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 71 of 554
- अविश्वविन्न a-viśva-vinnanot perceived everywhere.
- अविश्वास a-viśvāsanot causing confidence, mistrusted; (as), m. mistrust, suspicion; (ā), f. a cow calving…
- अविश्वस्त a-viśvastanot trusted, suspected, doubted.
- अविश्वासिन् a-viśvāsinmistrustful, unbelieving.
- अविष a-viṣanot poisonous, anti-venomous, antidote; (as), m. the ocean; sky; (ā), f., name of the…
- अविषक्त a-viṣaktaunimpeded, unrestrained, unchecked.
- अविषय a-viṣayaunperceived, invisible; insensible; disregarding objects of sense; (as), m…
- अविषाद a-viṣādanot dejected, unwearied, persevering; (as), m. cheerfulness.
- अविष्ठ aviṣṭhagladly accepting; very attentive.
- अविष्या aviṣyāwish, desire, ardour; wish to go.
- अविष्यु aviṣyuassailing; desirous, vehement, violent; wishing to eat; wishing to protect.
- अविस् avisan extender, enlarger (?).
- अविसंवादिन् a-visaṃvādinnot contradictory.
- अविसर्गिन् a-visarginnot quitting, retaining, adhering to; (ī), m. an unintermittent fever.
- अविसोढ avi-soḍhaSee under avi.
- अविस्तर a-vistaraof small extent or circuit.
- अविस्तार a-vistāraabsence of amplification.
- अविस्तीरण a-vistīraṇanot extended, not amplified, contracted.
- अविस्तृत a-vistṛtacompact, compressed, close.
- अविस्पष्ट a-vispaṣṭanot clear or plain, indistinct, obscure; (am), n. indistinct speech.
- अविस्मरण a-vismaraṇaor a-vismṛti, is, f. not forgetting, remembering, recollection.
- अविहत a-vihataunobstructed, unimpeded.
- अविहर्यतक्रतु a-viharyata-kratuwhose will cannot be averted; (Sāy.) doer of acts undesired (by his foes).
- अविहित a-vihitaundone, uneffected; unprescribed, not directed or ruled.
- अविह्रुत a-vihrutaunbent, unbroken; not curved.
- अविह्वरत् a-vihvaratnot slipping, not falling; undeviating.
- अविह्वल a-vihvalaunagitated, composed, calm.
- अवी1 avīwrong reading for ambya, q.v.
- अवी2 a-vīa woman in her courses.
- अवीक्षण a-vīkṣaṇanot looking at, not regarding.
- अवीक्षित a-vīkṣitaunseen, unbeheld.
- अवीचि a-vīciwaveless; (is), m. a particular hell.
- अवीज a-vījaseedless, impotent; (am), n. bad seed, bad grain; absence of seed.
- अवीजक a-vījakaseedless; unsown.
- अवीर a-vīraunmanly, effeminate, weak; helpless; having no sons; destitute of men; (ā), f. a woman…
- अवीर्य a-vīryaweak, ineffective.
- अवृक a-vṛkanot hurting, inoffensive, true; unendangered, safe; free from one who obscures; (am), n…
- अवृक्ष a-vṛkṣaor a-vṛkṣaka, as, ā, am, treeless; destitute of trees.
- अवृजिन a-vṛjinanot intriguing, straightforward, sincere, not deserting (friends), an epithet of the…
- अवृत a-vṛtaunchecked, unimpeded; unsubdued; unselected; uncovered, unprotected.
- अवृत्ति a-vṛttiinadequate support, absence of subsistence or allowance; want; (is, is, i), not existing…
- अवृथा a-vṛthānot in vain, successfully, profitably.
- अवृद्धिक a-vṛddhikanot augmentative; not bearing interest.
- अवृध a-vṛdhanot promoting, not honouring.
- अवृष्टि a-vṛṣṭiwant of rain, drought; famine.
- अवृह a-vṛhaor a-bṛha, ās, m. pl., a class of Buddhist divinities.
- अवृहित a-vṛhitafew, not much or large.
- अवे aveavaiti, -tum, to go away, to move away; to go to (with acc.); to come down upon, rush…
- अवेत avetaelapsed, past; one who has gained, obtained, attained; joined with.
- अवेक्ष् avekṣavekṣate, -ṣitum, to look towards, look at, consider; to perceive, observe, experience…
- अवेक्षण avekṣaṇalooking towards or at; the act of considering, attention, observation.
- अवेक्षणीय avekṣaṇīyato be looked at, to be respected.
- अवेक्षमाण avekṣamāṇalooking at, inspecting, examining.
- अवेक्षा avekṣāseeing, looking at; observation, care, regard, attention to (with loc.); agreement…
- अवेक्षित avekṣitalooked at, perceived, regarded.
- अवेक्षिन् avekṣinobserving, seeing, looking at.
- अवेक्ष्य1 avekṣyato be regarded, to be respected.
- अवेक्ष्य2 avekṣyahaving beheld, having regarded.
- अवेणि a-veṇinot braided, having no braid of hair; not commingled (as the waters of rivers).
- अवेदयान a-vedayānanot knowing, not ascertaining.
- अवेदविद् a-veda-vida Brāhman who has not studied the Vedas.
- अवेदविहित a-veda-vihitanot enjoined in the Vedas, unscriptural.
- अवेद्य1 a-vedyanot to be known; unascertainable, secret.
- अवेद्य2 a-vedyanot to be married; (as), m. a calf.
- अवेनत् a-venatunconscious, not perceiving.
- अवेन्व् avenvavenvati, -vitum, to send away.
- अवेल aveladenial or concealment of knowledge; (ā), f. chewed betel.
- अवेष्टि aveṣṭiappeasing or expiation by sacrifices.
- अवैदिक a-vaidikanot Vedic, not belonging to the Veda.
- अवैध a-vaidhairregular, heterodox, contrary or not conformable to rule.
- अवैधव्य a-vaidhavyafree from widowhood.
- अवैरहत्य a-vairahatyathe non-destruction of men, security from slaughter.
- अवोक्षण avokṣaṇabesprinkling, bedewing.
- अवोद avodadripping down, sprinkling, moistening; (as, ā, am), wet, moist.
- अवोदेव avo-devabringing down the gods.
- अवोह् avohavohati, -te, -hitum, to push down.
- अव्द avda(= abda), a cloud; a year.
- अव्य avyacoming from or belonging to sheep.
- अव्यक्त a-vyaktaunapparent, indistinct, not manifest, not to be discerned, invisible, imperceptible…
- अव्यञ्जन a-vyañjanaindistinct; plain, not figurative; (as), m. an animal without horns, though of an age to…
- अव्यग्र a-vyagrasteady, cool, deliberate; indifferent, undisturbed; attentive.
- अव्यङ्ग a-vyaṅganot mutilated, sound, perfect; not figurative, plain; (ā), f., name of the plant…
- अव्यचस् a-vyacasnot spacious.
- अव्यण्डा avyaṇḍā(for adhy-aṇḍā?), name of the plant Carpopogon Pruriens Roxb.
- अव्यति avyatithe act of satiating, satisfaction; desire.
- अव्यतिकीर्ण a-vyatikīrṇaunmixed, unblended, distinct, specific, separate.
- अव्यथ a-vyathafree from pain; not inflicting pain, merciful; (as), m. a snake; (ā), f., name of the…
- अव्यथमान a-vyathamānanot moving unsteadily, not trembling.
- अव्यथि a-vyathinot tremulous, not tottering; not unsteady, stepping firmly and safely, sure-footed…
- अव्यथिन् a-vyathinfree from pain, not inflicting pain.
- अव्यथिष a-vyathiṣathe ocean; the sun; (ī), f. the earth; midnight.
- अव्यथ्य a-vyathyafree from pain, not giving pain, not paining.
- अव्यनत् a-vyanatnot breathing, lifeless.
- अव्यपदेश्य a-vyapadeśyanot to be defined.
- अव्यभिचार a-vyabhicārasteadiness, consistency, constancy.
- अव्यभिचारिन् a-vyabhicārinnot going astray, constant; virtuous, moral; steady, steadfast, permanent, faithful.
- अव्यय1 avyayacoming from sheep, made of sheep's skin.
- अव्यय2 a-vyayanot liable to change, imperishable, undecaying, immutable, eternal; unexpended, unwasted…
- अव्ययीभाव avyayī-bhāvaunchangeable state, imperishableness; an indeclinable compound.
- अव्यर्थ a-vyarthanot useless, profitable, fruitful; effectual, efficacious.
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).