थाली (thaalii)
noun
Primarily the metal or steel plate used for eating (Meaning 1), and by extension the whole meal served on it, as in a fixed-price restaurant thali (Meaning 2).
Sense
1
:
eating plate
noun, feminine
Synonyms: प्लेट (plet)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In most North Indian homes the थाली (thaalii) is stainless steel, sometimes brass in older or ceremonial settings, and is used alongside small बटलोई (batloii)-style bowls (कटोरी, katorii) for curries and dal. Washing and putting away the थाली (thaalii) after a meal is such a routine household chore that it comes up constantly in daily conversation about chores.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for प्लेट (plet) by default; थाली (thaalii) specifically means the large round metal/steel plate traditional in Indian homes, not just any plate -- a small side plate or saucer is still called प्लेट (plet).
Sample Sentences:
अपनी थाली यहाँ रख दो।
Put your plate here.
(apnii thaalii yahaan rakh do।)
माँ रोज़ खाने के बाद थाली धोती हैं।
Mom washes the plate every day after eating.
(maan roz khaane ke baad thaalii dhotii hain।)
वह अभी अपनी थाली धो रहा है।
He is washing his plate right now.
(vah abhii apnii thaalii dho rahaa hai।)
थाली रसोई में रखी है।
The plate is kept in the kitchen.
(thaalii rasoii men rakhii hai।)
क्या तुमने अपनी थाली धो दी?
Did you wash your plate?
(kyaa tumne apnii thaalii dho dii?)
अगर मुझे थाली मिल जाती तो मैं खाना परोस देता।
If I had gotten a plate, I would have served the food.
(agar mujhe thaalii mil jaatii to main khaanaa paros detaa।)
बच्चे को खाना खाने के बाद अपनी थाली खुद धोनी चाहिए।
The child should wash his own plate after eating.
(bachche ko khaanaa khaane ke baad apnii thaalii khud dhonii chaahie।)
थाली मेज़ पर रख दी जाएगी।
The plate will be placed on the table.
(thaalii mez par rakh dii jaaegii।)
पूजा के बाद थाली में प्रसाद रखा जाता है।
After the prayer, the offering is placed in the plate.
(poojaa ke baad thaalii men prasaad rakhaa jaataa hai।)
कृपया मेहमानों के लिए साफ थालियाँ निकाल लाइए।
Please bring out clean plates for the guests.
(kripyaa mehmaanon ke lie saaph thaaliyaan nikaal laaie।)
उसकी थाली में दाल-चावल के साथ दो कटोरी सब्ज़ी भी थी।
In his plate, along with dal and rice, there were also two bowls of vegetables.
(uskii thaalii men daal-chaaval ke saath do katorii sabzii bhii thii।)
Sense
2
:
full-meal set/platter (as served in restaurants)
noun, feminine Used as a countable menu item, e.g. एक थाली (ek thaalii, 'one thali/meal set') or शाकाहारी थाली (shaakaahaarii thaalii, 'vegetarian thali').
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Restaurants across Delhi-NCR advertise a 'थाली' (thaalii) as a fixed-price meal with dal, sabzi, roti, rice, and a sweet, all served together -- the word has traveled into English-language Indian restaurant menus worldwide with this exact meaning.
Sample Sentences:
इस ढाबे की थाली बहुत मशहूर है।
This roadside eatery's thali is very famous.
(is dhaabe kii thaalii bahut mashahoor hai।)
एक थाली में दाल, सब्ज़ी, रोटी और चावल सब मिल जाता है।
In one thali you get dal, sabzi, roti, and rice, all together.
(ek thaalii men daal, sabzii, rotii aur chaaval sab mil jaataa hai।)
कल हमने पंजाबी थाली खाई थी।
Yesterday we ate a Punjabi thali.
(kal hamne panjaabii thaalii khaaii thii।)
भैया, एक थाली लगा दो।
Brother, serve up one thali.
(bhaiyaa, ek thaalii lagaa do।)
अगर पैसे ज़्यादा होते तो हम स्पेशल थाली मंगवाते।
If we had had more money, we would have ordered the special thali.
(agar paise zyaadaa hote to ham speshal thaalii mangvaate।)
यह होटल शाकाहारी थाली और मांसाहारी थाली दोनों परोसता है।
This hotel serves both a vegetarian thali and a non-vegetarian thali.
(yah hotal shaakaahaarii thaalii aur maansaahaarii thaalii donon parostaa hai।)
थाली में मीठा भी शामिल किया जाता है।
A sweet is also included in the thali.
(thaalii men miithaa bhii shaamil kiyaa jaataa hai।)
मुझे लगता है इस रेस्टोरेंट की थाली थोड़ी महंगी है।
I think this restaurant's thali is a bit expensive.
(mujhe lagtaa hai is restorent kii thaalii thodii mahangii hai।)
शायद वे लोग राजस्थानी थाली मंगवाएँ।
Perhaps they will order the Rajasthani thali.
(shaayad ve log raajasthaanii thaalii mangvaaen।)
अगली बार जब हम आएँगे, तो थाली ही ऑर्डर करेंगे।
Next time we come, we'll order the thali for sure.
(aglii baar jab ham aaenge, to thaalii hii ordar karenge।)
थाली इतनी भरी हुई थी कि आधी ही खा पाया।
The thali was so full that I could only eat half of it.
(thaalii itnii bharii huii thii ki aadhii hii khaa paayaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
थाली
(thaalii)
(sg.f.oblique):
थाली
(thaalii)
(pl.f.direct):
थालियाँ
(thaaliyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
थालियों
(thaaliyon)