नाला (naalaa)
noun
Names a drainage channel or stream, mostly the open drains/nullahs you see running through Indian streets and neighborhoods; also used for a natural rivulet or stream.
Sense
1
:
open drain, gutter, sewer channel
noun, masculine
Synonyms: नाली (naalii, smaller/narrower channel), गटर (gatar)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In most Indian cities and towns, नाला (naalaa) is the word you use for the often-smelly open drains running alongside roads or through low-lying colonies -- it comes up constantly in monsoon complaints about flooding and blocked drains. Municipal workers who clean these are sometimes called नाला सफाई कर्मचारी (naalaa saphaaii karmchaarii, drain-cleaning workers), a phrase you will see on civic notices.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse नाला (naalaa) with नाली (naalii) -- नाला (naalaa) is the larger open drain or storm channel running along/under a road, while नाली (naalii) is the small household or street-side gutter; they are not interchangeable in size.
Sample Sentences:
बारिश में नाला ओवरफ्लो हो गया।
The drain overflowed in the rain.
(baarish men naalaa ovraphlo ho gayaa।)
इस कॉलोनी का नाला हमेशा गंदगी से भरा रहता है।
This colony's drain always stays full of filth.
(is kolonii kaa naalaa hameshaa gandgii se bharaa rahtaa hai।)
नाला साफ करो, नहीं तो पूरी गली में पानी भर जाएगा।
Clean the drain, otherwise the whole street will fill up with water.
(naalaa saaph karo, nahiin to poorii galii men paanii bhar jaaegaa।)
नगर निगम ने नाला सफाई कर्मचारियों को हर वार्ड में तैनात किया है।
The municipal corporation has deployed drain-cleaning workers in every ward.
(nagar nigam ne naalaa saphaaii karmchaariyon ko har vaard men tainaat kiyaa hai।)
नाला इतना जाम था कि सफाई कर्मचारी को अंदर उतरना पड़ा।
The drain was so blocked that the worker had to climb down into it.
(naalaa itnaa jaam thaa ki saphaaii karmchaarii ko andar utarnaa padaa।)
अगर मॉनसून से पहले नाले साफ हो जाते तो इलाके में इतना पानी नहीं भरता।
If the drains had been cleaned before the monsoon, the area would not have flooded so much.
(agar monsoon se pahle naale saaph ho jaate to ilaake men itnaa paanii nahiin bhartaa।)
हर साल शिकायत की जाती है कि नाला महीनों से साफ नहीं हुआ।
Every year the complaint is made that the drain hasn't been cleaned in months.
(har saal shikaayat kii jaatii hai ki naalaa mahiinon se saaph nahiin huaa।)
पार्षद ने वादा किया कि इस बार नाले की सफाई मॉनसून से पहले हो जाएगी।
The councillor promised that this time the drain cleaning would be done before the monsoon.
(paarshad ne vaadaa kiyaa ki is baar naale kii saphaaii monsoon se pahle ho jaaegii।)
बच्चा नाले के किनारे खेल रहा था, माँ चिल्लाई और उसे खींच लिया।
The child was playing by the drain, the mother shouted and pulled him away.
(bachchaa naale ke kinaare khel rahaa thaa, maan chillaaii aur use khiinch liyaa।)
शायद प्रशासन को हर नाले पर जाली लगानी चाहिए।
Perhaps the administration should put grates over every drain.
(shaayad prashaasan ko har naale par jaalii lagaanii chaahie।)
प्लास्टिक कचरा नाले में फेंकने से रुकावट होती है।
Throwing plastic waste into the drain causes blockages.
(plaastik kachraa naale men phenkne se rukaavat hotii hai।)
Sense
2
:
natural stream or rivulet
noun, masculine
Synonyms: नदी (nadii, larger river, not a close synonym but related), झरना (jharnaa, waterfall/stream, partial overlap)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In hilly or rural areas, नाला (naalaa) can also mean a small natural stream or seasonal rivulet coming down from higher ground, distinct from the urban drain sense -- context (a village or hillside versus a city street) tells you which meaning is meant.
Sample Sentences:
पहाड़ों से एक छोटा नाला बहकर आता है।
A small stream flows down from the mountains.
(pahaadon se ek chhotaa naalaa bahkar aataa hai।)
बारिश के बाद वह नाला उफनने लगा था।
After the rain, that stream had started overflowing.
(baarish ke baad vah naalaa uphanne lagaa thaa।)
गाँव के पास बहने वाला नाला गर्मियों में सूख जाता है।
The rivulet flowing near the village dries up in summer.
(gaanv ke paas bahne vaalaa naalaa garmiyon men sookh jaataa hai।)
इस नाले को पार करने के लिए एक पुराना पुल है।
There is an old bridge to cross this stream.
(is naale ko paar karne ke lie ek puraanaa pul hai।)
अगर बारिश तेज़ होती तो नाला और ऊँचा बहता।
If the rain had been heavier, the stream would have flowed higher.
(agar baarish tez hotii to naalaa aur oonchaa bahtaa।)
बच्चों, उस नाले के पास मत जाना, पानी तेज़ बह रहा है।
Kids, don't go near that stream, the water is flowing fast.
(bachchon, us naale ke paas mat jaanaa, paanii tez bah rahaa hai।)
पहाड़ी इलाकों में हर मानसून में कई नाले उफान पर आ जाते हैं।
In hilly areas, many streams surge in flood every monsoon.
(pahaadii ilaakon men har maansoon men kaii naale uphaan par aa jaate hain।)
उस नाले का पानी इतना साफ़ है कि पशु भी उसे पीते हैं।
That stream's water is so clean that even animals drink it.
(us naale kaa paanii itnaa saaf hai ki pashu bhii use piite hain।)
शायद यह नाला बरसाती हो, गर्मियों में सूखा रहता है।
Perhaps this is a seasonal rivulet -- it stays dry in summer.
(shaayad yah naalaa barsaatii ho, garmiyon men sookhaa rahtaa hai।)
नाले के किनारे बैठकर उसने बहते पानी को देखा।
Sitting by the stream's edge, she watched the flowing water.
(naale ke kinaare baithkar usne bahte paanii ko dekhaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
नाला
(naalaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
नाले
(naale)
(pl.m.direct):
नाले
(naale)
(pl.m.oblique):
नालों
(naalon)