनी गालियाँ मत दो, कोई सुन लेगा तो लड़ाई हो जाएगी। Stop cursing so much, if someone hears it there'll be a fight.
(itnii gaaliyaan mat do, koii sun legaa to ladaaii ho jaaegii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Verb (irregular)
infinitive: गाली देना (gaalii denaa)
infinitive oblique: गाली देने (gaalii dene)
habitual/simple (sg.m): गाली देता (gaalii detaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m): गाली देते (gaalii dete)
habitual/simple (sg.f): गाली देती (gaalii detii)
habitual/simple (pl.f): गाली देतीं (gaalii detiin)
continuous (sg.m): गाली दे रहा (gaalii de rahaa)
continuous (pl.m): गाली दे रहे (gaalii de rahe)
continuous (sg.f): गाली दे रही (gaalii de rahii)
continuous (pl.f): गाली दे रहीं (gaalii de rahiin)
perfective (sg.m): गाली दिया (gaalii diyaa)
perfective (pl.m): गाली दिए (gaalii die)
perfective (sg.f): गाली दी (gaalii dii)
perfective (pl.f): गाली दीं (gaalii diin)
imperative (informal): गाली दे (gaalii de)
imperative (neutral): गाली दो (gaalii do)
imperative (formal): गाली दीजिए (gaalii diijie)
future (1sg.m): गाली दूँगा (gaalii doongaa)
future (1sg.f): गाली दूँगी (gaalii doongii)
future (1pl.m): गाली देंगे (gaalii denge)
future (1pl.f): गाली देंगी (gaalii dengii)
future (2sg.m): गाली देगा (gaalii degaa)
future (2sg.f): गाली देगी (gaalii degii)
future (2pl.m): गाली दोगे (gaalii doge)
future (2pl.f): गाली दोगी (gaalii dogii)
future (3sg.m): गाली देगा (gaalii degaa)
future (3sg.f): गाली देगी (gaalii degii)
future (3pl.m): गाली देंगे (gaalii denge)
future (3pl.f): गाली देंगी (gaalii dengii)
subjunctive (1sg): गाली दूँ (gaalii doon)
subjunctive (1pl): गाली दें (gaalii den)
subjunctive (2sg): गाली दे (gaalii de)
subjunctive (2pl): गाली दो (gaalii do)
subjunctive (3sg): गाली दे (gaalii de)
subjunctive (3pl): गाली दें (gaalii den)