What does dholl mean?
Dholl is a regional spelling of dal, the South Asian term for dried, hulled, split pulses — most often lentils or split peas — and for the thick, spiced stew cooked from them. A staple of everyday cooking across India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, dholl is valued as an inexpensive source of protein and is typically seasoned with turmeric, cumin, garlic, and other aromatics. The particular spelling "dholl" is especially characteristic of Mauritius, whose cuisine was shaped by Indian indentured labourers in the nineteenth century; there it is best known through dholl puri, a popular street food consisting of flatbread filled with ground yellow split peas. In English writing the word functions as an uncountable mass noun when referring to the dish, though it can be counted when different pulses are meant.
nounDholl is a variant spelling of dal (also spelled dhal), referring to dried, split pulses such as lentils, peas, or beans, as well as the thick stew or porridge made by cooking them. The spelling 'dholl' is especially associated with Mauritius, where it appears in dishes such as dholl puri.
- Dried, hulled and split pulses such as lentils, split peas, or beans used in South Asian cooking.
- A thick stew or porridge prepared from these pulses.
"She simmered the dholl with turmeric and cumin until it formed a thick, fragrant stew."
"Add a cup of rinsed dholl to the pot along with the onions and spices."
"For lunch he bought two dholl puris wrapped in paper from the roadside vendor."
Rarely pluralized; the noun is usually uncountable. A plural may appear only when referring to types or individual portions of the pulses.
"The recipe calls for several different dholls, each adding its own texture."
In Mauritius, dholl isn't just dinner — dholl puri, a flatbread stuffed with ground yellow split peas, is practically the island's national street food.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dholl
Dholl derives from Hindi dāl, which traces back through Middle Indic languages to Sanskrit dala, meaning a seed or split grain. The word entered English during the colonial period through contact with South Asian foodways, appearing in various spellings including dal, daal, dhal, and dholl. The "dholl" form became established particularly in Mauritius, carried by Bhojpuri-speaking indentured workers in the 1800s, and survives prominently in Mauritian cuisine today.
How dholl is actually used
The spelling "dholl" is regional rather than standard international English; "dal" or "dhal" are more common spellings elsewhere. The word belongs chiefly to culinary contexts and to South Asian and Mauritian varieties of English.
Easily confused with dholl
A doll is a small model of a human figure used as a child's toy, whereas dholl refers to split pulses or the dish made from them.
The dole is a payment given to the unemployed (chiefly in British usage), while dholl denotes lentils or a lentil-based dish.