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 169 of 554
- खव् khavkhaunāti or khunāti, cakhāva, etc., to cause prosperity, produce wealth, to purify…
- खवल्ली kha-vallīetc. See under 3. kha.
- खश khaśaa mountainous country in the north of India; a native of that country considered as a…
- खशय kha-śayaSee under 3. kha.
- खशीर khaśīraname of a people;
- खशेट khaśeṭathe Khaliśa, a kind of fish;
- खश्वास kha-śvāsaSee under 3. kha.
- खष् khaṣkhaṣati, to hurt, injure, kill;
- खष्प khaṣpaviolence, oppression; anger, passion.
- खस khasaitch, scab, or any similar disease of the skin;
- खसकन्द khasakandaor khasagandha, as, m., name of a plant, commonly called kṣīra-kañcukī.
- खसतिल khasatila(kha-sa-tila?), poppy (khaskhasa).
- खसम kha-samaetc. See under 3. kha.
- खसाक khasākaname of a people; (a various reading for khaśīra.)
- खसात्मज khasātmajaSee under khaśa.
- खसिन्धु kha-sindhuSee under 3. kha.
- खसीक khasīkaname of a people, = khasāka.
- खसूचि khasūcian expression of reproach at the end of a compound, e.g. vaiyākaraṇa-khasūci, one who has…
- खसृम khasṛmaname of a Daitya, son of Vipracitti and Siṃhikā.
- खस्खस khaskhasapoppy.
- खस्तनी kha-stanīSee under 3. kha.
- खा khā(at the end of some compounds) digging
- खागि khāgi(?), name of an Agrahāra.
- खाजिक khājikafried or parched grain;
- खाट् khāṭ(an onomatopoetic word), the sound made in clearing the throat;
- खाट khāṭaa bier, a cot or bedstead on which dead bodies are conveyed to the pile;
- खाटि khāṭia bier; a scar; caprice, whim.
- खाटिका khāṭikāa bier;
- खाट्वाभारिक khāṭvābhārikaor khāṭvika, as, ī, am, laden with bedsteads.
- खाडायन khāḍāyanaa patronymic from Khaḍa.
- खाडायनिन् khāḍāyaninthe followers of Khāḍāyana.
- खाड्ग khāḍgabelonging to a rhinoceros (as armour made of rhinoceros hide).
- खाण्ड khāṇḍathe state of having fractures, fissures, or gaps.
- खाण्डव khāṇḍavasugar-candy, sugar-plums, sweetmeats; name of a region; (am), n., name of a forest in…
- खाण्डवायन khāṇḍavāyananame of a family of Brāhmans.
- खाण्डविक khāṇḍavikaa confectioner; sugar-baker.
- खाण्डिक khāṇḍikaa confectioner, a seller of sugar-plums or sweetmeats; (am), n. a mass or multitude of…
- खाण्डिकीय khāṇḍikīyathe followers of Khaṇḍika.
- खाण्डिक्य khāṇḍikyaname of a son of Amita-dhvaja or Mita-dhvaja; (am), n. the business of a confectioner (?).
- खात् khāt(an onomatopoetic word), the sound made in clearing the throat;
- खात khātaSee rt. khan.
- खात्मन् khātmanSee under 3. kha.
- खाद् khād(ep. also A.) khādati, cakhāda, khādiṣyati, akhādīt, khāditum, to chew, bite, eat…
- खाद khādaeating, devouring, (at the end of compounds, e.g. amitra-khāda, vṛtra-khāda, q.v.); (as)…
- खादक khādakaeating, consuming, devouring; an eater; a debtor; a borrower, one who borrows or uses;
- खादतमोदता khādata-modatācontinual eating and being glad.
- खादन khādanaa tooth; (ā), f., name of a wife of king Megha-vāhana; (am), n. chewing, eating; food…
- खादनीय khādanīyaeatable, edible, to be eaten.
- खादित khāditaeaten, devoured.
- खादितव्य khāditavyato be eaten, what may be or must be eaten.
- खादिन्1 khādineating. (For 2. see under khādi.)
- खादुक khādukamischievous, injurious, malignant.
- खाद्य khādyaeatable, edible, what may or must be eaten; (am), n. food, victuals.
- खादि khādia brooch, bracelet, ring (worn on the hands or feet especially by the Maruts).
- खादिन्2 khādindecorated with bracelets or rings (as the Maruts).
- खादिर khādiramade of or coming from the tree Acacia Catechu; (as), m. Catechu extract prepared from…
- खादोअर्णस् khādoarṇastearing away the bank (as a river ?).
- खाधूया khādhūyāname of an Agra-hāra.
- खान khānaSee rt. khan.
- खापगा khāpagāSee under 3. kha.
- खार khāraor khāri, is, ī, m. f. a Khāri, a measure of grain = 16 Droṇas or about 3 bushels; it is…
- खारिक khārikaor khārīka, as, ā, am, equal to or sown with a Khāri of grain (as a field etc.).
- खार्कार khār-kārathe braying of an ass;
- खार्गलि khārgalian epithet of Kapi; (a various reading has khārjali.)
- खार्जूर khārjūracoming from or made of the tree Phœnix Sylvestris.
- खार्वा khārvāthe Tretā or second Yuga of the world.
- खालत्य khālatyaor khālitya, am, n. morbid baldness.
- खालिक khālikalike a threshing-floor.
- खाशि khāśiname of a country to the east of Bengal; the Cossya hills; (also khāśika);
- खाश्मरी khāśmarīa plant, = kāśmarī.
- खाष्य khāṣyaor (according to a various reading) khoṣya, as or am, m. or n. (?), name of a place;
- खासता khāsatāname of a place in Kāśmīra.
- खासीर khāsīraname of a people;
- खिखि khikhia fox; (a various reading for kikhi.)
- खिङ्खिर khiṅkhiraa fox; (as), m. the foot of a bedstead (= khaṭvāṅga), one of Śiva's weapons; a kind of…
- खिट् khiṭkheṭati, etc., to be terrified or frightened, to fear, dread; to terrify, scare, startle…
- खेटित kheṭitaterrified, scared, startled, frightened.
- खिद् khidkhindati (Vedic khidati), cikheda, akhaitsīt, khetsyati, khettum, to strike, press, press…
- खिदिर khidiraan ascetic, a penitent; a pauper; the moon; an epithet of Indra.
- खिद्यमान khidyamānabeing depressed, suffering pain or distress.
- खिद्र khidraa poor man, a pauper; disease, sickness; (am), n., Vedic a press; (Sāy.) an instrument…
- खिद्वन् khidvanpressing upon, oppressing.
- खिन्न khinnadepressed, distressed, suffering pain or uneasiness; wearied, exhausted.
- खेद khedalassitude, depression; exhaustion; pain; poverty; sorrow, affliction, distress; (ā), f…
- खेदन khedanalassitude, exhaustion, pain, sorrow, affliction, poverty, distress.
- खेदयितव्य khedayitavyato be depressed, to be made distressed.
- खेदित kheditadisturbed, annoyed, harassed; afflicted, distressed, pained.
- खेदितव्य kheditavyato be depressed or cast down, to be troubled.
- खेदिन् khedintiring, fatiguing, disturbing; (inī), f. a creeper, a creeping plant, Marsilea…
- खिन्दक khindakaor khindhi, is, m., name of an Arabic astronomer, Alkindi.
- खिरहिट्टी khirahiṭṭīname of a plant, = mahā-samaṅgā.
- खिल khilaa piece of waste or uncultivated land situated between cultivated fields, a desert, bare…
- खिलीकृ khilī-kṛ-karoti, -kurute, -kartum, to turn into a desert, to devastate, make impassable; to make…
- खिलीभू khilī-bhū-bhavati, -vitum, to become a desert, become impassable or unfrequented, to be blocked…
- खिल्य khilyaa piece of waste or uncultivated land situated between cultivated fields, a desert; a…
- खैलिक khailikasupplementary. See s.v.
- खीर khīra(?), name of a place.
- खील khīla= kīla, q.v.
- खु khukhavate, etc., to sound.
- खुङ्खुणी khuṅkhuṇīa kind of lute.
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).