List of English words of Sanskrit origin

This is a list of English words of Sanskrit origin. Most of these words were not directly borrowed from Sanskrit. The meaning of some words has changed slightly after being borrowed.

Both languages belong to the Indo-European language family and have numerous cognate terms; some examples are "mortal", "mother", "father" and the names of the numbers 1-10. However, this list is strictly of the words which are taken from Sanskrit.

A

Ambarella : through ultimately from Sanskrit: अम्बरेल्ला, a kind of tree.

Aniline : through , French: Aniline and Portuguese: Anil from Arabic النيل al-nili and Persian نیلا nila, ultimately from Sanskrit नीली nili.

Aryan : from Sanskrit , “which means noble; arya also means health. Noun of Arya is Aryana healthy, noble one” though it originally stems from the Proto-Indo-Iranian autonym . First attested in English in 1839, it was likely coined as a loan from earlier scholars in Europe writing in German and French who in turn borrowed directly from Sanskrit.

Ashwagandha: from ashva, for "horse", and gandha, for "smell", as the root has an Earthy horse-like musk.

Atoll: through Dhivehi : possibly from Sanskrit , interior, though there are other theories.

Aubergine: via Arabic and Persian bâdenjân ultimately from Sanskrit , meaning eggplant or aubergine.

Avatar: from Sanskrit , which means "descent", an avatar refers to the human incarnation of God during times of distress on earth. Thus, Krishna and Rāma were both avatars of Vishnu, who also manifested himself as an avatar many other times, ten of which are considered the most significant.

B

Bandana : from Sanskrit बन्धन bandhana, "a bond".

Banyan : from Hindi baniyaa ultimately from Sanskrit वणिज्‌ vaṇij, which means "a merchant".

Basmati : Type of long grain rice, highly valued for its smell and texture. Through Hindi बासमती ultimately from Sanskrit वास vāsa.

Bahuvrihi : from Sanskrit बहुव्रीहि Bahuvrihi, a composite word, meaning 'much rice'.

Bidi : through Hindi बीड़ी ultimately from Sanskrit वितिक vitika.

Bhakti : from Sanskrit भक्ति "bhakti", portion or more importantly, devotion.

Brinjal : from Portuguese bringella or beringela, from Persian بادنجان badingān, probably from Sanskrit vātiṅgaṇa.

Buddha : from Sanskrit बुद्ध buddha, which means "awakened, enlightened", refers to Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism. Also refers to one who is enlightened in accordance with the teachings of Buddha or a likeness of Buddha.

C

Candy :Middle English candi, crystallized cane sugar, short for sugre-candi, partial translation of Old French sucre candi, ultimately from Arabic sukkar qandī : sukkar, sugar + qandī, consisting of sugar lumps (from qand, lump of crystallized sugar, from an Indic source akin to Pali kaṇḍa-, from Sanskrit खाण्डक khaṇḍakaḥ, from khaṇḍaḥ, piece, fragment, perhaps of Munda origin).

Carmine and Crimson: From Arabic word Kirmiz (evolved in French later), from Sanskrit कृमि kṛmi meaning "bacteria".

Cashmere :1680s, "shawl made of cashmere wool", from the old spelling of Kashmir, Himalayan kingdom where wool was obtained from long-haired goats.

Chakram : from Sanskrit चक्रं Cakram, a circular throwing weapon, sharp edged discus. Chakram is derivative of word 'Chakra' which means Spiral or Circle

Cheetah : which is from Sanskrit चित्रस chitra-s "uniquely marked".

Chintz : from Hindi chint, from Sanskrit chitra-s "clear, bright".

Chukar : via Hindi चकोर cakor and Urdu چکور chukar ultimately from Sanskrit चकोर cakorah.

Chukker : from Hindi चक्कर and Urdu چکرchakkar, from Sanskrit चक्र cakra, "a circle, a wheel".

Citipati : from Sanskrit चिति पति citi-pati, which means "a funeral pyre lord".

Cot : from Hindi खाट khaat "a couch", which is from Sanskrit खट्वा khatva.

Copra : from Portuguese copra (16c.), from koppara (cognate with Hindi khopra) "mature coconut usually used for extraction of coconut oil"; related to Hindi khopri "skull", from Sanskrit kharparah "skull".

Cowrie : from Hindi कौड़ी kauri and Urdu کمتدب kauri, from Marathi कवडी kavadi, which is ultimately from Sanskrit कपर्द kaparda.

Crimson : from Old Spanish cremesin, via Medieval Latin cremesinus from Persian قرمز qirmiz "a kermes", which is ultimately from Sanskrit कृमिज krmija literally: "red dye produced by a worm".

Crocus : from Greek κρόκος crocus, via Semitic languages (e.g. Hebrew כרכום karkōm, Aramaic ܟܘܪܟܡܐ kurkama, Persian كركم kurkum, which mean saffron or saffron yellow); ultimately from Sanskrit कुङ्कुमं kunkumam.

D

Dal : through Hindi दाल dāl ultimately from Sanskrit दल dala, meaning cotyledon of a pea pod, a type of Indian food; also refers to lentils.

Das : from Sanskrit दास daasa, a slave or servant. See also Dasa.

Datura : through Latin and Hindi: धतूरा dhatūra "jimson weed" ultimately from Sanskrit धत्तूरा dhattūrā, a kind of flowering plant.

Deodar : through Hindi देओदार deodār ultimately from Sanskrit देवदारु devadāru, a kind of tree.

Deva : from Sanskrit देव deva, which means "a god", akin to Latin deus, "god".

Devi : from Sanskrit देवी devi, which means "a goddess".

Dharma : from Sanskrit: धर्म dharma; akin to Latin: firmus, meaning "conformity to one's duty and nature" and "divine law" also "Religion".

Dhoti : via Hindi dhotī (Hindi: धोती) ultimately from Sanskrit dhautī (Sanskrit: धौती) which means 'to wash', a traditional male garment used in India. Material tied around the waist that covers most of the legs.

Dinghy : from Hindi दिन्गी dingi "a tiny boat", probably from Sanskrit द्रोण drona.

Dvandva : is a Sanskrit technical term literally meaning "a pair".

G

Ganja : via Hindi गांजा (gaanja or "hemp"), ultimately from Sanskrit गञ्जा (gañjā or "hemp").

Gharry : via Hindi word gādī (Hindi: गाड़ी) which is ultimately derived from Sanskrit word garta (Sanskrit: गर्त) which means 'chariot'.

Ginger : from Old English gingifer, gingiber, from Late Latin gingiber, from Latin zingiberi, from Greek zingiberis, from Prakrit (Middle Indic) singabera, from Sanskrit श्रङ्गवेर śrngavera, from śrnga "horn" + vera- "body", although, it may have derived instead from Tamil word "Inchi" (இஞ்சி).

Gondwana : from two Sanskrit words, goṇḍa (Devanagari: गोण्ड) which means 'Gondi people or mountaineers' and vana (Devanagari: वन) which means 'forest'.

Guar : through Hindi गार ultimately from Sanskrit गोपाली gopālī, an annual legume.

Gunny : via Persian گونی "Gooni" a burlap sack and Hindi गोनी, ultimately from Sanskrit गोणी goni "sack".

Gurkha : via Nepalese गोर्खा ultimately from Sanskrit गोरक्ष goraksa, "a cowherd". Gurka derives from népali word Gorkha, followers of Saint Gorakhnath.

Guru : via Hindi गुरु ultimately from Sanskrit गुरु guru, which means "a teacher".

J

Jackal : from Turkish çakal, from Persian شغال shaghal, from Middle Indic shagal, ultimately from Sanskrit शृगाल srgala "the howler".

Jaggery :via Portuguese jágara, jagre and Malayalam ഛക്കര chakkara, ultimately from Sanskrit शर्करा śarkarā.

Java : originally a kind of coffee grown on Java and nearby islands of modern Indonesia. By early 20c. it meant coffee generally. The island name is shortened from Sanskrit Yavadvipa "Island of Barley", from yava "barley" + dvipa "island".

Juggernaut : through Odia ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ Jagannatha ultimately from Sanskrit जगन्नाथ jagat-natha-s, which means "lord of the world".

Jungle : through Hindi जंगल jangal "a desert, forest"; also Persian جنگل jangal meaning forest; ultimately from Sanskrit जङ्गल jangala, which means "arid".

Jute : from Sanskrit जुत juta-s, which means "twisted hair".

K

Karma

:from Sanskrit (karman); which means "action".

Kedgeree

:probably from Sanskrit (krśara).

Kermes

:via French and Persian (qermez); perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit (kṛmija); meaning "worm-made".

L

Lac : through Urdu لاکھ, Persian لاک and Hindi लाख lakh from Prakrit लक्ख lakkha, ultimately from Sanskrit लाक्षा lākṣā, meaning lac.

Lacquer : through French: Laque and Portuguese: Laca from Arabic لك lakk,लाख in Hindi, via Prakrit ultimately from Sanskrit लक्ष lakṣa.

Langur : through Hindi लुट lut probably ultimately from Sanskrit लङ्गूल langūla.

Lilac : via Arabic للك lilak from Persian نیلک nilak meaning "bluish", ultimately from Sanskrit नील nila, which means "dark blue".

Loot : ultimately from Sanskrit लुण्टा luṇṭā or लुण्ठति luṇṭhati meaning "he steals" through Hindi लूट lūṭ, which means "a booty, stolen thing".

M

Maharajah : through Hindi महाराजा ultimately from Sanskrit महाराजा mahā-rājā, which means "a great king".

Maharani : through Hindi महारानी finally from Sanskrit महाराज्ञी mahārājnī, which means "consort of a maharajah".

Maharishi : from Sanskrit महर्षि maha-rishi, which means "a great sage".

Mahatma : from Sanskrit महात्मा mahatma, which means "a great breath, soul".

Mahayana : from Sanskrit महायान maha-yana, which means "a great vehicle".

Mahout : via Hindi माहुत (variant of महावत) ultimately from Sanskrit महामात्रः mahāmātrah.

Mandala : from Sanskrit मण्डल mandala, which means "a disc, circle".

Mandarin : via Portuguese mandarim, Dutch mandarijn, Malay mantri or menteri, and Hindi मंत्री mantri "a councillor" ultimately from Sanskrit मन्त्रिन् mantri, which means "an advisor".

Mantra : from Sanskrit मन्त्र mantra-s which means "a holy message or text".

Maya : from Sanskrit माया māyā, a religious term related with illusion.

Moksha : from Sanskrit मोक्ष moksha, liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth.

Mugger : via Hindi मगर and Urdu مگر magar ultimately from Sanskrit मकर makara ("sea creature"), like a crocodile, which attacks stealthily.

Mung bean : through Hindi मुग mū̃g and Pali/Prakrit मुग्ग mugga ultimately from Sanskrit मुद्ग mudga, a kind of bean.

Musk : via Middle English muske, Middle French Musc, Late Latin Muscus and Late Greek μόσχος moskhos from Persian موشک mushk, ultimately from Sanskrit मुस्क muska meaning "a testicle", from a diminutive of मुस mus ("mouse").

Mynah : through Hindi मैना maina ultimately from Sanskrit मदन madana-s, which means "love".

N

Nainsook :through Hindi नैनसुख nainsukh ultimately from Sanskrit नयनसुख nayana-sukha, meaning "pleasing to the eyes".

Nard : through Old French narde and Latin nardus from Greek νάρδος nardos, perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit नलद nalada.

Narghile : through French Narguilé and Persian نارگيله nārghīleh ultimately from Sanskrit नारिकेल nārikela.

: probably from Romany nak "a nose", via Hindi नाक nak ultimately from Sanskrit नक्र‌ nakra.

Neem : through Hindi नीम nīm ultimately from Sanskrit निम्ब nimba, a kind of tree.

Nilgai : through Hindi नीलगाय nīlgāy lit., blue cow ultimately from Sanskrit नीलगौ nīla-gau, an ox-like animal.

Nirvana : from Sanskrit निर्वाण nirvāṇa which means "ascendance, higher state of being, transcendence, state of bliss" literally means "extinction, disappearance".

O

Opal : through French opalle from Latin opalus from Greek ὀπάλλιος opallios, probably ultimately from Sanskrit उपल upala.

Orange : through Old French orenge, Medieval Latin orenge and Italian arancia from Arabic نارنج naranj, via Persian نارنگ narang and Sanskrit नारङ्ग naranga-s meaning "an orange tree", derived from proto-Dravidian.

P

: 1788, from Romany (English Gypsy) pal "brother, comrade", variant of continental Romany pral, plal, phral, probably from Sanskrit bhrata "brother"

Palanquin : via Odia word pālankī (Odia:ପାଲଙ୍କି) which is ultimately derived from Sanskrit पल्यङ्क palyanka which means 'bed' or 'couch'.

Parcheesi : 1800, from Hindi pachisi, from pachis "twenty-five" (highest throw of the dice), from Sanskrit panca "five"

Pepper : Old English pipor, from an early West Germanic borrowing of Latin piper "pepper", from Greek piperi, probably (via Persian) from Middle Indic pippari, from Sanskrit pippali "long pepper".

Pandit : via Sanskrit पण्डित paṇḍita, meaning "learned one or maestro". Modern Interpretation is a person who offers to mass media their opinion or commentary on a particular subject area.

R

Raita : ultimately from Sanskrit राजिका rājikā via Hindi रायता rāytā, a south Asian condiment and side dish made of yogurt and vegetables.

: through Hindi राज and Pali/Prakrit रज्ज rajja ultimately from Sanskrit राज्य rājya, which means "a king" or "kingdom". Raj means kingdom or domain of a ruler.

Rajah : through Hindi राज from Sanskrit राजन् rājān, which means "a king".

Ramtil : through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit रामतिल rāmatila, which means "a dark sesame".

: through Hindi रानी ultimately from Sanskrit राज्ञी rājnī, a queen, a consort of a rajah.

Rice : via Old French ris and Italian riso from Latin oriza, which is from Greek ὄρυζα oryza, through an Indo-Iranian tongue finally from Sanskrit व्रीहि vrihi "rice", ultimately derived from proto-Dravidian arisi.

Rupee : through Hindi रुपया rupiyā ultimately from Sanskrit रूप्यक rūpyaka, an Indian silver coin.

S

Saccharide : via Latin Saccharon and Greek σάκχαρον from Pali सक्खर sakkharā, ultimately from Sanskrit शर्करा sarkarā.

Sambal : through Afrikaans, Indonesian and Tamil சம்பல் campāl ultimately from Sanskrit सम्बार sambhārei.

Sambar : through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit शंबरः śambarah, a kind of Asian deer.

Sandalwood : via Middle English sandell, Old French sandale, Medieval Latin sandalum, Medieval Greek σανδάλιον sandalion (diminutive of σάνδαλον sandalon) and Arabic and Persian صندل; ultimately from Sanskrit चन्दन candana meaning "wood for burning incense".

Sapphire : via Old French saphir, Latin sapphirus and Greek σάπφειρος sappheiros from a Semitic tongue (cf. Hebrew: ספיר sapir); possibly the ultimate origin is Sanskrit शनिप्रिय sanipriya which literally means "sacred to Saturn (Shani)".

Sari : through Hindi साड़ी sari and Prakrit सदि sadi, finally from Sanskrit सति sati "garment".

Shampoo : via Anglo-Indian shampoo and Hindi चाँपो champo from Sanskrit चपयति capayati, which means "kneads".

Shawl : from Persian شال shal, finally from Sanskrit शाटी śāṭī, which means "a strip of cloth".

Singapore : via Malay Singapura ultimately from Sanskrit सिंहपुर simhapura, literally "the lion city".

Sri Lanka : from Sanskrit: श्री लंका which means "venerable island". It is said that Shree or Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, resides there.

Sugar : through Old French sucre, Italian zucchero, Medieval Latin succarum, Arabic: سكر sukkar and Persian: شکر shakar ultimately from Sanskrit शर्करा śarkara which means "ground or candied sugar" (originally "grit" or "gravel").

Sunn : via Hindi: सुन्न ultimately from Sanskrit: सन sāna, a kind of Asian plant.

Swami : through Hindi स्वामी swami ultimately from Sanskrit स्वामी svami, which means "a master".

Swastika : from Sanskrit स्वस्तिक svastika, a religious symbol associated rituals and divination. Swastika means "one associated with well-being, a lucky charm".

T

Taka : via Maithili and Bengali : টাকা from Sanskrit टङ्क tanka.

Talipot : through Hindi, Indonesian and Malay talipat from Sanskrit तालपत्र tālapatra, a kind of palm.

Tank : a word originally brought by the Portuguese from India, from a Hindi source, such as Gujarati tankh "cistern, underground reservoir for water", Marathi tanken, or tanka "reservoir of water, tank". Perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit tadaga "pond, lake pool", and reinforced in later sense of "large artificial container for liquid".

Tendu : via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit तैन्दुक tainduka.

Teapoy : via Hindi तिपाई tipāi and Urdu تپائي tipāʼī,which originated as a Sanskrit compound: त्रि (trí, "three") and पाद (pā́da, "foot").

: through Marathi ठग thag probably ultimately from Sanskrit स्थग sthaga, which means "a scoundrel".

Til : from Sanskrit तिलः tilah, a kind of plant.

Toddy : through Hindi तरी tari ultimately from Sanskrit तल tala-s, a Dravidian origin is also probable.

Toon : through Hindi तुन tūn ultimately from Sanskrit तुन्न tunna, a kind of tree.

: through Hindi टॉप ṭop probably from Prakrit थुपो thūpo, finally from Sanskrit स्तूप stūpa.

Tutty : through Middle English tutie, Old French, Medieval Latin tūtia, Arabic توتي tūtiyā, and Persian توتیا ultimately from Sanskrit तुत्थ tuttha meaning "blue vitriol", a Dravidian origin is also probable.

V

Vina

:ultimately from Sanskrit (vīṇā) through Hindi (vīṇā); referring to a kind of musical instrument.

W

Wanderoo

:through () finally from Sanskrit (vānara), meaning a kind of monkey.

Y

Yoga

:through Sanskrit (yoga-s), which means "yoke, union".

Yogi

:through Hindi (yogi) from Sanskrit (yogi); meaning one who practices yoga or ascetic.

Z

Zen

:through Japanese 禅 and Chinese 禪 Chán ultimately from Pali (jhāna) and Sanskrit (dhyana), which means "a meditation".

See also

• Greater India
• Hobson-Jobson
• Indianization
• Indo-European vocabulary
• Indian English
• List of Hindu deities
• Lists of English words by country or language of origin
• Sanskritization

References

External links

• Sanskrit in Freedictionary.com
• Sanskrit Dictionary containing terms of modern Spoken Sanskrit