Mahal
/məˈhɑːl/noun
A palace or mansion, especially one associated with South Asian architecture or royalty.
Did you know?“Mahal” entered English through South Asian languages but ultimately traces to Arabic maḥall, meaning a place where one stops, settles, or alights; “Taj Mahal” is commonly interpreted as “Crown Palace.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ḥ-l-l
“To loosen, release, or make a place for something to settle; the precise prehistoric sense is reconstructed.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
maḥall
“A place, location, or stopping place—literally somewhere one settles or alights.”
Medieval Persian
Persian
maḥal
“A place, residence, quarter, or palace.”
Medieval Hindi and Urdu
Hindi/Urdu
mahal
“A palace, royal residence, or mansion.”
17th Century
English
mahal
“A palace or grand residence in South Asia, adopted as an Anglo-Indian loanword.”
Modern English
English
mahal
“A palace or mansion, especially in references to South Asian buildings and the Taj Mahal.”