थैला (thailaa)

noun A bag or sack, typically cloth or jute, used for carrying groceries, books, or other everyday items.
Sense 1 : bag, sack
noun, masculine
Synonyms: बैग (baig), झोला (jholaa, everyday cloth bag), बोरा (boraa, larger sack, e.g. for grain)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: थैला (thailaa) is the classic cloth or jute bag every household keeps behind the kitchen door for the daily सब्ज़ी (sabzii, 'vegetables') run to the market. With plastic bags being restricted in many Indian cities, कपड़े का थैला (kapde kaa thailaa, 'cloth bag') has become both a nostalgic and environmentally conscious choice, and you'll see shopkeepers now handing them out or selling them at checkout.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use थैला (thailaa) interchangeably with बैग (baig) without noticing the register difference -- थैला (thailaa) evokes a simple cloth or jute bag (like one used for vegetables), while बैग (baig) covers modern bags like backpacks or handbags. 2) Don't confuse with थाली (thaalii, 'plate'), which looks and sounds similar but is a completely different item used for serving food.
Sample Sentences:
माँ ने कहा, "थैला लेकर सब्ज़ी लाना।" Mom said, "Take the bag and bring vegetables."
(maan ne kahaa, "thailaa lekar sabzii laanaa।")
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यह थैला कपड़े का बना है। This bag is made of cloth.
(yah thailaa kapde kaa banaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
मैं हर रोज़ थैला लेकर बाज़ार जाता हूँ। I take a bag and go to the market every day.
(main har roz thailaa lekar baazaar jaataa hoon।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दुकानदार अब चेकआउट पर कपड़े का थैला बेच रहा था। The shopkeeper was now selling cloth bags at the checkout.
(dukaandaar ab chekaaut par kapde kaa thailaa bech rahaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
थैला रसोई के दरवाज़े के पीछे टँगा है। The bag is hanging behind the kitchen door.
(thailaa rasoii ke darvaaze ke piichhe tangaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
प्लास्टिक की थैलियों पर पाबंदी के बाद लोग थैला ले जाने लगे हैं। After the ban on plastic bags, people have started carrying cloth bags.
(plaastik kii thailiyon par paabandii ke baad log thailaa le jaane lage hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम थैला भूल जाते, तो हमें प्लास्टिक की थैली खरीदनी पड़ती। If you had forgotten the bag, we would have had to buy a plastic one.
(agar tum thailaa bhool jaate, to hamen plaastik kii thailii khariidnii padtii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम एक बड़ा थैला ला सकते हो? Can you bring a big bag?
(kyaa tum ek badaa thailaa laa sakte ho?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सरकार चाहती है कि हर घर में कपड़े का थैला हो। The government wants every household to have a cloth bag.
(sarkaar chaahtii hai ki har ghar men kapde kaa thailaa ho।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बाज़ार से लौटते हुए उसने थैला ठेले पर रख दिया। While returning from the market, he put the bag on the cart.
(baazaar se lautte hue usne thailaa thele par rakh diyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
थैले में सब्ज़ियाँ और फल रखे गए थे। Vegetables and fruits had been kept in the bag.
(thaile men sabziyaan aur phal rakhe gae the।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): थैला (thailaa)
(sg.m.oblique): थैले (thaile)
(pl.m.direct): थैले (thaile)
(pl.m.oblique): थैलों (thailon)