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 have changed slightly after being borrowed.
Both languages belong to the Indo-European language family and have numerous cognate terms; these words are not of Sanskrit origin and should not be included on this list.
A
; Ambarella : through ඇඹරැල්ලා æmbarællā ultimately from Sanskrit: अम्बरेल्ला, a kind of tree.; Aniline : through 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".
; Atoll : through Maldivean:އަތޮޅު probably ultimately from Sanskrit अन्तला antala.
; Aubergine : from French aubergine, in Catalan albergínia, via Arabic and Persian ultimately from Sanskrit वातिगगम vātigagama, meaning Eggplant or Aubergine.
; Avatar : from Sanskrit अवतार avatāra, 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 : through Hindi बासमती ultimately from Sanskrit वास vāsa.
; Bahuvrihi : from Sanskrit बहुव्रीहि bahuvrīhih, 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 Persian بادنجان badingān, probably from Sanskrit भण्टाकी bhaṇṭākī.
; 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.; Cashmere :1680s, "shawl made of cashmere wool," from the old spelling of Kashmir, Himalayan kingdom where wool was obtained from long-haired goats.
; 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, from koppara "coconut;" related to Hindi khopri "skull," from Sanskrit kharparah "skull."
; Cowrie : from Hindi कौड़ी kauri and Urdu کمتدب kauri, from Marathi कवडइ 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 krmi-ja literally: "red dye produced by a worm."
; Crocus : from Greek κρόκος crocus, via Semitic languages ; ultimately from Sanskrit कुङ्कुमं kunkumam.
D
; Dhal : through Hindi दाल dāl ultimately from Sanskrit दलह dalah, 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 धत्तुरह dhattūrāh, 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".
; Dhoti : via Hindi dhotī ultimately from Sanskrit dhautī 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 द्रोणम drona-m.
; Dvandva: is a Sanskrit technical term literally meaning "a pair".
G
; Ganja : via Hindi गांजा, ultimately from Sanskrit गञ्जा.; Gharry : via Hindi word gādī which is ultimately derived from Sanskrit word garta which means 'chariot'.
; Ginger : from Old English gingifer, gingiber, from Late Latin gingiber, from Latin zingiberi, from Greek zingiberis, from Prakrit singabera, from Sanskrit srngaveram, from srngam "horn" + vera- "body", although, it may have derived instead from Tamil word "Inchi".
; Gondwana: from two Sanskrit words, goṇḍa which means 'Gondi people or mountaineers' and vana which means 'forest'.
; Guar : through Hindi गार ultimately from Sanskrit गॊपलि gopālī, an annual legume.
; Gunny : via Hindi गोनी ultimately from Sanskrit गोणी goni "sack".; from Persian گونی "Gooni" a burlap sack.
; Gurkha : via Nepalese गोर्खा ultimately from Sanskrit गोरक्ष goraksa, "a cowherd".
; Guru : via Hindi गुरु ultimately from Sanskrit गुरु guru-s, which means "a teacher".
J
; Jackal : from Turkish çakal, from Persian شغال shaghal, from Middle Indic shagal, ultimately from Sanskrit शृगालः srgalah "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 : via Bengali পাট Pata ultimately from Sanskrit जुतास juta-s, which means "twisted hair".
K
; Karma : from Sanskrit कर्म karman, which means "action".; Kedgeree : probably ultimately from Sanskrit कृशर krśara.
; Kermes : via French: Kermès, and Persian قرمز qermez; perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit: कृमिज kṛmija meaning "worm-made."
; 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 लाक्षा lākṣā, meaning lac.; Lacquer : through French: Laque and Portuguese: Laca from Arabic لك lakk, via Prakrit ultimately from Sanskrit लाक्षा lākṣā.
; 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 ultimately from Sanskrit महामात्रह् 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, 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.
; 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, meaning "pleasing to the eyes".; Nard : through Old French narde and Latin nardus from Greek νάρδος nardos, perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit नलदम् naladam.
; Narghile : through French Narguilé and Persian نارگيله nārghīleh ultimately from Sanskrit नारिकेलः nārikelah.
; : probably from Romany nak "a nose", via Hindi नक् nak ultimately from Sanskrit नक्र nakra.
; Neem : through Hindi निम् nīm ultimately from Sanskrit निम्बः nimbah, a kind of tree.
; Nilgai : through Hindi नीलगाय nīlgāy lit., blue cow ultimately from Sanskrit नीलगौः nīla-gauh, an ox-like animal.
; Nirvana : from Sanskrit निर्वाण nirvana-s which means "exhaling, 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, 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 pal "brother, comrade," variant of continental Romany pral, plal, phral, probably from Sanskrit bhrata "brother"; Palanquin: via Odia word pālankī which is ultimately derived from Sanskrit word palyanka which means 'bed' or 'couch'.
; Panther: via classical Latin panthēr, itself from the ancient Greek word pánthēr which is ultimately derived from Sanskrit पाण्डर pāṇḍara which means.
; Parcheesi: 1800, from Hindi pachisi, from pachis "twenty-five", from Sanskrit panca "five"
; Pepper: Old English pipor, from an early West Germanic borrowing of Latin piper "pepper," from Greek piperi, probably from Middle Indic pippari, from Sanskrit pippali "long pepper."
; Punch: via Sanskrit पञ्च pancha, meaning "five". The original drink was made from five ingredients: alcohol, sugar, lemon, water, and tea or spices.
; Pundit : via Sanskrit पण्डित paṇdita, meaning "learned". A person who offers to mass media their opinion or commentary on a particular subject area.:
R
; Raita : ultimately from Sanskrit रजिकतिक्तक rājikātiktakaḥ 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 रामतिलः rāmatilah, which means "a dark sesame".
; : through Hindi रानी ultimately from Sanskrit राज्ञी 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 व्रीहिस् vrihi-s "rice", ultimately derived from proto-Dravidian arisi.
; Rupee : through Hindi रुपया rupiyā ultimately from Sanskrit रूप्यकम् rūpyakam, 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 संभारह् śambarah, a kind of Asian deer.
; Sandalwood : via Middle English sandell, Old French sandale, Medieval Latin sandalum, Medieval Greek σανδάλιον sandalion and Arabic and Persian صندل; ultimately from Sanskrit चन्दनम् candanam meaning "wood for burning incense".
; Sapphire : via Old French saphir, Latin sapphirus and Greek σάπφειρος sappheiros from a Semitic tongue ; possibly the ultimate origin is Sanskrit शनिप्रिय sanipriya which literally means "sacred to Saturn ".
; Sari : through Hindi साड़ी sari and Prakrit सदि sadi, finally from Sanskrit षाटी 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 सत्ल् satI, which means "a strip of cloth".
; Singapore : via Malay Singapura ultimately from Sanskrit सिंहपुरं Simhapuram, 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 sharkara which means "ground or candied sugar".
; 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, which means "one associated with well-being, a lucky charm" or Good, god fearing being. It is said to be the form of the Sun.
T
; Taka : via Maithili and Bengali: টাকা from Sanskrit तन्कह् tankah.; Talipot : through Hindi, Indonesian and Malay talipat from Sanskrit तालपत्रम् tālapatram, 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-m "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 and पाद.
; : through Marathi 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.
; Toon : through Hindi तुन tūn ultimately from Sanskrit तुन्नह् tunnah, a kind of tree.
; : through Hindi टॉप ṭop probably from Prakrit थुपो thūpo, finally from Sanskrit स्तूप stūpah.
; 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
; Vina : ultimately from Sanskrit वीणा vīṇā through Hindi वीणा vīṇā, a kind of musical instrument.W
; Wanderoo : through වන්ඩෙරූ vanḍerū finally from Sanskrit वानर vānarah, a kind of monkey.Y
; Yoga : through Sanskrit योग yoga-s, which means "yoke, union".; Yogi : through Hindi योगी yogi from Sanskrit योगिन् yogin, one who practices yoga or ascetic.