दाल गरम है।

to be

Breakdown of दाल गरम है।

• गरम: hot
• दाल: dal; lentils

Questions & Answers about दाल गरम है।

What does each word in दाल गरम है। mean?

• दाल = dal / lentils / a lentil dish
• गरम = hot / warm
• है = is

So the structure is literally:

• दाल = subject
• गरम = adjective
• है = present-tense form of to be

A very literal word-for-word gloss would be: dal hot is.

Why is the word order दाल गरम है and not something like दाल है गरम?

In Hindi, predicate adjectives usually come before the verb है.

So the common pattern is:

• noun + adjective + है

Examples:

• चाय गरम है। = The tea is hot.
• कमरा बड़ा है। = The room is big.

That is why दाल garam hai is the normal order.

If you say दाल है गरम, it sounds marked or unnatural in ordinary neutral speech.

What exactly does है do here?

है is the present singular form of the verb होना (to be).

In this sentence, it works like English is:

• दाल गरम है। =