ढाई (dhaaii)
numeral
A numeral meaning 'two and a half' -- an irregular word that does not follow the pattern of ordinary numbers combined with आधा (aadhaa, 'half').
Sense
1
:
two and a half
numeral Used directly before a noun (often in its counted/oblique form where relevant), e.g. ढाई घंटे (dhaaii ghante, 'two and a half hours'), ढाई किलो (dhaaii kilo, 'two and a half kilos').
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Hindi has unique, irregular words for 'one and a half' (डेढ़, dedh) and 'two and a half' (ढाई, dhaaii); from 'three and a half' onward, the regular pattern साढ़े + number (saadhe) kicks in, e.g. साढ़े तीन (saadhe tiin, 'three and a half'). You will hear ढाई (dhaaii) constantly in everyday contexts -- prices, time, distances, ages -- so it is well worth memorizing as a standalone word rather than trying to derive it.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try to build this compositionally as दो और आधा (do aur aadhaa) or दो-आधा (do-aadhaa); Hindi instead uses the single irregular word ढाई (dhaaii), just as साढ़े तीन (saadhe tiin) is used for 'three and a half' rather than a similar compositional form. 2) Note that 'one and a half' is not बनाया from this pattern either -- it is डेढ़ (dedh), another irregular form, so ढाई (dhaaii) should not be assumed to generalize downward.
Sample Sentences:
मुझे ढाई किलो आटा चाहिए।
I need two and a half kilos of flour.
(mujhe dhaaii kilo aataa chaahie।)
यह काम पूरा करने में ढाई घंटे लगेंगे।
It will take two and a half hours to finish this work.
(yah kaam pooraa karne men dhaaii ghante lagenge।)
मेरी बेटी अभी ढाई साल की है।
My daughter is two and a half years old right now.
(merii betii abhii dhaaii saal kii hai।)
स्टेशन यहाँ से ढाई किलोमीटर दूर है।
The station is two and a half kilometers from here.
(steshan yahaan se dhaaii kilomiitar door hai।)
उसने ढाई सौ रुपये में यह किताब खरीदी।
He bought this book for two hundred and fifty rupees.
(usne dhaaii sau rupye men yah kitaab khariidii।)
कृपया ढाई बजे तक दफ्तर पहुँच जाइए।
Please reach the office by half past two.
(kripyaa dhaaii baje tak daphtar pahunch jaaie।)
अगर मुझे ढाई हज़ार रुपये मिल जाते, तो मैं यह फोन खरीद लेता।
If I had gotten two thousand five hundred rupees, I would have bought this phone.
(agar mujhe dhaaii hazaar rupye mil jaate, to main yah phon khariid letaa।)
हर रोज़ वह ढाई घंटे पढ़ाई करता है।
Every day he studies for two and a half hours.
(har roz vah dhaaii ghante padhaaii kartaa hai।)
मीटिंग शुरू होने में अभी ढाई घंटे बाकी हैं।
There are still two and a half hours left before the meeting starts.
(miiting shuroo hone men abhii dhaaii ghante baakii hain।)
शायद इस प्रोजेक्ट में ढाई महीने लग जाएँ।
This project might take two and a half months.
(shaayad is projekt men dhaaii mahiine lag jaaen।)
गाँव वाले कहते हैं कि उसकी दुनिया ढाई दिन की चाँदनी की तरह ही रही, फिर सब खत्म हो गया।
The villagers say his fortune lasted only like moonlight of two and a half days, and then everything ended.
(gaanv vaale kahte hain ki uskii duniyaa dhaaii din kii chaandnii kii tarah hii rahii, phir sab khatm ho gayaa।)