List of English words of Sanskrit origin

This is a list of English words of Sanskrit origin. Many of these words were not directly borrowed from Sanskrit. The meanings of some words have changed slightly after being borrowed.

 A

 

Afghanistan

"Land of the Afghans"; from Arabic: Afġān (افغان) via Prakit: Avagānā (आभगन) which is derived from the Sanskrit tribal name Aśvaka (अश्वक) meaning "horseman", as the country was noted for its fine breed of horses; and the Persian suffix ـستان -stan meaning "land". This name was used in reference to the Kambojas in antiquity.

Ahimsa 

from Sanskrit अहिंसा ahimsā, which means "not-harmful".

Ambarella 

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

Amrita 

from Sanskrit अमृतम् amrtam, nectar of everlasting life. (see Ambrosia)

Aniline 

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

Aryan 

from Latin Ariana, from Greek Ἀρεία Areia, ultimately from Sanskrit आर्य Arya-s "noble, honorable".

Asana 

from Sanskrit आसन āsanam which means "seat", a term describing yoga postures.

Ashram 

ultimately from Sanskrit आश्रम āsramah, a religious hermitage.

Atoll 

through Maldivean:އަތޮޅު probably ultimately from Sanskrit अंतला antala.

Aubergine 

from Catalan alberginera, via Arabic (باذِنْجان al-badinjan) and Persian (بادنجان badin-gan) ultimately from Sanskrit वातिगगम vātinganah, meaning eggplant.

Avatar 

from Sanskrit अवतार avataara, which means "descent", an refers to the human incarnation of God during times of distress on earth. Thus, Krishna and Rāma were both avataars of Vishnu, who also manifested himself as an avatar many other times to make a total of ten.

Ayurveda 

from Sanskrit आयुर्वेद āyurvedah, which means "knowledge of life".

 B

Bandana 

from Sanskrit बन्धन bandhan, "a bond".

Banyan 

from Hindi baniyaa ultimately from Sanskrit वणिज्‌ waNij, which means "a merchant".

Basmati 

through Hindi बासमती ultimately from Sanskrit वास vāsah.

Bahuvrihi 

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

Beryl 

from Old French beryl, via Latin beryllus, Greek βήρυλλος and Prakrit वेलुरिय (veluriya) ultimately from Sanskrit वैडूर्य vaidurya-, of Dravidian origin, maybe from the name of Belur.

Bhakti 

from Sanskrit भक्ति bhakti, which means "loyalty".

Bhang 

from Hindi भांग bhang, which is from Sanskrit भङ्ग bhanga "hemp".

Bidi 

through Hindi बीड़ी ultimately from Sanskrit वितिकम vitikam.

Brahmin 

from Sanskrit ब्रIह्मण brahmana-s, from brahman.

Brinjal 

from Persian بادنجان badingān, probably from Sanskrit भण्टाकी vātingana.

Buddha 

from Sanskrit बुद्ध buddha, which means "awakened, enligtened", 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

A cheetah.

Cambodia

via Khmer ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា Kâmpŭchea; ultimately from Sanskrit: Kambujadesa (कम्बोजदेश; land of Kambuja).

Candy 

from Old French sucre candi, via Arabic: قندي qandi and Persian: قند qand probably ultimately from Sanskrit खुड् khanda "piece of sugar", perhaps from Dravidian.

Carmine 

from French carmin, via Middle Latin from Arabic: قرمز qirmiz "crimson", which is from Sanskrit क्रिमिगा krimiga.

Cash 

from Portuguese caixa, from Sinhalese කසි kasi, Tamil காசு kacu, which is from Sanskrit कर्ष karsha, a weight of gold or silver; this is the proper noun related with the miscellaneous coins of small value, common noun "cash" is not of Sanskrit origin.

Cashmere 

from Kashmir, the Himalayan region where this wool is from. The name Kashmere is derived from Ka (का; "water") and shimir (शिमिरि; "to desiccate").

Chador 

through Urdu چادر čâdor and Persian چادر čâdar "tent, mantle, scarf, veil, sheet, table-cloth"; ultimately from Sanskrit छत्त्रम् chattram.

Chakra 

from Sanskrit चक्रं cakra, which means "a circle, a wheel".

Champac 

through Hindi काम्पक ultimately from Sanskrit काम्पका campaka, an evergreen tree.

Cheetah 

from Hindi चिता chita "a leopard", from Sanskrit चित्राका chitraka, which means "speckled".

China 

via Latin Sina, Persian چین Cin, and Sanskrit चीन Chinas; ultimately derived from the name of the Qin Dynasty (秦).

Chintz 

from Hindi छींट chint, which is from Sanskrit चित्रस chitra-s "clear, bright".

Chit 

from Hindi चिट्ठी chitthi "a letter, note", which is from Sanskrit चित्रस chitra-s "uniquely marked".

Chuddar 

through Urdu چادر ultimately from Sanskrit छत्त्रम् chattram.

Chukar 

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

Chukker 

from Hindi चक्कर chakkar, from Sanskrit चक्र cakra, "a circle, a wheel".

Citipati 

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

Cot 

from Hindi ख़त khat "a couch", which is from Sanskrit खट्वा khatva.

Cowrie 

from Hindi कुरी kauri and Urdu کمتدب kauri, from Marathi कवडइ kavadi, which is ultimately from Sanskrit कपर्द kaparda.

Crimson 

from Old Spanish cremesin, via Middle Latin cremesinus from Arabic قرمز qirmiz "a kermes", which is ultimately from Sanskrit कृमिज krmi-ja literally: "red dye produced by a worm."

 D

Dahl 

through Hindi दल dāl ultimately from Sanskrit दलह dalah, meaning cotyledon of a pea pod, a type of Indian food, also refers to lentil in the US.

Das 

from Sanskrit दासा daasa, a slave or servant.

Datura 

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

Deodar 

through Hindi दोदर deodār ultimately from Sanskrit देवदारु devadāru, a kind of tree.

Deva 

from Sanskrit देवी deva, which means "a god", akin to Latin deus, "god".

Devi 

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

Dharma 

from Pali धम्म dhamma and Sanskrit: धर्म, which means "law, justice".

Dhoti 

through Hindi: धोती ultimately from Sanskrit धुनोति dhūnoti, traditional garment of men's wear in India.

Dinghy 

from Hindi दिन्गी dingi "a tiny boat", probably from Sanskrit द्रोणम drona-m.

 E

 F

Falafel 

from Arabic: فلافل‎, perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit पिप्पल pippalī.

 G

Ganja 

via Hindi गज "Elephant bull" ultimately from Sanskrit गांजा gāñjā, which means "of hemp".

Gaur 

via Hindi गौर "consider" ultimately from Sanskrit गौरह gaurah.

Gavial 

through French and Hindi घड़ियाल ghariyāl ultimately from Sanskrit घंतिक ghantikah, a kind of crocodile.

Gayal 

perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit गौह gauh via Bengali গযল্, a kind of animal.

Gharry 

perhaps finally from Sanskrit गर्त gartah via Hindi: गाड़ी, a kind of vehicle.

Ghee 

through Hindi: घी ultimately from Sanskrit: घृतं ghritam.

Guar 

through Hindi गार ultimately from Sanskrit गॊपलि gopālī, an annual legume.

Gunny 

via Hindi गोनी ultimately from Sanskrit गोणी goni "sack".

Gurkha 

via Nepalese गोर्खा ultimately from Sanskrit गोरक्साह goraksah, "a cowherd".

Guru 

via Hindi गुरु ultimately from Sanskrit गुरु guru-s, which means "a teacher".

 H

Hanuman 

through Hindi हनुमान from Sanskrit Hanuman (हनुमान्), a kind of small monkey, Hindu mythological God.

Hare Krishna 

from Sanskrit Hare (हरि) and Krishna (कृष्ण).

Himalaya 

from Sanskrit हिमालय himalayah, which means "place of snow".

Hindi 

from Hindi हिंद Hind, via Persian: هندو Hindu "Sind" ultimately from Sanskrit सिन्धु sindhu, which means "a river".

 I

 J

Jackal 

from Turkish çakal, from Persian شغال shaghal, from Middle Indic shagal, ultimately from Sanskrit सृगाल srgalah "the howler".

Jaggery 

via Portuguese jágara, jagre and Malayalam ഛക്കര chakkara perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit शर्करा sarkara.

Jungle 

through Hindi जंगल jangal "a desert, forest" ultimately from Sanskrit जंगल jangala-s, which means "arid".

Juggernaut 

through Hindi जगन्नाथ jagannath ultimately from Sanskrit जगन्नाथ jagat-natha-s, which means "lord of the world".

Jute 

via Bengali পাট jhuto ultimately from Sanskrit जुतास juta-s, which means "twisted hair".

 K

Karma 

from Sanskrit कर्म karman, which means "work, fate".

Kedgeree 

probably ultimately from Sanskrit कृशर krśara.

Kermes 

via French: Kermès, Arabic: قرمز qirmiz and Persian قرمز qermez; perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit: कृमिज kṛmija meaning "worm-made."

Kos 

through Hindi कोस kos ultimately from Sanskrit रोस krosah, which means "a call, a shout".

Krait 

through Hindi करैत karait probably ultimately from Sanskrit: काराइट, a kind of snake.

 L

Lac 

through Urdu لاکھ, Persian لاک and Hindi लाख lakh from Prakrit लक्ख lakkha, ultimately from Sanskrit लक्षं laksha.

Lacquer 

through French: Laque and Portuguese: Laca from Arabic لك lakk, via Prakrit ultimately from Sanskrit लक्षं laksha.

Langur 

through Hindi लुट lut probably ultimately from Sanskrit लंगुलम langūlam.

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 lota-m or लून्त्ति luṇṭhati meaning "he steals" through Hindi लूट lūṭ, which means "a booty, stolen thing".

 M

Maharajah 

through Hindi महाराजा ultimately from Sanskrit महा राजन् maha-rājān, which means "a great king".

Maharani 

through Hindi महारानी finally from Sanskrit महा रानी mahārājnī, which means "consort of a maharajah".

Maharishi 

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

Mahatma 

from Sanskrit महात्मा mahatman, 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 महमत्रह् mahāmātrah.

Mandala 

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

Mandarin 

via Portuguese mandarim, Dutch mandorijn, Malay mantri, 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.

Meerkat 

from Dutch meerkat "monkey" (literally: "lake cat"), or probably through Hindi मरकत markat ultimately from Sanskrit मर्कट markata meaning "an ape".

Mithras 

from Sanskrit मित्र Mitrah, which means "a friend".

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 मुग्दह् mudgah, 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 मुस्कस् muska-s meaning "a testicle", from a diminutive of मुस mus ("mouse").^[96]

Mynah 

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

 N

Nainsook 

through Hindi नैनसुख nainsukh and Urdu نینسوکھ ultimately from Sanskrit नयनम्सुख् nayanam-sukh, a kind of fabric.

Namaste 

through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit नमस्ते namas-te, which means "I bow to you".

Nard 

through Old French narde and Latin nardus from Greek νάρδος nardos, perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit णलदम् naladam.

Narghile 

through French Narguilé and Persian نارگيله nārghīleh ultimately from Sanskrit नारिकेला nārikelah.

Nark 

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

Neem 

through Hindi निम् nīm ultimately from Sanskrit निम्बह् nimbah, a kind of tree.

Nilgai 

through Hindi नीलगाय nīlgāy lit., blue cow ultimately from Sanskrit निल‍गौह् nīla-gauh, an ox-like animal.

Nirvana 

from Sanskrit निर्वाण nirvana-s which means "extinction, blowing out".

 O

Opal 

through French opalle from Latin opalus from Greek ὀπάλλιος opallios, probably ultimately from Sanskrit औपल upalah.

Orange 

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

 R

Raga 

via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit राग rāgah, melodic modes used in Indian classical music.

Raita 

ultimately from Sanskrit रजिकतिक्तक rājikātiktakaḥ via Hindi रायता rāytā, a south Asian condiment and side dish made of yogurt and vegetables.

Raj 

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 रमतिलह् rāmatilah, which means "a dark sesame".

Rani 

through Hindi रानी ultimately from Sanskrit राजनि rājnī, 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 रीहि vrihi-s "rice".

Rook

From Persian رخ rokh; ultimately from रत rath "chariot." (This is the chess piece, not the bird.)

Rupee 

through Hindi रुपया rupiyā ultimately from Sanskrit रूप्यकम् rūpyakam, an Indian silver coin.

Rye 

via Romani from Sanskrit राजा rājā, rye is used to define a gypsy person.

 S

Saccharo- 

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

Sadhu 

ultimately from Sanskrit साधु sādhu meaning "good man."

Samadhi 

from Sanskrit समाधि samadhi, which means "putting together".

Sambal 

through Afrikaans, Malay, and Tamil சம்பல் campāl ultimately from Sanskrit सम्बार sambhārei.

Sambar 

through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit संभारह् śambarah, a kind of Asian deer.

Samsara 

from Sanskrit संसार saṃ-sāra, which means "passing through".

Sandal 

via Middle English sandell, Old French sandale, Medieval Latin sandalum, Medieval Greek σανδάλιον sandalion (diminutive of σάνδαλον sandalon) and Arabic and Persian صندل; perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit चन्दनम् candanam meaning "wood for burning incense;" this is the word sandalwood, not related to sandals which is a type of footwear.

Sandhi 

ultimately from Sanskrit संधि samdhih, a wide variety of phonological processes.

Sangha 

from Sanskrit संघ saṅgha, a community of Buddhist monks and nuns.

Sanskrit 

from Sanskrit संस्कृतम् samskrtam "put together, well-formed".

Sapphire 

via Old French saphir, Latin sapphirus and Greek σάπφειρος sappheiros from a Semitic tongue (c.f. Hebrew: ספיר sapir); possible ultimate origin in Sanskrit शनिप्रिय sanipriya which literally means "Sacred to Saturn (Shani)".

Sari 

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

Satyagraha 

from Sanskrit सत्याग्रह satyagraha, which means "insisting on truth".

Sattva 

from Sanskrit सत्त्व sattvah, which means "truth".

Shaman 

through Russian шама́н from Tungus shaman, perhaps from Chinese 萨满 sha men, via Prakrit समन finally from Sanskrit श्रमण sramana-s "a Buddhist monk".

Shampoo 

via Anglo-Indian shampoo and Hindi चाँपो champo probably from Sanskrit चाँपना capayati, which means "kneads".

Shawl 

from Persian شال shal, finally from Sanskrit सत्ल् satI, which means "a strip of cloth".

Siddha 

from Sanskrit सिद्ध siddhah, which means "achieved, accomplished".

Sikh 

through Hindi सिख sikh "a disciple", ultimately from Sanskrit शिक्शते siksati which means "studies".

Singh 

via Hindi सिंह Singh finally from Sanskrit सिंह simhah which means "a lion".

Singapore 

via Malay Singapura ultimately from Sanskrit सिंहपुरं Simhapuram, literally "the lion city".

Sinhala 

from Sanskrit सिंहल Simhala which means "Sri Lanka".

Sinhalese 

from Sanskrit सिंहल simhala which means "of lions".

Sri Lanka

from Sanskrit: री लंका which means "venerable island."

Stupa 

from Sanskrit स्तूप stūpah which means "crown of the head".

Sugar 

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

Sulfur 

from Middle English sulfur, Old French soufre, and Latin sulfur and Arabic صفرا sufra meaning "yellow," perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit गन्धक sulvari.^[145]

Sunn 

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

Sutra 

from Sanskrit सूत्र sutram which means "a rule".

Suttee 

through Hindi finally from Sanskrit सती sati, which means "an honorable woman".

Swami 

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

Swastika 

from Sanskrit स्वस्तिक svastika, which means "one associated with well-being, a lucky charm".

 T

Taka 

via Bengali: টাকা from Sanskrit तन्कह् tankah.

Talipot 

through Hindi and Malay talipat from Sanskrit तलपत्त्रं tālapattram, a kind of tree.

Tendu 

via French "stretched" and Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit तालपत्त्रम् tainduka.

Tantra 

from Sanskrit तन्त्र tantram, which means "weave".

Teapoy

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

Thug 

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

Til 

from Sanskrit तिल tilah, a kind of plant.

Toddy 

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

Tola 

via Hindi: तोला ultimately from Sanskrit तुला tulā, a traditional Indian unit of mass.

Toon 

through Hindi तुन tūn ultimately from Sanskrit तुन्नह् tunnah, a kind of tree.

Tope 

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

Tussah 

through Hindi तसर tasar "shuttle" finally from Sanskrit तसरम् tasaram, a large moth.

Tutty 

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

 V

Vimana 

from Sanskrit विमान vimana meaning plane, also referred to the top of the temple tower, sanctum santorum.

Vina 

ultimately from Sanskrit वीणा vīṇā through Hindi वीणा vīṇā, a kind of instrument.

Veranda 

A verandah or veranda is a roofed opened gallery or porch वरण्डः.

Virinchi 

from Sanskrit virinchi meaning Brahma, also referred to the Creator of Universe.

 W

Wanderoo 

through Sinhalese: වන්ඩෙරූ finally from Sanskrit वानर vānarah, a kind of monkey.

Wat 

via Thai: วัด ultimately from Sanskrit वात vātah meaning "an enclosure."

 Y

Yoga 

through Hindi योग ultimately from Sanskrit योग yoga-s, which means "yoke, union".

Yogi 

through Hindi योगी yogi from Sanskrit योगस yoga, one who practices yoga or ascetic.

Yeti 

यथि yathih, which means "great sage, holyman" (this might have come to use as one might have mistaken a sage for the real Yeti)

 Z

Zen 

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