dolu

Dolu is a Turkish word with two common senses. As a noun, it denotes hail — lumps of frozen precipitation falling from the sky during thunderstorms. As an adjective, dolu means full or filled, used to describe containers, spaces, or crowds.

In meteorology, dolu forms when updrafts in cumulonimbus clouds suspend liquid droplets above the freezing level, causing successive freezing of droplets into ice pellets that can accumulate into hailstones. The process often requires strong convection and sufficient moisture. Hail size can range from small pellets to large stones capable of causing damage. Dolu events are more frequent in regions with hot summers and strong storms, and may be accompanied by wind, thunder, and sometimes tornadoes. Severe hail can damage crops, roofs, vehicles, and windows, and may pose safety risks to people outdoors.

In Turkish-language usage, the term appears in weather reports and everyday speech. The word’s other meaning as “full” is common in everyday phrases such as dolu bardak (a full glass) or dolu bir hafta (a busy, full week). The dual sense of dolu—hail and fullness—reflects the rich polysemy found in Turkish vocabulary, where context determines whether the word describes atmospheric phenomena or a state of completion.