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 20 of 554
- अनिश a-niśanightless, i.e. sleepless, uninterrupted, incessant.
- अनिशित a-niśitaincessant.
- अनिश्चित a-niścitaunascertained, not certain.
- अनिश्चित्य a-niścityanot having ascertained.
- अनिश्चिन्त्य a-niścintyanot to be comprehended (by thought), inconceivable.
- अनिषङ्ग a-niṣaṅgahaving no quiver, unarmed.
- अनिषव्य a-niṣavyanot to be killed.
- अनिषिद्ध a-niṣiddhaunprohibited, unforbidden.
- अनिषेद्ध्र a-niṣeddhraunimpeded, unchecked.
- अनिषु an-iṣuhaving no arrows, having bad arrows.
- अनिष्कृत a-niṣkṛtanot done with, unfinished, not settled.
- अनिष्ट1 an-iṣṭaunwished, undesirable, disadvantageous, disagreeable, unfavourable; bad, wrong, evil…
- अनिष्ट2 an-iṣṭanot offered in sacrifice, not honoured with a sacrifice.
- अनिष्टिन् an-iṣṭinone who does not sacrifice or has not sacrificed.
- अनिष्टृत a-niṣṭṛtaunhurt, unchecked.
- अनिष्ठा a-niṣṭhāunsteadfastness, unsteadiness.
- अनिष्ठुर a-niṣṭhuranot harsh, not scurrilous.
- अनिष्णात a-niṣṇātaunskilled.
- अनिष्पत्ति a-niṣpattinon-accomplishment, incompletion.
- अनिष्पन्न a-niṣpannaimperfect, incomplete.
- अनिष्पत्त्रम् a-niṣ-pattramso that the arrow does not come out (on the other side), i.e. not with excessive force.
- अनिसर्ग a-nisargaunnatural, unnaturally affected.
- अनिस्तब्ध a-nistabdhanot rendered immoveable or stiff; not paralysed; not fixed.
- अनिस्तीर्ण a-nistīrṇanot crossed over; not set aside; not rid of; unanswered, unrefuted.
- अनीक anīkaface; appearance, splendor; edge, point; front, row, array, march; army, forces; war…
- अनीकिनी anīkinīan army, a host, forces; a certain force; three Camūs or one-tenth of an Akṣauhiṇī, i.e…
- अनीक्षण an-īkṣaṇanot seeing or looking at.
- अनीच a-nīcanot low, decent, respectable; not pronounced with the Anudātta accent.
- अनीचिदर्शिन् a-nīci-darśinname of a Bauddha saint (?).
- अनीचैस् anīcaisnot in a low voice, loudly.
- अनीड a-nīḍahaving no nest or settled abode, i.e. incorporeal; (as), m. an epithet of Agni or fire.
- अनीति1 a-nītiimpropriety, immorality, injustice; impolicy, foolish conduct, indiscretion.
- अनीति2 an-ītifreedom from a calamitous season.
- अनीदृश an-īdṛśaunlike, dissimilar.
- अनीप्सित an-īpsitaundesired.
- अनीरसन a-nīrasananot destitute of a waistband.
- अनीश an-īśaone who has not a lord or superior, paramount; powerless, unable; (as), m. Viṣṇu; (ā), f…
- अनीश्वर an-īśvarawithout a superior; unchecked, uncontrolled, paramount; without power, powerless, unable…
- अनीह an-īhalistless, indifferent; (as), m., name of a king of Ayodhyā.
- अनीहा an-īhāindifference, apathy, disinclination.
- अनीहित an-īhitadisagreeable, displeasing, unwished; (am), n. displeasure.
- अनीळ a-nīḷaSee a-nīḍa.
- अनु1 anuSee aṇu.
- अनु2 anuman; name of a king, one of Yayāti's sons; (possibly) name of a non-Āryan tribe.
- अनु3 anuas a prefix to verbs and nouns, expresses after, along, alongside, lengthwise, near to…
- अनुक anu-kalustful.
- अनुकथ् anu-kath-kathayati, -yitum, to relate after (some one else); to repeat (what has been heard).
- अनुकथन anu-kathanaorderly narration, discourse, conversation.
- अनुकथित anu-kathitarelated, repeated.
- अनुकनीयस् anu-kanīyasthe next youngest.
- अनुकम् anu-kam-kāmayati, -yitum, to desire.
- अनुक anu-kalibidinous; see s.v. above.
- अनुकाम anu-kāmadesire; (as, ā, am), according to one's desire, agreeable; (am), ind. as desired, at…
- अनुकामीन anukāmīnaone who acts as he pleases.
- अनुकम्प् anu-kamp-kampate, -pitum, to sympathize with, compassionate; Caus. -kampayati, -yitum, = the same.
- अनुकम्पक anu-kampaka(sympathizer), name of a king; (as, ā, am), (at the close of compounds) sympathizing…
- अनुकम्पन anu-kampanaor anu-kampā, f. sympathy, compassion.
- अनुकम्पायिन् anu-kampāyincondoling.
- अनुकम्पित anu-kampitacompassionate.
- अनुकम्पिन् anu-kampinsympathizing with, compassionating.
- अनुकम्प्य anu-kampyaor anu-kampanīya, as, ā, am, pitiable, worthy of sympathy; (as), m. an ascetic; a courier.
- अनुकर्ष anu-karṣaSee under anu-kṛṣ.
- अनुकल्प anu-kalpaSee under अनुकॢप्।
- अनुकाङ्क्ष् anu-kāṅkṣ-kāṅkṣati, -te, -kṣitum, to long for, desire, seek.
- अनुकाङ्क्षा anu-kāṅkṣādesire after.
- अनुकाङ्क्षिन् anu-kāṅkṣinlonging for.
- अनुकाल anu-kālaopportune, occasional; (am), ind. opportunely, occasionally, on a proper occasion.
- अनुकीर्तन anu-kīrtanaSee anu-kṝt.
- अनुकुञ्चित anu-kuñcitabent, made crooked.
- अनुकुष् anu-kuṣ-kuṣṇāti, -koṣitum, to pull or drag along (to lift ?).
- अनुकूज् anu-kūj-kūjati, -jitum, to follow in cooing or singing or groaning.
- अनुकूल anu-kūlafollowing the bank (kūla), slope or declivity, according to the current, favourable…
- अनुकूलय anukūlayaanukūlayati, -yitum, to act in a friendly way.
- अनुकृ anu-kṛor poet. A. -karoti, -kurute, -kartum, to do afterwards, to follow in doing, imitate…
- अनुकर anu-karaimitating; (as), m. an assistant.
- अनुकरण anu-karaṇaimitation, following an example; resemblance, similarity.
- अनुकर्तृ anu-kartṛan imitator, imitating; (tā), m. a mimic, actor, performer.
- अनुकर्मन् anu-karmanimitation; a subsequent rite or ceremony.
- अनुकार anu-kāraimitation, resemblance.
- अनुकारिन् anu-kārinimitating, an imitator, acting, mimicking.
- अनुकार्य anu-kāryafit to be imitated or (dramatically) acted; (am), n. subsequent business; subsequent day…
- अनुकृत anu-kṛtacopied, imitated, made or done like.
- अनुकृति anu-kṛtiimitation, a copy, compliance.
- अनुकृत्य anu-kṛtyafit to be imitated or represented.
- अनुक्रिया anu-kriyāimitation, doing anything subsequently or in like manner; a subsequent rite.
- अनुक्री anu-krīa subsequent rite or ceremony.
- अनुकृत् anu-kṛt-kṛntati, -kartitum, to go on shattering or destroying.
- अनुकृप् anu-kṛp-kṛpate, to mourn; nom. A. -kṛpāyate, -yitum, to compassionate, condole with.
- अनुकृष् anu-kṛṣ-karṣati, -karṣṭum or -kraṣṭum, to drag after one's self, attract: Caus. -karṣayati…
- अनुकर्ष anu-karṣaor anu-karṣaṇa, am, n. attraction, drawing; invoking, summoning by incantation; the…
- अनुकर्षन् anu-karṣanthe bottom of a carriage.
- अनुकृष्ट anu-kṛṣṭaattracted; included or implied in a subsequent rule.
- अनुकॄ anu-kṝ-kirati, -karitum, rītum, to scatter along, to crowd: Pass. -kīryate, to become crowded…
- अनुकीर्ण anu-kīrṇacrowded.
- अनुकॄत् anu-kṝt-kīrtayati, -yitum, to relate after (or in order), to narrate.
- अनुकीर्तन anu-kīrtanaact of proclaiming or publishing.
- अनुकॢप् anu-kḷp-kalpate, -kalpitum, -kalptum, to follow duly: Caus. -kalpa-yati, -yitum, to get (others)…
- अनुकल्प anu-kalpapermission to adopt an alternative or substitute, as “instead of Kuśa grass you may use…
- अनुकल्पित anu-kalpitafollowed, attended.
- अनुक्त an-uktaunuttered, unsaid, unheard of, extraordinary.
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).