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 170 of 554
- खुङ्गाह khuṅgāhaa black horse.
- खुज् khujkhojati, to steal, rob;.
- खुज्जाक khujjākaor (according to a various reading) khuñjāka, as, m. the plant Lipeocercis Serrata;
- खुड् khuḍkhoḍayati, -yitum (another form for khuṇḍ below), to break in pieces, to divide, tear…
- खुडक khuḍakaor am, m. or n. (?), the ankle-joint;
- खुण्ड् khuṇḍkhuṇḍate, to break in pieces; to limp, be lame; cl. 10. P. khuṇḍayati, -yitum, to break…
- खुत्तीर्य khuttīryaname of a foreign astronomer.
- खुद् khudkhudati, to sport wantonly or amorously: Intens. 3rd sing. Leṭ, canīkhudat;
- खुनमुष khunamuṣaor am, m. or n. (?), name of an Agra-hāra.
- खुर् khurkhurati, cukhora, khoritum, to cut, cut up, break in pieces; to scratch;
- खुर khuraa hoof, a horse's hoof, etc.; a sort of perfume, commonly called Nakhi, apparently a…
- खुरक khurakaname of a plant, = tila; a kind of dance.
- खुरप्र khurapraan arrow with a semicircular head; (a wrong form for kṣurapra.)
- खुरली khuralīmilitary exercise, practising archery, etc.;
- खुराक khurākaan animal in general;.
- खुरालक khurālakaan iron arrow.
- खुरालिक khurālikaa razor-case; an iron arrow; a pillow; (a various reading for kharālika.)
- खुरासान khurāsānaKhurāsān.
- खुर्द् khurdkhūrdate, to play, to sport, = kurd, gurd, q.v.
- खुल्ल khullasmall, little, low, mean, = kṣudra and kṣulla; (am), n. a kind of perfume, = khura.
- खुल्लक khullakalittle, small, poor, indigent, low, vile; cruel, harsh; wicked, mischievous, malignant, =…
- खुल्लम khullamaa road.
- खूर्द् khūrdq.v.
- खृगल khṛgalaor am, m. or n. (?), Vedic a staff, a crutch (?); (Sāy.) a coat of mail.
- खेखीरक khekhīrakaa hollow bamboo, a sounding reed or cane;
- खेगमन khe-gamanaSee under 3. kha.
- खेट् kheṭkheṭayati, -yitum, to eat, consume.
- खेट kheṭaa village, the residence of peasants and farmers; a small town, half a Pura; phlegm, the…
- खेटक kheṭakaa village, the residence of agricultural peasants, a small village; (as, am), m. n. a…
- खेटिन् kheṭina lecher, a libertine;
- खेट khe'ṭaSee under 3. kha.
- खेटिक kheṭikaname of a man.
- खेटित kheṭitaSee under rt. khiṭ.
- खेटिताल kheṭitālaa minstrel, a family bard or piper, whose business is to awaken the master of the house…
- खेड् kheḍkheḍayati, -yitum, to eat;
- खेड kheḍagrass (?), in gandhakheḍa;
- खेडिताल kheḍitālaa minstrel, a family bard or piper, etc., = kheṭitāla.
- खेद khedaSee under rt. khid.
- खेदि khedirays (?).
- खेपरिभ्रम khe-paribhramaSee under 3. kha.
- खेमकर्ण khemakarṇa(for kṣema-karṇa ?), name of a man.
- खेय kheyaSee under rt. khan, p. 273.
- खेल् khelkhelati, etc., to shake, move to and fro, swing; to tremble: Caus. khelayati, -yitum, to…
- खेल khelamoving, shaking, trembling, swinging; (as), m., name of a man; (ā), f. sport, play.
- खेलन khelanashaking; quivering motion (of the eyes); play, pastime, sport; (ī), f. a piece or man at…
- खेलाय khelāyakhelāyati, -yitum, to play, sport.
- खेलि kheliplay, sport; an animal; a bird; the sun; an arrow; a song, a hymn.
- खेलुद kheludaor am, m. or n. (?), a particular high number;
- खेव् khevkhevate, to serve, wait upon;
- खेशय khe-śayaSee under 3. kha.
- खेसर khesaraa mule; (a wrong form for vesara?).
- खै khaikhāyati, cakhau, khātum, to make firm, be firm or steady; to strike, injure, hurt, kill…
- खैमखा khaimakhāname of a frog;
- खैलिक khailikasupplementary, additional, added afterwards.
- खोङ्गाह khoṅgāhaa white and brown horse;
- खोट् khoṭkhoṭati, to limp, to be lame or lamed; cl. 10. P. khoṭayati, yitum, to throw;
- खोटन khoṭanalimping.
- खोटि khoṭia cunning or scheming woman; (also read khori.)
- खोटी khoṭīthe gum olibanum tree, Boswellia Thurifera;
- खोड् khoḍkhoḍati, to limp; to be or become lame; cl. 10. P. khoḍayati, yitum, to throw or cast.
- खोड khoḍalimping, lame.
- खोडकशीर्ष khoḍakaśīrṣaor khoḍakaśīrṣaka, am, n. the arched roof of a house, the coping of a wall etc.;
- खोर् khorkhorati, to limp, to be lame;
- खोर khoralimping, lame.
- खोल् kholkholati, to limp, to be lame.
- खोल kholalimping, lame; (am), n. a helmet;
- खोलक kholakaa helmet, armour for the head; an ant-hill; a pot, a saucepan; the shell of a betel-nut.
- खोलि kholia quiver.
- खोल्क kholkaetc. See under 3. kha.
- खोष्य khoṣyaor (according to a various reading) khāṣya, as or am, m. or n. (?), name of a place.
- ख्या khyāin the non-conjugational tenses P. A. khyāti, cakhyau, cakhye, khyāsyati, -te, akhyat…
- ख्यात khyātaknown, named, called, denonominated: told; well known, celebrated, notorious, famous.
- ख्यातव्य khyātavyato be styled or called or denominated; to be told; to be celebrated.
- ख्याति khyātithe being well known, renown, fame, glory, celebrity; a name, denomination, title; fame…
- ख्यापक khyāpaka(at the end of a compound) making known, one who tells or declares, declaring; one who…
- ख्यापन khyāpanadeclaring, divulging; saying, avowing; confessing, public confession (of sins); making…
- ख्याप्य khyāpyato be told or related.
- ग1 gathe third consonant of the alphabet, the soft guttural having the sound of g in give.
- ग2 gaat the end of compounds, who or what goes, going, moving; staying, being, abiding in…
- ग3 gaat the end of compounds, singing; (as), m. a Gandharva or celestial musician; (ā), f. a…
- ग4 gaan epithet of the deity Gaṇeśa;
- ग5 ga(used in works on prosody as an abbreviation of the word guru to denote) a long syllable.
- गगण gagaṇathe atmosphere, air; the sky, heaven, the firmament; talc.
- गगन gaganaSee gagaṇa above.
- गग्घ् gagghgagghati, to laugh, laugh at or deride;
- गग्नु gagnua various reading for vagnu, ‘speech.’
- गङ्गा gaṅgāthe river Ganges; the Ganges personified and considered as the eldest daughter of Himavat…
- गङ्गका gaṅgakāor gaṅgākā or gaṅgikā, f. the Ganges.
- गङ्गिन् gaṅginname of a Nāga.
- गङ्गीभूत gaṅgī-bhūtabecome (as sacred as) the Ganges.
- गच्छ gacchaa tree; the period (number of terms) of a progression; (ās), m. pl., name of a people; (a…
- गच्छत् gacchatgoing, etc.
- गज् gajgajati, jagāja, gajitum, to sound, roar; to be drunk, to be confused or inebriated; cl…
- गज gajaan elephant, one of the eight elephants of the quarters (= dig-gaja), and thus a…
- गजनवी gajanavī= غزنوى
- गञ्ज् gañjgañjati, etc., to sound, give out a particular sound.
- गञ्ज gañja= گنج a treasury, a jewel room, the place where plate etc. is preserved; (as, ā, am), m…
- गञ्जन gañjanacontemning, conquering, excelling.
- गञ्जवर gañjavaraa treasurer, = گنجور a royal treasury (?).
- गञ्जिका gañjikāa tavern.
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).