रेतीला (retiilaa)

adjective A single-sense descriptive adjective meaning 'sandy' -- used for land, soil, or terrain covered with or made of sand.
Sense 1 : sandy, full of sand
adjective
Synonyms: बलुई (baluii, rare)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word comes up constantly when talking about the Thar desert (thaar registaan) in Rajasthan -- रेतीला इलाका (retiilaa ilaakaa, 'sandy area') or रेतीले टीले (retiile tiile, 'sand dunes') are the phrases you'll hear from anyone describing that landscape. It's built from रेत (ret, 'sand') plus the common adjective-forming suffix ईला (iilaa), the same pattern you see in words like जहरीला (jahriilaa, 'poisonous') and झगड़ालू-type forms.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use रेतीला (retiilaa) for anything gritty or dusty; it specifically describes terrain, soil, or a surface made of or covered in sand (ret, ret), not just dust or grit in general.
Sample Sentences:
राजस्थान का ज़्यादातर इलाका रेतीला है। Most of Rajasthan's terrain is sandy.
(raajasthaan kaa zyaadaatar ilaakaa retiilaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
थार रेगिस्तान में दूर तक रेतीले टीले फैले हुए हैं। In the Thar desert, sand dunes stretch far into the distance.
(thaar registaan men door tak retiile tiile phaile hue hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
गाड़ी रेतीली सड़क पर फँस गई। The car got stuck on the sandy road.
(gaadii retiilii sadak par phans gaii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इतनी रेतीली ज़मीन पर पेड़ कैसे उगेंगे? How will trees grow on such sandy ground?
(itnii retiilii zamiin par ped kaise ugenge?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर मिट्टी रेतीली न होती, तो फसल बेहतर होती। If the soil hadn't been sandy, the crop would have been better.
(agar mittii retiilii n hotii, to phasal behtar hotii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
खेत की मिट्टी रेतीली होनी चाहिए, तभी अच्छी जुताई होगी। The soil of the field should be sandy; only then will the plowing be good.
(khet kii mittii retiilii honii chaahie, tabhii achchhii jutaaii hogii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस इलाके में रेतीली मिट्टी होने के कारण खेती मुश्किल मानी जाती है। Because of the sandy soil in this area, farming is considered difficult.
(is ilaake men retiilii mittii hone ke kaaran khetii mushkil maanii jaatii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
बच्चे रेतीले किनारे पर दौड़ रहे थे। The children were running on the sandy shore.
(bachche retiile kinaare par daud rahe the।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
रेतीले रास्ते पर चलते हुए पाँव धँसने लगे। While walking on the sandy path, our feet began to sink.
(retiile raaste par chalte hue paanv dhansne lage।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
रेतीली हवाओं ने पूरे गाँव को धूल से ढँक दिया था। The sandy winds had covered the entire village in dust.
(retiilii havaaon ne poore gaanv ko dhool se dhank diyaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m): रेतीला (retiilaa)
(pl.m): रेतीले (retiile)
(sg.f): रेतीली (retiilii)
(pl.f): रेतीली (retiilii)