ताल tāla
boy 2 syllables SLP1 tAla

As a deity name

Name 358 of the Shiva Sahasranāma — Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva), as taught by Sage Tandi to Sage Upamanyu

As a Hindi name

ताल · noun · masculine

हाथ का तल । करतल । हथेली · वह शब्द जो दोनों हथेलियों को एक दूसरी पर मारने से उत्पन्न होता है । करतलध्वनि । ताली · नाचने या गाने में उसके काल और क्रिया का परिमाण, जिसे बीच बीच में हाथ पर हाथ मारकर सूचित करते जाते हैं — Śabdasāgara

ताल · noun · masculine

वह नीचो भूमि या लंबा चौड़ा गड्ढा जिसमें बरसात का पानी जमा रहता है । जलाशय । पोखरा । तालाब — Śabdasāgara

ताल · tāla · s.m.

The palmyra-tree or fan-palm ( = tāṛ, q.v.) — Platts (1884), digital edition courtesy DSAL, University of Chicago, p. 306

ताल · tāl · s.m.

Pond, pool, tank, lake ( = tālāb) — Platts (1884), digital edition courtesy DSAL, University of Chicago, p. 306

ताल · masculine

rhythm, beat, tune; palm tree; the palm of the hand; the clapping of palms

ताल · masculine

pond, puddle

a Hindi word, a tatsama: the Sanskrit word borrowed unchanged into Hindi ताल — per Wiktionary’s etymology record

“Borrowed from Sanskrit ताल (tāla).” — per Wiktionary’s etymology record

The Sanskrit parent — ताल (tatsama)

tāla m. (Siddh. napuṃs. 25, Sch.) the palmyra tree or fan-palm (Borassus flabelliformis, producing a sort of spirituous liquor; considered as a measure of height, R. iv; vi, 2, 6; Lalit. iii, xxii; forming a banner, MBh. iv, vi, xvi; Hariv.; to pierce seven fan-palms with one shot is held to be a great feat, R. i, 1, 64; AgP. viii, 2), Mn. viii, 246; MBh. &c.

(fr. tāḍa) slapping the hands together or against one's arm, xiii, 1397; R. &c.

a Hindi word, a tadbhava: evolved from the Sanskrit through Prakrit तलक — per Wiktionary’s etymology record

“Inherited from Sanskrit तलक (talaka).” — per Wiktionary’s etymology record

The Sanskrit parent — तलक (tadbhava)

talaka m. a small cart with burning coals, Hcar. vii

a pot of clay, HPariś. ii, 473

As a Sanskrit word

Meaning

slapping the hands together or against one's arm, &c.

Scripturally attested Verified derivationMultiple readings (10)

Why this matches what you typed

M1 · same meaning "tāla" is the vocative of "tālā" — the same word in a different grammatical case.

M3 · meaning shifts "tāla" is derived from "tā" with the lac suffix — a related word whose meaning shifts, so both meanings are shown.

the base — ता

tā f. Lakṣmī, L.

your form — ताल

tāla m. (Siddh. napuṃs. 25, Sch.) the palmyra tree or fan-palm (Borassus flabelliformis, producing a sort of spirituous liquor; considered as a measure of height, R. iv; vi, 2, 6; Lalit. iii, xxii; forming a banner, MBh. iv, vi, xvi; Hariv.; to pierce seven fan-palms with one shot is held to be a great feat, R. i, 1, 64; AgP. viii, 2), Mn. viii, 246; MBh. &c.

(fr. tāḍa) slapping the hands together or against one's arm, xiii, 1397; R. &c.

Related forms

Dictionary citations

Monier-Williams (1899) · ताल

tāla m. (Siddh. napuṃs. 25, Sch.) the palmyra tree or fan-palm (Borassus flabelliformis, producing a sort of spirituous liquor; considered as a measure of height, R. iv; vi, 2, 6; Lalit. iii, xxii; forming a banner, MBh. iv, vi, xvi; Hariv.; to pierce seven fan-palms with one shot is held to be a great feat, R. i, 1, 64; AgP. viii, 2), Mn. viii, 246; MBh. &c.

Monier-Williams (1899) · ताल

(fr. tāḍa) slapping the hands together or against one's arm, xiii, 1397; R. &c.

Monier-Williams (1899) · ताल

the flapping of an elephant's ears, Ragh. ix, 71; Kathās. xii; xxi, 1; Prab. i, v

Monier-Williams (1899) · ताल

musical time or measure, MBh. &c. (cf. -jña & -śīla)

Monier-Williams (1899) · ताल

a dance, Sāh. vi, 277

Monier-Williams (1899) · ताला (linked stem)

tālā (ā), f. (g. kuṇḍādi) See māsa-

Monier-Williams (1899) · ता (linked stem)

tā f. Lakṣmī, L.

Alternative readings

More than one analysis survives full verification. That ambiguity is real, so we show every reading rather than pick one silently.

Caveats

Sources contain errors and engines have limits; every claim above carries its citation so you can verify it. This is guidance about names and their sources — not religious or astrological consultation. How we work · Our sources