List of English Words of Sanskrit Origin - A

A

Ahimsa

from Sanskrit अहिंसा ahiṃsā, which means "not-harmful".

Ambarella

through Sinhalese: ඇඹරැල්ලා ultimately from Sanskrit: अम्बरेल्ला, a kind of tree.

Amrita

from Sanskrit अमृतम् amṛtam, nectar of everlasting life. (see Ambrosia)

Aniline

through German: Anilin, French: Aniline and Portuguese: Anil from Arabic النيل al-nili and Persian نیلا nila, ultimately from Sanskrit नीली nili.

Apadravya

from Sanskrit which refers to a male genital piercing were a barbell passes through the penis. Mentioned in Indian literature in the Kama Sutra

Aryan

from Latin Ariana, from Greek Ἀρεία Areia, ultimately from Sanskrit आर्य Arya-s "noble, honorable".

Asana

from Sanskrit आसन āsana which means "seat", a term describing yoga postures.

Ashram

ultimately from Sanskrit आश्रम āśrama, a religious hermitage.

Atoll

through Maldivean:އަތޮޅު probably ultimately from Sanskrit अन्तला antala.

Aubergine

from Catalan alberginera, via Arabic (باذِنْجان al-badinjan) and Persian (بادنجان badin-gan) ultimately from Sanskrit वातिगगम vātigagama, meaning eggplant.

Avatar

from Sanskrit अवतार avatāra, which means "descent", a refers to the human incarnation of God during times of distress on earth. Thus, Krishna and Rāma were both avataars of Vishnu, who also manifested himself as an avatar many other times, ten of which are considered the most significant.

Ayurveda

from Sanskrit आयुर्वेद āyurveda, which means "knowledge of life".