Pronunciation guide: Devanagari, IAST and endings
Vowels
| अ | a | a in “about” |
| आ | ā | a in “father” (long) |
| इ | i | i in “sit” |
| ई | ī | ee in “see” (long) |
| उ | u | u in “put” |
| ऊ | ū | oo in “food” (long) |
| ऋ | ṛ | vowel r, like “ri” in “rich” (short) |
| ॠ | ṝ | the same, held longer |
| ऌ | ḷ | vowel l, like “le” in “table” |
| ए | e | ay in “day” (always long) |
| ऐ | ai | ai in “aisle” |
| ओ | o | o in “go” (always long) |
| औ | au | ow in “now” |
Vowel signs (mātrās) after a consonant: का kā · कि ki · की kī · कु ku · कू kū · कृ kṛ · के ke · कै kai · को ko · कौ kau. A consonant with no sign has a built-in short a (क = ka).
Consonants
Throat (velar)
| क | k | k in “skin” |
| ख | kh | k with a puff, “blockhead” |
| ग | g | g in “go” |
| घ | gh | gh in “doghouse” |
| ङ | ṅ | ng in “sing” |
Palate
| च | c | ch in “church” |
| छ | ch | ch with a puff, “staunch heart” |
| ज | j | j in “jam” |
| झ | jh | dgeh in “hedgehog” |
| ञ | ñ | ny in “canyon” |
Tongue curled back (retroflex)
| ट | ṭ | t with the tongue tip curled back |
| ठ | ṭh | the same with a puff |
| ड | ḍ | d, tongue curled back |
| ढ | ḍh | the same with a puff |
| ण | ṇ | n, tongue curled back |
Teeth (dental)
| त | t | t with the tongue on the teeth (French t) |
| थ | th | t with a puff, “at home” (never “thin”) |
| द | d | d on the teeth |
| ध | dh | dh in “adhere” |
| न | n | n in “nut” |
Lips
| प | p | p in “spin” |
| फ | ph | p with a puff, “uphill” (never “f”) |
| ब | b | b in “bat” |
| भ | bh | bh in “abhor” |
| म | m | m in “mat” |
Others
| य | y | y in “yes” |
| र | r | a light tapped r |
| ल | l | l in “love” |
| व | v | between v and w |
| श | ś | sh in “shine” |
| ष | ṣ | sh with the tongue curled back |
| स | s | s in “sun” |
| ह | h | h in “hand” |
An h after a consonant (kh, gh, th, dh, ph, bh…) means a puff of breath; it is never the English “th”, “ph” or “sh” sound.
Special signs
| कं | ṃ | anusvāra: a nasal hum, sounding like the nasal of the next consonant (saṃskṛta) |
| कः | ḥ | visarga: a soft breath echoing the vowel before it (devaḥ ≈ “deva-ha”) |
| क् | — | virāma: removes the built-in a (क ka → क् k) |
| कँ | m̐ | candrabindu: the vowel is said through the nose |
| कऽ | ’ | avagraha: an a dropped after e or o (so ’ham = so aham) |
What the marks in IAST mean
- Line on top (ā ī ū ṝ): a long vowel, held about twice as long.
- Dot under r, l (ṛ ṝ ḷ): r or l used as a vowel.
- Dot under t, d, n, s (ṭ ḍ ṇ ṣ): tongue tip curled back (retroflex).
- ṃ: anusvāra (nasal hum) · ḥ: visarga (echoing breath).
- ṅ: ng as in “sing” · ñ: ny as in “canyon” · ś: sh as in “shine”.
Long and short syllables, and stress
A syllable is heavy if its vowel is long (ā ī ū ṝ e ai o au), or it is followed by two consonants, or it ends in ṃ or ḥ; otherwise it is light. Usual modern stress (as in Latin): stress the second-last syllable if it is heavy (saṃ·skṛ·ta: skṛ is light, so the stress falls on the heavy saṃ; ma·hā·bhā·ra·ta; rā·mā·ya·ṇa); if not, go back to the third-last, then the fourth-last. Old Vedic pitch accents are not shown.
Common endings (inflections)
Nouns: deva (masculine, “god”)
| devaḥ | the god (subject) | devāḥ | the gods |
| devam | the god (object) | devān | the gods (object) |
| devena | by / with the god | devaiḥ | by the gods |
| devāya | to / for the god | devebhyaḥ | to / for the gods |
| devāt | from the god | devebhyaḥ | from the gods |
| devasya | of the god | devānām | of the gods |
| deve | in / on the god | deveṣu | in the gods |
| he deva | O god! | he devāḥ | O gods! |
Verbs: bhū “to be, become”, present tense
| bhavati | he / she / it is | bhavanti | they are |
| bhavasi | you are (one person) | bhavatha | you are (several) |
| bhavāmi | I am | bhavāmaḥ | we are |
Dictionary headwords are stems (deva, bhū); in texts the words carry these endings, and sounds join across word boundaries (sandhi).
Sanskrit Dictionary
Dictionary scope: अ a, आ ā, ब b, भ bh, इ i, ई ī, उ u, ऊ ū, ऋ ṛ, ॠ ṝ, ऌ ḷ, ए e, ऐ ai, ओ o, औ au, क k, ख kh, ग g, घ gh, ङ ṅ, च c, छ ch, ज j, झ jh, ञ ñ, ट ṭ, ठ ṭh, ड ḍ, ढ ḍh, ण ṇ, त t, थ th, द d, ध dh, न n, प p, फ ph, म m, य y, र r, ल l, व v, श ś, ष ṣ, स s and ह h · 114,538 entries
Every headword in Monier Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872), in Sanskrit alphabetical order. Jump by letter above, use the page tabs, or keep scrolling — more words load as you go.
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55,387 headwords · page 123 of 554
- उपासनीय upāsanīyato be attended on, worthy of attendance.
- उपासा upāsāreligious reflection or meditation; service, worship.
- उपासित upāsitaserved, honoured, worshipped; serving, paying worship or service.
- उपासितव्य upāsitavyato be served or worshipped; to be attended to, to be accomplished; to be regarded or…
- उपासितृ upāsitṛa worshipper.
- उपासीन upāsīnasitting near to, occupying.
- उपास्ति upāstiservice, especially of a deity, worship, veneration.
- उपास्य1 upāsyato be served or worshipped; to be attended to or accomplished; to be respected; to be…
- उपास्य2 upāsyahaving served or worshipped; having associated (?).
- उपास्यमान upāsyamānabeing served, waited upon, attended, worshipped, receiving homage.
- उपासङ्ग upā-saṅgaproximity; a quiver.
- उपास्तमन upāstamanasunset.
- उपास्तमयम् upāstamayamabout the time of sunset.
- उपास्त्र upāstraa secondary or minor weapon.
- उपास्था upā-sthā-tiṣṭhati, -te, -sthātum, to stand near, go near to, have intercourse with.
- उपाहृ upā-hṛ-harati, -te, -hartum, to offer; to make, prepare.
- उपाहार upāhāraslight refreshment (consisting of fruits, sweetmeats, etc.).
- उपाहृत upā-hṛtaoffered, prepared; seized.
- उपाह्वे upā-hve-hvayati, -te, -hvātum, to challenge, invite.
- उपे1 upeupaiti, -tum, to go near, approach (as a friend or enemy); come near to, arrive at…
- उपाय upāyaapproaching, approach; that by which one reaches an aim, a means, an expedient, a way…
- उपायन upāyanaapproaching, going near to, going to a teacher, becoming a pupil, engaging in any…
- उपायिक upāyikaconducive to.
- उपायिन् upāyinapproaching; having sexual intercourse with; expert in the use of means.
- उपायु upāyugoing near to, approaching.
- उपेत upetacome near, approached, arrived at, come near to, present, existent; accompanied by…
- उपेति upetiapproach, arrival.
- उपेतृ upetṛapproaching, going near to; contriving, a contriver, one who employs expedients, one who…
- उपेत्य upetyahaving approached, having gone near.
- उपेय upeyato be gone to or approached, to be effected by any means; assailable; to be sought, to be…
- उपेयिवस् upeyivasaccompanied or followed by, associated with, united; obtained, got.
- उपे2 upeupaiti, -tum, to come near to, go to, approach, visit; to have sexual intercourse with…
- उपेक्ष् upekṣupekṣate, ṣitum, to look at, regard; to perceive; to notice, have regard to; to consider…
- उपेक्ष upekṣaname of a son of Śvaphalka.
- उपेक्षक upekṣakadisregarding, neglecting, looking at inattentively, disdaining; patient, enduring.
- उपेक्षण upekṣaṇaoverlooking, looking at without interest or attention, disregarding, neglecting…
- उपेक्षणीय upekṣaṇīyato be neglected or disregarded.
- उपेक्षा upekṣāoverlooking, negligence, neglect; indiference, contempt, disdain; abandoning, leaving…
- उपेक्षित upekṣitadisregarded, disesteemed, neglected, disdained.
- उपेक्षितव्य upekṣitavyato be looked at, to be regarded, to be examined; to be disregarded.
- उपेक्ष्य upekṣyato be regarded or examined; to be disregarded or neglected.
- उपेन् upenupenoti, to press in, force in.
- उपेनित upenitadriven or pressed in, turned in.
- उपेन्द्र upendraname of Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa as the younger brother of Indra, (born subsequently to Indra…
- उपेप्सा upepsāSee under upāp.
- उपेष्1 upeṣupeṣate, -ṣitum, to attack.
- उपेष्2 upeṣupeṣate, -ṣitum, to approach with a request etc., to request.
- उपेष्3 upeṣupeṣati, ṣitum, to creep near, approach.
- उपोक्ष् upokṣupokṣati, ṣitum, to sprinkle in addition.
- उपोढ1 upoḍhabrought near; brought about, advanced, begun; arranged, arrayed; near, proximate; married.
- उपोढ2 upoḍhaSee upoh next col.
- उपोती upotīthe pot-herb Basella Rubra or Lucida. See upodikā.
- उपोत्क्रम् upot-kram4. P. -krāmati, -krāmyati, -kramitum, to go up towards, rise upwards, ascend.
- उपोत्तम upottamalast but one; (am), n. (scil. akṣaram) the last vowel but one.
- उपोत्थित upot-thitarisen up.
- उपोद् upoduponatti, uponditum, to moisten.
- उपोदक upodakanear to water; (akī or ikā), f. the plant Basella Cordifolia.
- उपोदयम् upodayamabout the time of sunrise.
- उपोदि upod-i-eti, -tum, to approach.
- उपोदीका upodīkāthe plant Basella Cordifolia. See upodikā.
- उपोदे upode-aiti, -tum, to go up towards, go up to.
- उपोद्ग्रह् upod-grah-gṛhṇāti, -ṇīte (Vedic -gṛbhṇāti, -ṇīte), -grahītum, to erect, set up.
- उपोद्घात upod-ghātaan example, an apposite argument or illustration; analysis, the ascertainment of the…
- उपोद्बलय upodbalaya-balayati, -yitum, to confirm.
- उपोद्बलक upodbalakaconfirming.
- उपोपविश् upopa-viś-viśati, -veṣṭum, to sit down near, to take a seat near.
- उपोष् upoṣ-oṣati, -ṣitum, to burn down, burn.
- उपोषण upoṣaṇaa fast, fasting.
- उपोषित upoṣitafasted; (am), n. fasting.
- उपोष्य upoṣyahaving fasted.
- उपोषध upoṣadhaname of a Brāhman.
- उपोह् upohin some of its senses connected with upa-vah), cl. 1. P. upohati, -hitum, to push or…
- उपोढ2 upoḍhabrought near, brought about, advanced, commenced.
- उपोह upohaadding, accumulating.
- उपोह्यमान upohyamānabeing brought about or commenced.
- उप्त uptasown (as seed).
- उप्ति uptisowing seeds.
- उप्त्रिम uptrimasown, cultivated.
- उप्य upyato be scattered or sown.
- उप्यमान upyamānabeing sown.
- उब्ज् ubjubjati, ubjāñ-cakāra, ubjiṣyati, aubjīt, ubjitum, to press down, subdue, keep under; to…
- उब्ज ubjaname of a man.
- उब्जित ubjitapressed down, subdued.
- उभ् ubhor umbh, cl. 6. 9. 7. P., Vedic ubhati or umbhati, ubhnāti, unapti, impf. aunap, uvobha…
- उभ ubhapron., both.
- उभय ubhaya(pl. m. f. n. e, ās, āni, only used in sing. and pl., but by some authorities also in…
- उभयतस् ubhayatasfrom both sides, on both sides, to both sides; in both cases.
- उभयत्र ubhayatrain both places, on both sides; in both cases, both times.
- उभयथा ubhayathāin both ways; in both cases.
- उभया ubhayāin both ways.
- उभयीय ubhayīyabelonging to both.
- उभयेद्युस् ubhaye-dyuson both days, on two subsequent days.
- उम् uman interjection of anger, interrogation, promise or assent, of cordiality or pacification.
- उम umaa city, a town; a wharf, a landing-place.
- उमा umā(in the first sense perhaps fr. rt. ve), flax (Linum Usitatissimum); the plant Curcuma…
- उम्य umyaa field of linseed or of Curcuma.
- उम्बर umbarathe upper timber of a door frame; name of a Gandharva.
- उम्बी umbīthe stalks of wheat or barley fried over a fire of wet grass, considered as a tonic.
- उम्बुर umburathe upper timber of a door frame;
- उम्लोचा umlocāname of an Apsaras.
Source and licence. Monier Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Etymologically and Philologically Arranged (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1872; first edition). Digital text: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries (MW72, csl-orig/v02/mw72), © Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon project contributors, Cologne University, accessed 7 October 2026, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, provided without warranty.
Changes made here: entries for अ a, आ ā, ब b, भ bh, इ i, ई ī, उ u, ऊ ū, ऋ ṛ, ॠ ṝ, ऌ ḷ, ए e, ऐ ai, ओ o, औ au, क k, ख kh, ग g, घ gh, ङ ṅ, च c, छ ch, ज j, झ jh, ञ ñ, ट ṭ, ठ ṭh, ड ḍ, ढ ḍh, ण ṇ, त t, थ th, द d, ध dh, न n, प p, फ ph, म m, य y, र r, ल l, व v, श ś, ष ṣ, स s and ह h only; meanings trimmed for length and MW abbreviations expanded; Devanagari generated from the SLP1 keys with indic_transliteration; spelling notes, IPA pronunciations and labelled (“inferred”/“not given”) etymologies added. This adapted dictionary text is shared under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Fonts: Noto Serif and Noto Serif Devanagari (SIL Open Font License).