गाली (gaalii)
noun
A feminine noun meaning a curse word, swear word, or verbal abuse; it appears constantly in the fixed phrase गाली देना (gaalii denaa), 'to swear at/abuse someone.'
Sense
1
:
swear word, abusive/obscene word
noun, feminine Almost always used with देना (denaa) as its verb: गाली देना (gaalii denaa, 'to hurl abuse') or गाली सुनना (gaalii sunnaa, 'to receive/hear abuse').
Synonyms: अपशब्द (apshabd, formal), गंदी बात (gandii baat, colloquial, euphemistic)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In Delhi especially, गाली-गलौज (gaalii-galauj) is a whole social register of its own -- friends among close (usually male) circles trade गालियाँ (gaaliyaan) almost affectionately, while the same words directed at a stranger or elder are a serious insult. Context and relationship decide everything here, more than the word itself.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try 'बोलना (bolnaa)' with गाली (gaalii), but native speakers overwhelmingly pair it with देना (denaa) -- गाली बोलना (gaalii bolnaa) sounds off. 2) गाली is singular in form but frequently used in the plural, गालियाँ (gaaliyaan), when someone is on a real cursing streak -- उसने गालियाँ दी (usne gaaliyaan dii, 'he swore repeatedly') is more natural than the singular in many contexts.
Sample Sentences:
यार, दोस्तों के बीच मज़ाक में गाली देना कोई बड़ी बात नहीं है।
Dude, casually swearing at each other among friends is no big deal.
(yaar, doston ke biich mazaak men gaalii denaa koii badii baat nahiin hai।)
उसने गुस्से में मुझे एक गाली दे दी।
He hurled a swear word at me in anger.
(usne gusse men mujhe ek gaalii de dii।)
बड़ों के सामने गाली मत निकालो।
Don't let a curse word slip out in front of elders.
(badon ke saamne gaalii mat nikaalo।)
अगर वह अनजान आदमी को गाली देता तो झगड़ा हो जाता।
If he had sworn at the stranger, a fight would have broken out.
(agar vah anjaan aadmii ko gaalii detaa to jhagdaa ho jaataa।)
पूरी गाली-गलौज सुनकर पड़ोसी बाहर निकल आए।
Hearing the whole barrage of abuse and cursing, the neighbors came out.
(poorii gaalii-galauj sunkar padosii baahar nikal aae।)
स्कूल में बच्चों को गाली देना सख्त मना है।
Using swear words at children in school is strictly forbidden.
(skool men bachchon ko gaalii denaa sakht manaa hai।)
फ़िल्म में इतनी गालियाँ थीं कि सेंसर बोर्ड ने कई बीप लगा दिए।
There were so many swear words in the film that the censor board added several beeps.
(film men itnii gaaliyaan thiin ki sensar bord ne kaii biip lagaa die।)
क्या तुम सच में सोचते हो कि हर बात पर गाली निकालना ज़रूरी है?
Do you really think it's necessary to curse at every little thing?
(kyaa tum sach men sochte ho ki har baat par gaalii nikaalnaa zaroorii hai?)
गुस्से में उससे मुँह से एक भद्दी गाली निकल गई।
In his anger, a filthy curse word slipped out of his mouth.
(gusse men usse munh se ek bhaddii gaalii nikal gaii।)
मीटिंग के बीच में उसे गाली दी गई, जिससे सब सन्न रह गए।
He was cursed at in the middle of the meeting, which left everyone stunned.
(miiting ke biich men use gaalii dii gaii, jisse sab sann rah gae।)
इतनी गाली मत दो, बच्चे सुन रहे हैं।
Don't swear so much, the kids are listening.
(itnii gaalii mat do, bachche sun rahe hain।)
शायद वह गाली देने के बाद खुद ही शर्मिंदा हो जाए।
He might end up feeling embarrassed himself after swearing.
(shaayad vah gaalii dene ke baad khud hii sharmindaa ho jaae।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
गाली
(gaalii)
(sg.f.oblique):
गाली
(gaalii)
(pl.f.direct):
गालियाँ
(gaaliyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
गालियों
(gaaliyon)