Bengali · Food & Drink
ডাল
dal
Lentils (dal)
Beginnernoun
Definition
Lentil curry, served with rice at almost every meal.
Example
ডাল-ভাত সাধারণ বাঙালি খাবার।
Dal and rice is the everyday Bengali meal.
Etymology
'ডাল' (dal) comes from the Sanskrit word 'दाल' (dāla), which means split or to break, referring to the preparation of lentils that are often split into halves.
How & Where It’s Used
'ডাল' (dal) enjoys widespread usage in both formal and informal contexts, frequently appearing in menus and home discussions about food across Bengali-speaking regions.
Literary Heritage
It is mentioned in various Bengali dishes and recipes commonly found in cookbooks.