शाल (shaal)

noun A single-sense noun meaning a shawl or wrap, the woolen garment draped over the shoulders in cold weather or presented as a mark of honor.
Sense 1 : shawl (woolen wrap worn over the shoulders)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: दुशाला (dushaalaa, a larger, often finer shawl used ceremonially)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Presenting a शाल (shaal) is a classic Indian gesture of honor -- guests of honor, retiring officials, or respected elders at a function are formally draped with one, often along with a coconut or bouquet. In Delhi winters, you will also see them worn simply for warmth, especially by older family members over a sweater.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse शाल (shaal) with साल (saal, 'year') since they sound close but differ in the retroflex vs dental sibilant -- listen for the softer श (sh) sound. 2) शाल (shaal) refers specifically to a shoulder wrap, not a full blanket (कंबल, kambal) or a large sheet-like wrap (चादर, chaadar); learners sometimes use these interchangeably.
Sample Sentences:
सर्दियों में दादी हमेशा ऊनी शाल ओढ़ती हैं। In winter, grandmother always wraps herself in a woolen shawl.
(sardiyon men daadii hameshaa oonii shaal odhtii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बाहर ठंड बढ़ रही है, अपनी शाल ले लो। It's getting cold outside, take your shawl.
(baahar thand badh rahii hai, apnii shaal le lo।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
समारोह में मुख्य अतिथि को शाल और स्मृति चिन्ह भेंट किया गया। At the ceremony, the chief guest was presented with a shawl and a memento.
(samaaroh men mukhy atithi ko shaal aur smriti chinh bhent kiyaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
रिटायरमेंट पर सहकर्मियों ने उन्हें शाल ओढ़ाई। At his retirement, his colleagues draped a shawl over him.
(ritaayarment par sahkarmiyon ne unhen shaal odhaaii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
वह कुर्सी पर बैठी हुई एक भूरी शाल ओढ़े हुए थी। She was sitting on the chair, wrapped in a brown shawl.
(vah kursii par baithii huii ek bhoorii shaal odhe hue thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश मेरे पास इतनी मुलायम शाल होती जितनी उसके पास है। I wish I had as soft a shawl as she does.
(kaash mere paas itnii mulaayam shaal hotii jitnii uske paas hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर मुझे पता होता कि इतनी ठंड पड़ेगी, तो मैं शाल साथ लाता। If I had known it would be this cold, I would have brought a shawl along.
(agar mujhe pataa hotaa ki itnii thand padegii, to main shaal saath laataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कश्मीरी शालें अपनी बारीक कढ़ाई के लिए मशहूर हैं। Kashmiri shawls are famous for their fine embroidery.
(kashmiirii shaalen apnii baariik kadhaaii ke lie mashahoor hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अध्यक्ष महोदय को शाल भेंट करके सम्मानित किया जाए। Let the chairman be honored by presenting him a shawl.
(adhyaksh mahoday ko shaal bhent karke sammaanit kiyaa jaae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Passive
मैंने उसे जन्मदिन पर एक सुंदर पश्मीना शाल दी थी। I had given her a beautiful pashmina shawl on her birthday.
(mainne use janmdin par ek sundar pashmiinaa shaal dii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
जब भी वे मंदिर जाती हैं, सिर पर शाल डाल लेती हैं। Whenever she goes to the temple, she puts a shawl over her head.
(jab bhii ve mandir jaatii hain, sir par shaal daal letii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): शाल (shaal)
(sg.f.oblique): शाल (shaal)
(pl.f.direct): शालें (shaalen)
(pl.f.oblique): शालों (shaalon)