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 227 of 554
- दूषयितृ dūṣayitṛor dūṣayitnu, us, us, u, a corrupter, one who dishonours or deflowers or violates (a…
- दूषि dūṣi(at the end of comp.) corrupting, ruining, destroying; (is), f., Vedic a poisonous…
- दूषित dūṣitacorrupted, spoiled, contaminated; violated, hurt, injured; demoralized; disgraced…
- दूषिन् dūṣincorrupting, contaminating, violating.
- दूषीका dūṣīkāthe secretion or rheum of the eyes;
- दूष्य dūṣyacorruptible, liable to be corrupted or defiled or contaminated; liable to be ruined, to…
- दूष्यत् dūṣyatoffending, insulting (for dūṣayat ?).
- दूस dūsa(considered as an affix), milk, (occurring in avi-dūsa, q.v.)
- दृ dṛdriyate, etc., to honour, worship,
- दृत dṛtarespected, honoured; (ā), f. cumin.
- दृंह् dṛṃhdṛṃhati, dadṛṃha, dṛṃhitum, to make firm, fix, strengthen, confirm; to make fast, fasten…
- दृंह dṛṃhain bhūmi-dṛṃha, q.v.
- दृंहण dṛṃhaṇamaking firm or fast, strengthening, fastening, fortifying; means of strengthening;
- दृंहित dṛṃhitamade firm or fast, fixed, strengthened, fortified; grown, increased.
- दृंहितृ dṛṃhitṛone who makes firm, a strengthener.
- दृढ dṛḍhaor Vedic dṛḷha, as, ā, am, fixed, firm, hard, strong, solid, massive; firmly fastened…
- दृढय dṛḍhayadṛḍhayati, -yitum, to make firm, to fasten, confirm, strengthen, fortify, intensify;
- दृढव्य dṛḍhavyaname of a Ṛṣi; (a wrong form for dṛḍhāyu, q.v.)
- दृढस्यु dṛḍhasyuname of an ancient sage, also called Idhma-vāha;
- दृढेयु dṛḍheyuname of one of the seven sages of the west.
- दृक dṛkaa hole, opening.
- दृकाण dṛkāṇaor dṛkkāṇa or drekkāṇa or dreṣkāṇa, as, m., the third part of a sign of the zodiac or a…
- दृक्कर्ण dṛk-karṇaetc. See under 2. dṛś, p. 429, col. 1.
- दृक्ष dṛkṣalooking, appearing, having any aspect or appearance;
- दृगध्यक्ष dṛg-adhyakṣaSee under 2. dṛś, p. 429, col. 1.
- दृग्भू dṛgbhūa thunderbolt; the sun, a serpent;
- दृङ्नीरज dṛṅ-nīrajaSee under 2. dṛś, p. 429, col. 1.
- दृडक dṛḍakaa fire-place or hole made in the ground for cooking (?).
- दृढ dṛḍhaSee under rt. dṛṃh at p. 427.
- दृति dṛtia skin of leather, a leather bag for holding water and other fluids; a cloud (Vedic)…
- दृध्र dṛdhraseizing or fastening tightly.
- दृन् dṛnan interjection;
- दृन्फू dṛnphūor dṛnbhū, ūs, m., a thunderbolt; the sun; f. a snake in general; a wheel;
- दृप्1 dṛpor dṛph, cl. 6. P. dṛpati, dṛphati, dṛmphati, etc., to pain, inflict pain, torture.
- दृप्2 dṛpdarpati and darpayati, etc., to light, kindle, inflame.
- दृप्3 dṛpdṛpyati, dadarpa, darpitā, darptā, draptā, drapsyati, adṛpat, adrāpsīt or adārpsīt…
- दृप्त dṛptamad, wild, proud, arrogant.
- दृप्यत् dṛpyatbeing proud or arrogant.
- दृप्र dṛpraproud, arrogant; strong, powerful.
- दृभ्1 dṛbhdṛbhati, darbhati, darbhayati, dadarbha, etc., to string together, arrange, tie, fasten.
- दर्भ darbhaSee p. 403, col. 2.
- दृब्ध1 dṛbdhastrung, tied, connected.
- दृब्धि dṛbdhistringing together, arranging.
- दृभ्2 dṛbhdarbhati and darbhayati, etc., to fear, be afraid.
- दृब्ध2 dṛbdhaafraid, frightened.
- दृभीक dṛbhīkaname of a demon slain by Indra.
- दृमिचण्डेश्वर dṛmicaṇḍeśvaraname of a Liṅga;
- दृम्प् dṛmpor dṛmph or dṛnph, cl. 6. P. dṛmpati or dṛmphati, to pain, inflict pain, torture.
- दृम्फू dṛmphūor dṛmbhū, ūs, f., a snake in general;
- दृळ्ह dṛḷhaSee dṛḍha, p. 427, col. 2.
- दृवन् dṛvanetc., or as, ā, am, Vedic piercing (as an arrow).
- दृश्1 dṛśpaś-yati, dadarśa (rarely dadṛśe, 2nd sing. P. dadarśitha or dadraṣṭha, Vedic dadṛkṣe…
- दृश्2 dṛś(at the end of comp.) one who sees or views; seeing, viewing; a seer, overseer…
- दृश dṛśaseeing, looking; (ā), f. the eye; (am), ind. = 2. dṛś, at the end of adv. comp.
- दृशति dṛśatilooking.
- दृशान dṛśānaseeing; (as), m. a ruler, a Loka-pāla or protector of the world, a god presiding over one…
- दृशालू dṛśālū(?), us, m. the sun.
- दृशि dṛśiseeing, viewing;; (is, ī), f. the eye; a Śāstra.
- दृशीक dṛśīkaworthy of regard, conspicuous; (am), n. the becoming manifest, appearance; (ā), f…
- दृशेन्य dṛśenyavisible, conspicuous.
- दृश्य1 dṛśyato be seen, visible; to be looked at; to be looked at with pleasure, beautiful, pleasing…
- दृश्य2 dṛśya(ep. for dṛṣṭvā), having seen.
- दृश्वन् dṛśvan(at the end of comp.) seeing, a seer; conversant with.
- दृष्ट dṛṣṭaseen, looked at, beheld, perceived, viewed, observed, noticed; visible, apparent…
- दृष्टि dṛṣṭiseeing, viewing; seeing with the mental eye; knowing; sight, the faculty of seeing; the…
- दृष्टिन् dṛṣṭinhaving an insight into or familiar with anything; having the looks or thoughts directed…
- दृष्ट्वा dṛṣṭvāhaving seen, having beheld.
- दृशद् dṛśadbelow.
- दृषद् dṛṣada rock, large stone, mill-stone, flat stone for grinding condiments upon, the lower…
- दृषद dṛṣadain comp. (as in dṛṣadolūkhala (˚da-ul˚), Hari-v. 6509).
- दृषद्य dṛṣadyadṛṣadyate, dṛṣadyitā, dṛṣaditā, to be stony (?), Schol. to Pāṇ. VI. 4, 50.
- दृष्काण dṛṣkāṇanom. ending(s) -= dṛkāṇa — see cross-reference
- दृष्ट dṛṣṭaSee col. 2.
- दृष्या dṛṣyā= dūṣyā, the girdle of an elephant.
- दृह् dṛhdarhati, dṛṃhati, dadarha, darhiṣyati, darhitum, to fix, fasten, make firm or strong…
- दृहित dṛhitaor dṛṃhita, as, ā, am, grown, increased.
- दॄ dṝdṛṇāti, dadāra (3rd du. dadaratus or dadratus, 3rd pl. dadarus or dadrus), dartā…
- दे dedayate, digye, dāsyate, adita, dātum, to preserve, protect; to cherish, take compassion…
- देउलिय deuliyaname of a Grāma.
- देङ्गपाल deṅga-pālaname of a man.
- देदीप्यमान dedīpyamānashining intensely, glowing, blazing.
- देय deyato be given or presented, to be granted or allowed; fit or proper for a gift; to be…
- देव् devdevate, dideve, devitum, to throw, cast; to sport, play, gamble; to lament; to shine.
- देवन1 devanalamentation, wailing, grief, sorrow. (For 2. devana see p. 433, col. 3.)
- देव devadivine, celestial, heavenly, (applied in the Veda to devotion, prayer, the human mind…
- देवक devakawho or what sports or plays; divine, celestial, godlike, etc.; (as), m. a god, deity, (at…
- देवकीय devakīyadivine, godlike, belonging or relating to a divinity;
- देवक्य devakyadivine, godlike; corresponding to the number of the gods; (ā), f. epithet of the metre…
- देवत्य devatya(at the end of an adj. comp.) having as one's deity; sacred to a deity; (ā), f., Vedic…
- देवन् devana husband's brother;
- देवन2 devanaa die, dice for gambling; (ā), f. sport, wanton sport or pastime; service; (am), n…
- देवयत् devayat(from a Nom. devaya), Vedic following the gods, serving the gods, religious; desirous of…
- देवयु devayuloving the gods, devoted to the gods, pious, virtuous, righteous; frequenting sacred…
- देवर devaraor devaraka, as, m. a husband's brother, especially his younger brother; a beloved…
- देवल devalaan attendant upon an idol; a Brāhman of an inferior order who subsists upon the offerings…
- देवलक devalakathe attendant on an idol. See the preceding.
- देवायत् devāyatabove.
- देवाला devālāone of the female personifications of music.
- देविक devikaappertaining to or derived from a deity, divine; (as), m. a familiar diminutive of…
- देवितृ devitṛa dice-player, gamester, dicer.
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).