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).American Heritage Dictionary – Candy 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 yellowBabiniotis, Leksiko tis neoellinikis glossas.); 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").American Heritage Dictionary – Ganja 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.Dictionary.com – Moksha 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. Nark 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 Pal 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.Oxford Dictionary – Pundit
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