लस्सी (lassii)

noun A single-sense word: लस्सी (lassii) is the popular yogurt-based drink.
Sense 1 : a yogurt-based drink, sweet or salty, sometimes flavored
noun, feminine
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Ask for मीठी लस्सी (miithii lassii, 'sweet lassi') if you want it sweet -- plain लस्सी (lassii) at a Punjabi dhaba often defaults to salty or plain unless you specify. In Delhi-NCR summers it is the go-to cooling drink, often served thick enough to need a spoon, sometimes topped with a dollop of malai (cream).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes treat लस्सी (lassii) as interchangeable with छाछ (chhaachh), but लस्सी (lassii) is thicker, often sweetened or flavored with fruit, while छाछ (chhaachh) is thin, watery, and almost always salted/spiced -- ordering one when you want the other will surprise you.
Sample Sentences:
गर्मियों में मुझे रोज़ लस्सी पीनी होती है। In summer I need to drink lassi every day.
(garmiyon men mujhe roz lassii piinii hotii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
भैया, एक मीठी लस्सी देना। Bhaiya, give me one sweet lassi.
(bhaiyaa, ek miithii lassii denaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
इस ढाबे की लस्सी इतनी गाढ़ी है कि चम्मच से खानी पड़ती है। This dhaba's lassi is so thick that you have to eat it with a spoon.
(is dhaabe kii lassii itnii gaadhii hai ki chammach se khaanii padtii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुमने खारी लस्सी नहीं माँगी, तो यहाँ नमकीन वाली ही मिलेगी। If you didn't ask for sweet lassi, you'll only get the salty one here.
(agar tumne khaarii lassii nahiin maangii, to yahaan namkiin vaalii hii milegii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
उसने ऊपर से मलाई डालकर लस्सी परोसी। He served the lassi topped with a dollop of cream.
(usne oopar se malaaii daalkar lassii parosii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश आज घर में लस्सी बनाने के लिए दही होता। I wish there were yogurt at home today to make lassi.
(kaash aaj ghar men lassii banaane ke lie dahii hotaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
लस्सी पास के ढाबे में बड़े गिलासों में परोसी जाती है। Lassi is served in big glasses at the nearby dhaba.
(lassii paas ke dhaabe men bade gilaason men parosii jaatii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
शायद वह लस्सी में थोड़ा गुलाब का शरबत मिलाए। Maybe he'll mix a little rose syrup into the lassi.
(shaayad vah lassii men thodaa gulaab kaa sharbat milaae।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
दोपहर की तेज़ धूप के बाद हम ठंडी लस्सी पी रहे थे। After the harsh afternoon sun, we were drinking cold lassi.
(dopahar kii tez dhoop ke baad ham thandii lassii pii rahe the।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या आप कृपया मुझे एक बड़ा गिलास लस्सी दे सकते हैं? Could you please give me a large glass of lassi?
(kyaa aap kripyaa mujhe ek badaa gilaas lassii de sakte hain?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पंजाब में लस्सी को नाश्ते के साथ पीने की पुरानी परंपरा रही है। In Punjab, there has long been a tradition of drinking lassi with breakfast.
(panjaab men lassii ko naashte ke saath piine kii puraanii parampraa rahii hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): लस्सी (lassii)
(sg.f.oblique): लस्सी (lassii)
(pl.f.direct): लस्सियाँ (lassiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): लस्सियों (lassiyon)