महल (mahal)
noun
A single-sense everyday noun: a palace or grand mansion, used both literally and as a figurative description of a lavish home.
Sense
1
:
palace, grand mansion
noun, masculine
Synonyms: राजभवन (raajabhvan, formal), किला (kilaa, fort, not a true synonym but often confused)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Delhi-NCR is full of living reminders of this word -- the Red Fort (laal kilaa) and Purana Qila both house what locals still call महल (mahal) inside their walls, and taking a family outing to see one is a classic weekend plan. In everyday speech, calling someone's house a महल (mahal) is a warm, slightly teasing compliment about its size or decor, similar to English 'it's like a mansion in there.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse महल (mahal) with किला (kilaa, 'fort') -- a महल is a residence built for comfort and grandeur, while a किला (kilaa) is a fortified structure for defense; many historic sites in India are actually किले (kile) that contain a महल (mahal) inside them, like the Red Fort's palace quarters. 2) In casual speech, महल (mahal) is also used loosely and humorously for any unusually large or fancy house, e.g. calling a rich relative's new house एक महल है (ek mahal hai, 'it's a palace') -- learners often reserve it only for literal royal palaces and miss this exaggerated everyday use.
Sample Sentences:
आगरा का किला और महल देखने में बहुत खूबसूरत हैं।
The fort and palace in Agra are very beautiful to see.
(aagraa kaa kilaa aur mahal dekhne men bahut khoobsoorat hain।)
हम इस वीकेंड लाल किले के अंदर वाला महल देखने जा रहे हैं।
We're going to see the palace inside the Red Fort this weekend.
(ham is viikend laal kile ke andar vaalaa mahal dekhne jaa rahe hain।)
यार, तेरा घर तो पूरा महल है!
Dude, your house is a total palace!
(yaar, teraa ghar to pooraa mahal hai!)
उस राजा ने अपनी रानी के लिए एक शानदार महल बनवाया था।
That king had had a magnificent palace built for his queen.
(us raajaa ne apnii raanii ke lie ek shaandaar mahal banvaayaa thaa।)
पुराना किला भी अपने अंदर एक महल छिपाए हुए है।
Purana Qila also has a palace hidden inside it.
(puraanaa kilaa bhii apne andar ek mahal chhipaae hue hai।)
अगर मेरे पास इतना पैसा होता, तो मैं भी एक महल बनवाता।
If I had that much money, I would build a palace too.
(agar mere paas itnaa paisaa hotaa, to main bhii ek mahal banvaataa।)
यह महल मुग़ल काल में बनाया गया था।
This palace was built during the Mughal era.
(yah mahal mughal kaal men banaayaa gayaa thaa।)
बच्चों, इस महल के हर कमरे को ध्यान से देखो।
Kids, look carefully at every room of this palace.
(bachchon, is mahal ke har kamre ko dhyaan se dekho।)
क्या तुमने कभी राजस्थान के किसी महल में रात बिताई है?
Have you ever spent a night in some palace in Rajasthan?
(kyaa tumne kabhii raajasthaan ke kisii mahal men raat bitaaii hai?)
इस महल की दीवारों पर सदियों पुरानी नक्काशी अब भी मौजूद है।
Centuries-old carvings are still present on the walls of this palace.
(is mahal kii diivaaron par sadiyon puraanii nakkaashii ab bhii maujood hai।)
शायद यह महल कभी पूरे शहर की शान हुआ करता था।
Perhaps this palace used to be the pride of the whole city once.
(shaayad yah mahal kabhii poore shahar kii shaan huaa kartaa thaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
महल
(mahal)
(sg.m.oblique):
महल
(mahal)
(pl.m.direct):
महल
(mahal)
(pl.m.oblique):
महलों
(mahlon)