A General Survey of Sanskrit Words in English Language

I have made an attempt to explore derivation of Sanskrit words into English and their assimilation in dictionaries namely Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English, 7^Th edition, the new International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language.

English is a dynamic lively language. Because of its dynamism and ability to encompass changes of time and needs of its language community, it has become the richest language and literature in the world. The expansion of British Empire to South East Asia brought English rulers and scholars in close contact with Indian culture, language and literature, philosophy and religion. During the imperialism the scholars and linguists of English language have derived the native words, language and literature of Sanskrit. With regard to the antiquity of Sanskrit language Bough in his book A History of the English Language writes: The oldest liberty texts preserved in any Indo- European language are the Vedas or scared book of India. These fall into four groups, the earliest of which, the Rig Veda. The language in which they are written is known as Sanskrit, or to distinguish it from a later form of the language, Vedic Sanskrit. From the above quotation it is reasonable to say that Sanskrit is regarded to be the most ancient language of the highly civilized people known as Aryan. It is also the parent language of most of the languages of the world. So naturally like other various languages of the world English language has also directly and indirectly derived abundant words and expressions from Sanskrit in the course of its development. I was pondering over this issue since few months to explore the derivation of Sanskrit and to analyze why and how they are derived and assimilated to English.

There are some words which today we hardly consider as being of Sanskrit origin. It is obvious that Sanskrit being the most ancient language of the world, many other languages have derived Sanskrit words. Some of them are presented below:

Aryan

Origin: Sanskrit ārya noble, belonging to an ancient people of northern India speaking an Indo-European dialect. First use: 1839

Atman

Origin: Sanskrit ātman, literally, breathe soul; akin to old English ǣthm breath. First use: 1785

Avatar

Origin: Sanskrit avatāraḥ descent, from avatarati he descends, from ava-away + tarati he crosses over- more at ukase, through. First use: 1784

Ayurveda

Origin: Sanskrit āyurvedaḥ, from āyuḥ life, vital power +vedaḥ knowledge. First use: 1788

Bhagavad Gita

Origin: Sanskrit Bhagavadgītā, literally, song of blessed one (Krishna). First use: circa 1785

Brahma: Origin Sanskrit Brahman. First use: 1960

Brahman

Origin: Middle English Bragman inhabitant of India, from Latin Bracmanus, from Greek  Brachman, from Sanskrit brāhmaṇa of the Bhraman caste, from Brahman Brahman. First use: 15^th century

Buddha

Origin: Sanskrit, enlightened; akin to Sanskrit bodhi enlightenment- more at bid. First use: 1861

Devanagari

Origin: Sanskrit devanāgarī, from deva divine + nāgarī (writing) of the city- more at deity. First use: 1781

Dharma

Origin: Sanskrit; akin to Latin firmus firm. First use: 1796

Guru

Origin: Ultimately from Sanskrit guru, from guru, adjective, heavy, venerable- more at grieve. First use: 1613

Hare Krishna

Origin: from Hare Krishna, phrase in a chant, from Hindi hare kṛṣṇa O Krishna!. First use: 1969

Jungle

Origin: Sanskrit from jaṅgala desert region. First use: 1776

Kali

Origin: Sanskrit Kālī. First use: 1798

Karma

Origin: Sanskrit karma fate, work. First use 1827

Kshatriya

Origin: Sankrit Kṣatriya, from kṣatra dominon- more at check. First use: 1794

Mahatma

Origin: Sanskrit mahātman, from mahātman great-souled, from mahat+ ātman soul. First use: 1923

Maharaja

Origin: Sanskrit, from mahat great +rājan raja; akin to Latin rex king. First use: 1968

Maharani

Origin: Sanskrit, from mahā great+ rānī rani. First use: circle 1855

Maharishi

Origin: Sanskrit maharṣi, from mahat  + ṛṣị, sage and poet. First use: 1785

Mahayana

Origin: Sanskrit mahāyāna, literally, great vehicle. First use: 1855

Prakrit

Origin: Sanskrit prākṛta, from prākṛta natural, vulgar. First: 1766

Purana

Origin: Sanskrit purāṇa, from purāṇa ancient, from purā formerly; akin to Sanskrit pura before, Greek para beside, pro before. First use: 1696

Raja

Origin: Sanskrit rājan king. First use: 1555

Rama

Origin: Sanskrit Rāma.  First use: 1819

Shakti

Origin: Sanskrit Śakti. First use: 1810

Sanskrit

Origin: Sankrit saṁskṛta, literally, perfected, from sam together +karoti he makes. First use: 1696

Shiva

Origin: Sanskrit Śiva. First use: 1788

Stupa

Origin: Sanskrit stūpa. First use: 1876

Sutra

Origin: Sanskrit sūtra percept, literally, thread; akin to Latin suere to sew. First use: 1801

Swami

Origin: Hindi svāmī, from Sanskrit svāmin owner, lord, from sva one’s own. First use: 1895

Upanishad

Origin: Sanskrit upaniṣad. First use: 1805

Varuna

Origin: Sanskrit Varuṇa.

                                           

Veda

Origin: Sanskrit, literally, knowledge; akin to Greek eidenai to know. First use: 1734

Vedanta

Origin: Sanskrit Vedānta, literally, end of the Veda, from Veda +anta end; akin to old English ende end. First use: 1788

Vedic

Origin: Sanskrit, of relating to the Vedas, the language in which they are written, or Hindu history and culture between 1500B.C. and 500B.C. First use: 1848

Vishnu

Origin: Sanskrit Viṣṇu. First use: 1638

Yoga

Origin: Sanskrit, literally, yoking, from yunakti he yokes; akin to Latin jungere to join. First use: 1820

Yogi

Origin: Sanskrit yogin, from yoga. First use: 1619

Yuga

Origin: Sanskrit, yoke, age. First use: 1784

Words related to Animals and Birds

Root Sanskrit words       Latin/ German       Old English/ Dutch/French       English

Gau                                   Couz (north G)          Kuo (OE)                                    Cow (182)

Uhika                                 Eule (G)                    Uil (D)                                         Owl (172)

Shukar                               Sus (L), Sau (G)          -                                                 Swine (162)

Gibri                                    Giraffa (Italian)          Giraff (F)                                  Giraffe (247)
Kukuta                                  Cocus (L)                   kok (OE)                                    Cock (230)

Markata                               Mono (Spanish)          Monno (Old Italian)                    Monkey (40)

Kapi                                     Afe (G)                         Apa (OE)                                    Ape (41)

Musha                                  Mus (L), Maus (G)       Muis (D)                                     Mouse (73)

Sanskrit language is at the base of every language and other languages are like the superstructures. The base is in the depth, very solid but invisible from outside. Its function is so valuable that it supports the huge visible superstructure. The existence of Sanskrit language is so divergent and manifold that it simultaneously exists in various languages of the five continents. The relationship between Sanskrit language and English language is like that of a mother and a child. English language should not forget this fact and it should show its due gratefulness to ancient Sanskrit language which has contributed a lot to enriching its vocabulary and embellishing the language.

 In this way the English language of today reflects many centuries of development. All the political and social events that happened in course of English history have profoundly affected and contributed to make English language what it is today.