What the "dalai" of "Dalai Lama" translates to

OCEAN

Think of the vast body that covers most of Earth's surface—this Tibetan title’s first word shares its meaning with a Sanskrit term for something boundless and deep.

The word "Dalai" in "Dalai Lama" comes from Mongolian, where it means "ocean." It’s often translated this way to symbolize the vast wisdom or spiritual depth associated with the title. So when the clue asks what "dalai" translates to, the straightforward answer is "ocean."