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 70 of 554
- अविदग्ध a-vidagdhaunlearned, inexperienced, stupid; undigested.
- अविदाहिन् a-vidāhinimperfectly digested, producing heartburn.
- अविदस्य a-vidasyanot ceasing, inexhaustible.
- अविदासिन् a-vidāsinperennial, perpetual.
- अविदित a-viditaunknown.
- अविदित्वा a-viditvānot knowing, without having ascertained.
- अविदीधयु a-vidīdhayunot deliberating, not delaying; shining, resplendent.
- अविदूर a-vidūranot very distant, near, contiguous; (am), n. proximity; (am), ind. near to.
- अविद्ध a-viddhaunpierced.
- अविद्धदृश् aviddha-dṛśall-seeing.
- अविद्य a-vidyaunlearned, unwise, foolish; not relating to knowledge; (ā), f. ignorance, spiritual…
- अविद्वस् a-vidvasunwise, unlearned.
- अविद्यमान a-vidyamānanot present, absent; non-existent.
- अविद्रिय a-vidriyawithout a rent; impenetrable, solid, dense.
- अविद्विष् a-vidviṣnot hating, not an enemy.
- अविद्वेष a-vidveṣaabsence of hatred or hostility.
- अविधवा a-vidhavānot a widow.
- अविधा avidhāan interjection corresponding to the prākṛt avihā or aviha, used in calling for help in…
- अविधान a-vidhānadeviation from or absence of fixed rule, irregularity.
- अविधि a-vidhivoid of or contrary to rule; (is), f. irregularity.
- अविन avinaa sacrificer, one who performs a sacrifice or causes it to be performed; an officiating…
- अविनय a-vinayawithout proper training, ill-behaved, indecorous; (as), m. want of good manners or…
- अविनीत a-vinītabadly trained, badly brought up, ill-mannered, misbehaving, acting ill or improperly…
- अविनश्वर a-vinaśvaraor a-vi-nāśya, as, ā, am, indestructible.
- अविनश्यत् a-vinaśyatnot perishing.
- अविनाश a-vināśanon-destruction, preservation.
- अविनाशिन् a-vināśinindestructible.
- अविनाभाव a-vinābhāvainherent and essential character.
- अविनिगम a-vinigamaan illogical conclusion.
- अविनिर्मोक a-vinirmokawithout an exception.
- अविनिवर्तिन् a-vinivartinnot turning back, holding on, advancing.
- अविन्ध्य avindhyaname of a minister of Rāvaṇa; (ā), f., name of a river.
- अविपक्व a-vipakvanot ripe, immature, undigested.
- अविपाक a-vipākaindigestion; immaturity; not suffering the consequence of actions in a former life; (as…
- अविपक्ष a-vipakṣahaving no adversary, unopposed.
- अविपद् a-vipadprosperity, ease.
- अविपन्न a-vipannauninjured, unhurt; not soiled or contaminated, pure, clean.
- अविपश्चित् a-vipaścitunwise, ignorant.
- अविपुल a-vipulasmall, insignificant, slender.
- अविप्र a-vipranot spiritually excited, not inspired; not a worshipper, not a praiser.
- अविप्रकृष्ट a-viprakṛṣṭanot remote, near.
- अविप्रिय avi-priyaSee under avi.
- अविप्लुत a-viplutaundeviating, steadily observing; unviolated, observed without deviation.
- अविफल a-viphalafruitful, productive.
- अविफुल्ल a-viphullaunblown.
- अविभक्त a-vibhaktaundivided, unpartitioned; unseparated, joint, not sharing (applied to co-heirs who have…
- अविभाग a-vibhāgaunpartitioned, unportioned; (as), m. undivided inheritance.
- अविभागिन् a-vibhāginone who does not share; not sharing, not dividing.
- अविभाज्य a-vibhājyanot to be divided, not to be partitioned.
- अविभावना a-vibhāvanāor a-vibhāvana, am, n., non-perception, non-discrimination, imperceptibility…
- अविभावनीय a-vibhāvanīyaimperceptible, undistinguishable.
- अविभावित a-vibhāvitaunperceived, unobserved.
- अविभाव्य a-vibhāvyaundistinguishable, imperceptible.
- अविभ्रान्त a-vibhrāntauninterrupted.
- अविमत्त a-vimattaname of a man (?).
- अविमल a-vimalanot clear, foul, turbid.
- अविमुक्त a-vimuktaunloosed, not quitted; (as), m., name of a Tīrtha near Benares.
- अविमोक्य a-vimokyanot to be loosened.
- अवियुक्त a-viyuktaundivided, conjoined; not separated or absent.
- अवियोग a-viyogaconjunction, association; the not being parted or absent, presence.
- अविरक्त a-viraktanot indifferent or estranged; attached to, interested in.
- अविरण a-viraṇacontinuation.
- अविरत a-viratanot desisting from (with abl.); uninterrupted, continual, eternal; abandoned; (am), ind…
- अविरति a-viratiincontinence, intemperance.
- अविराम a-virāmauninterrupted, continuous; (as), m. uninterrupted succession, continuance; (am), ind…
- अविरल a-viralacontiguous, close; coarse, gross, substantial; uninterrupted; (am), ind. contiguously…
- अविरहित a-virahitanot separated from, abounding in.
- अविराधयत् a-virādhayatnot withdrawing one's self, not avoiding; not desisting.
- अविरुद्ध a-viruddhaunobstructed, unimpeded; allowed, permitted, proper; compatible, consistent with.
- अविरोध a-virodhaabsence of impediment; assent, concurrence, non-opposition; consistency, compatibility.
- अविरोधित a-virodhitaunimpeded, unobstructed.
- अविरेचन a-virecanaanything which constipates or stops the passage of the food.
- अविरेच्य a-virecyanot to be purged.
- अविलक्षित a-vilakṣitaconcealed, veiled.
- अविलङ्घन a-vilaṅghananon-transgression, not exceeding, not trespassing.
- अविलङ्घनीय a-vilaṅghanīyanot to be exceeded or transgressed; prescribed, fixed.
- अविलम्ब a-vilambaor a-vilambana, as, ā, am, not delaying, prompt, quick, expeditions; (bas), m. non-delay.
- अविलम्बित a-vilambitanot delaying, not slow, quick, expeditious; (am), ind. going quickly, a swift pace.
- अविला avilāan ewe. See under avi.
- अविलास a-vilāsafree from caprice, faithful, constant.
- अविलिख a-vilikhaunable to write or paint, writing or painting badly; different from one who writes or…
- अविलुप्त a-viluptauninterrupted.
- अविवक्षित a-vivakṣitanot intended to be said, unasserted, undeclared.
- अविवाक्य a-vivākyanot admitting censure or correction; name of the tenth day of a certain Soma sacrifice.
- अविवाद a-vivādanon-disagreement, concurrence, consent.
- अविवादिन् a-vivādinuncontentious, quiet, peaceable.
- अविवाहित a-vivāhitaunmarried,
- अविवाहिन् a-vivāhinnot marrying, single; not relating to marriage; interdicted as to marriage.
- अविविक्त a-viviktaundiscriminated, uninvestigated; indiscriminate, confounded; common, public.
- अविवेक a-vivekawithout judgment or discrimination; (as), m. absence of discrimination or judgment…
- अविवेकिन् a-vivekinor a-vivecaka, as, ikā, am, undiscriminating, ignorant, having no judgment, superficial…
- अविवेचना a-vivecanāwant of judgement or discrimination.
- अविवेन a-vivenanot disaffected; (am), ind., Vedic not disaffectedly, favourably.
- अविशङ्क a-viśaṅkahaving no fears or doubts, fearless; (ā), f. unapprehensiveness, confidence, certainty.
- अविशङ्कित a-viśaṅkitaunapprehensive, confiding, trusting.
- अविशस्तृ a-viśastṛan unskilful cutter up or killer (of animals at a sacrifice).
- अविशुद्ध a-viśuddhapure, clear, free from fault or defect; valid, perfect, unimpeached.
- अविशेष a-viśeṣauniform, alike, without any difference; (am), n. equability, uniformity.
- अविश्रान्त a-viśrāntaunwearied.
- अविश्वमिन्व a-viśvam-invanot all-embracing, not pervading everything.
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).