List of Sanskrit and Persian roots in Hindi


RootEnglish EquivalentOrigin languageEtymologyHindi examples
अग्नि- (agni-)pyro-,ignite(Latin)-Sanskritअग्नि (fire)अग्निशामक (agniśāmak) = fire extinguisher; अग्निरोधक (agnirōdhak) = Fire proof; अग्निभीति (agnibhīti) = pyrophobia
-अणु (-aɳu)Sanskritअणु (minute, particle, atomic)प्राणु (prāɳu) = proton; धनाणु (dhanāɳu) = positron; विषाणु (vishāɳu) = virus
अति- (ati-)super-Sanskritअति (extremely, beyond, over)अतिकाल (atikāl) = delay
अधि- (adhi-)epi-, meta-Sanskritअधि (over, above, upon, after)अधिकार (adhikār) = rights, authority
अन- (an-), अ- (a-)non-, un-, a-, an-Sanskritअन-, अ- (not, without)अकारण (akāraɳ) = causeless, unprovoked; अनादर (anaadar) = disrespect
अनु- (anu-)Sanskritअनु (along, orderly, accordingly)अनुक्रम (anukram) = sequence
अम्ल- (aml-)acid-Sanskritअम्ल (acid)अम्लप्रेमी(amlapremī) = acidophile
अप- (ap-)ab-Sanskritअप (away, off)अपमान (apmān) = insult
अभि- (abhi-)ambi-/ἀμφί-Sanskritअभि (to, towards, into, over, upon)अभिज्ञान (abhijñyān) = recognition, identification
-अर्बुद (arbud)-oma, onco-Sanskritअर्बुद (tumor, swelling)लसीकार्बुद (lasīkārbud) = lymphoma; अर्बुदविज्ञान (arbudvijñān) = oncology
अव- (av-)Sanskritअव (down, off, away)अवरोध (avarodh) = barrier, inhibition; अवगुण (avguɳ) = failing, fault, demerit
अर्ध- (ardha-)semi-, demi-,Sanskritअर्ध (half)अर्धचालक (ardhachālak) = semiconductor; अर्धपारगम्य (ardhapārgamya) = semipermeable
आत्म- (ātma-)auto-, self-Sanskritआत्मा (self)आत्महत्या (ātmahatyā) = suicide; आत्मज्ञान (ātmajñān) = self-knowledge; आत्मकथा (ātmakathā) = autobiography
अष्ट- (aṣṭa-)octo-Sanskritअष्ट (eight)अष्टकोण (aṣṭakōṇ) = octagon; अष्टपदी (aṣṭapadī) = octave; अष्टभुज (aṣṭabhuj) = octopus

The following is an alphabetical (according to Hindi’s alphabet) list of Sanskrit and Persian roots), stems, prefixes, and suffixes commonly used in Hindi.

आ (aa)

-आना (-ānā)Adjective-forming. -ish, -ous, -ly.Persianانه (âneh)दोस्ताना (dostānā) = friendly; फ़क़ीराना (faqīrānā) = austere, ascetic.
आप-/अप- (aap-/ap-)aqua-Sanskritआप (water)अप्सरा; अब्ज
आब- (aab-)aqua-Persianآب (aab) (water)आबखोरा (ābkhorā) = mug, pot; आबहवा (ābhavā) = climate; पंजाब (Panjāb) = Punjab (Land of five Rivers)

उ (u)

उद- (ud-)hydro-Sanskritउद (water)उदजन (udjan) = hydrogen
उभय- (ubhaya-)ambi-, amphi-Sanskritउभय (both)उभयभावी (ubhayabhāvī) = ambivalent; उभयलिंगी (ubhayalingī) = bisexual; उभयचर (ubhayachar) = amphibian
उप- (up-)sub-Sanskritउप (below, subsidiary, towards)उपवन (upvan) = orchard, park; उपमार्ग (upmārg) = bypass, side street; उपमहाद्वीप (upmahādvīp) = subcontinent

ए (e)

एक- (ek-)uni-, mono-Sanskritएक (one)एकभाषी (ekbhāshī) = monolingual; एकपक्षीय (ekpakshīya) = unilateral; एकवर्णी (ekvarnī) = monochromatic

अं (am/an)

अंतः- (antaha-)inter-, endo-Sanskritअंतः (in, inside)अंतःकरण (antahakaraɳ) = conscience
अंतर- (antar-)inter-Sanskritअंतर् (in the middle, internal, amongst, within)अंतर्राष्ट्रीय (antarrāṣtrīya) = international
अंश- (amsh-)Sanskritअंश (part, portion)अंशकालिक (amśakālik) = part-time; अंशांकन (amśānkan) = calibration

क (k)

कम- (kam-)min-Persianکم (kam) (low, little, small)कमज़ोर (kamzor) = weak
कठ- (kath-), काठ- (kaath-)xylo-Sanskritकाष्ठ (kāṣth) (timber, wood)कठफोड़वा (kathphodvā) = woodpecker ; काठमांडू (kāthmāndu) = Kathmandu
काष्ट- (kāṣt-)xylo-Sanskritकाष्ठ (timber, wood)काष्ठवाद्य (kāṣtavādya) = xylophone, काष्ठशर्करा (kāṣtasharkarā) = xylose
-काय (-kāya)-some, -somaSanskritकाय (Body)लयनकाय (Layan****kāya) = Lysosome; कायिक (kāyik) = Somatic
-कोण (-kona)-gonSanskritकोण (corner, angle)त्रिकोण (trikona) = triangle; षट्कोण (ṣatakona) = hexagon

ख (kh)

ख़ुद- (khud-)auto-, sui-Persianخود (xod) (self, own, ego)ख़ुदग़रज़ी (khudgarzī) = selfishness
ख़ुश- (khuś-)good-, eu-Persianخوش (xoš) (good)ख़ुशनसीब (khuśnasīb) = fortunate; ख़ुशफ़हमी (khuśfahmī) = fantasy (lit. good understanding)
ख़ून- (khoon-)Persianخون (xun) (blood, gore)ख़ूँखार(khūnkhār) = bloodthirsty

ग (g)

गाव- (gaav-)Persianگاو (gaav) (cow)गावशुमारी (gaavśumārī) = cow census
ग़ैर- (ġair-)non-Arabicغير (ghayr) (non-, un-)ग़ैरमुल्की (ġairmulkī) = foreigner, non-native
गो- (go-)Sanskritगो (cow)गोविन्द (govind) = cow herder

च (c)

चल- (chal-)Sanskritचल (moving)चलचित्र (chalchitra) = movie, motion picture
चित्र- (chitra-)Sanskritचित्र (picture)चित्रयंत्र (citrayantra) = camera

छ (ch)

छद्म- (chadm-)pseudo-Sanskritछद्म (deceptive)छद्मावरण (chadmāvaraɳ) = camouflage

ज (j)

-ज़दा (-zadā)Adjective forming, denoting “stricken, afflicted”Persianزده (beaten, hit)मुसीबतज़दा = (musībatzadā) = disaster-stricken; हैरतज़दा = (hairatzadā) = awestruck
-जन (-jan)-genSanskritजन (generating)उदजन (Udjan) = Hydrogen; तुषारजन (Tushārjan) = Cryogen
जल- (jal-)aqua-Sanskritजल (water)जलसेतु (jalsetu) = aqueduct
जीव- (jīva-)bio-Sanskritजीव (life, living)जीवविज्ञान (jīvavijñān) = biology; जीवतत्व (jīvatatva) = physiology; जीवाणु (jīvānu) = bacteria
जन- (jan-)Sanskritजन (people)जनगणना (jangananā) = census; जनसंख्या (jansankhyā) = population; जनरञ्जक (janrañjak) = popular

त (t)

ताप- (tāp-)Sanskritताप (heat, fever)तापमान (tāpmān) = temperature
तारा- (tārā-)stell-Sanskritतारा (star)तारामीन (tārāmīn) = starfish
तुषार- (tuṣār)cryo-Sanskritतुषार (cold, ice, frigid)तुषाराच्छादन (tuṣārācchādan) = frosting
तृण- (tr̥iɳ)Sanskritतृण (grass, straw, herb)तृणमणि (tr̥iɳmaɳi) = amber

द (d)

दंश- (danś-)Sanskritदंश (bite)उपदंशक्षत (upadanśakṣat) = hard chancre
-दान (-dān)Sanskritदान (donation, charity)रक्तदान (raktdān) = blood donation; भिक्षादान = (bhikṣādān) = charity, alms-giving; मतदान (matdān) = vote, poll
दिल- (dil-)Persianدل (dil) (heart)दिलचस्पी (dilcaspī) = interest, zeal
-दार (-dār)adjective-forming suffix, denoting “having, possessing”Persianدار (having)ईमानदार (īmāndār) = honest; ज़िम्मेदार = (zimmedār) = responsible, held-accountable
दूर- (dūr-)tele-Sanskritदूर (far, distant)दूरदर्शन (dūrdarshan) = television; दूरबीन (dūrbīn) = binoculars; दूरभाष (dūrbhāsh) = telephone; दूरदर्शक (dūrdarśak) = Telescope
द्रुत- (drut-)Sanskritद्रुत (rapid)द्रुतगति (drutgati) = high-speed; द्रुतगामी (drutgāmī) = express
द्वि- (dvi-)bi-, di-Sanskritद्वि (two)द्विकोणीय (dvikōnīya) = biangular; द्विध्रुव (dvidhruv) = dipole
दो- (do-)bi-, di-Sanskritद्वि (two)दोगुना (dogunā) = double; दोहरा (doharā) = duplex; दोपहर (dopahar) = midday, noon

ध (dh)

ध्वनि- (dhvani-)phon-, son-Sanskritध्वनि (tune, sound)ध्वनीलेख (dhvanīlekh) = phonograph

न (n)

नाय- (nāy-)Sanskritनाय (guide, leader, direction)नायकत्व (nāykatva) = leadership; नायक (nāyak) = hero; नायिका (nāyikā) = heroine (feminine of hero)
निद्रा- (nidrā-)somn-Sanskritनिद्रा (sleep)निद्राजनक (nidrājanak) = soporific, somniferous
निम्न- (nimn-)min-Sanskritनिम्न (low, less, depressed)निम्नलिखित (nimnalikhit) = following
-नाक (-nāk)adjective-forming suffix, denoting “full of”Persianदर्दनाक (dardnāk) = painful; ख़ौफ़नाक (khaufnāk)= terrifying, fearsome

प (p)

पाण्डुर- (pāndur-)flav-Sanskritपाण्डुर (yellow)पाण्डुरविषाणु (pāndurviṣāɳu) = Flavivirus
पीत- (pīt-)xanth-Sanskritपीत (yellow)पीतार्बुद (pītārbud) = xanthoma
पुरा- (purā-)archae-, arche-Sanskritपुरा (of old, long ago)पुरातत्त्व (purātattva) = archaeology
पूति- (pooti-)Sanskritपूति (stink, putrid)पूतिता (****pooti) sepsis, पूतिजीवरक्तता (pootijīvaraktatā) = septicemia
पूर्व- (poorv-)ante-, pre-Sanskritपूर्व (early, previous, former)मृत्युपूर्व (mrutyupoorva) = antemortem
पेशाब- (peśāb-)ur-, uro-Persianپیشاب (peśāb) (urine)पेशाबघर (peśābghar) = urinal
प्रजा- (prajā-)dem-Sanskritप्रजा (man, mankind)प्रजानायक (prajānāyak) = demagogue
प्रति- (prati-)anti-Sanskritप्रति (back, against, opposite)प्रतिजैविक (pratijaivik) = antibiotic; प्रतिलघुगणक (pratilaghugaṇak) = antilogarithm
परम- (param-)Sanskritपरम (absolute, utmost, highest)परमात्मा (paramātmā) = god, supreme being; परमाणु (paramānu) = atom
-पाद (-pād)-podSanskritपाद (foot, quarter)द्विपाद (dvipād) = biped; संधिपाद (sandhipād) = arthropod
पार- (pār-)trans-Sanskritपार (crossing, opposite side)पारलैंगिक (pārlaingik) = transsexual; पारदर्शक (pārdarśak) = transparent; पारवहन (pārvahan) = transit

फ (ph)

फल- (phal-)fruct-, frug-Sanskritफल (fruit)फलदायक (phaldāyak) = available; फलधु (phaladhu), फलशर्करा (phalsharkarā) = fructose

ब (b)

बा- (baa-)Persianبا (baa) (with)बाक़ायदा (qāydā) = methodically (lit. by the principles);
बर्फ़- (barf-)glaci-Persianبرف (barf) (ice)बर्फानी (barfānī) = blizzard
बाष्प- (bāṣp-)vap-Sanskritबाष्प (vapor, steam)बाष्पातु (bāṣpātu) = rhenium
बे- (be-)Persianبی (be) (without)बेतार (betār) = wireless; बेशुमार (beshumār) = uncountable, innumerable
-बीन (-bīn)-scopePersianदूरबीन (dūrbīn) = binoculars; खुर्दबीन (khurdbīn) = microscope

भ (bh)

भीति- (bhīti-)phobia-Sanskritभीति (fear)अग्निभीति (agnibhīti) = pyrophobia; जलभीति (jalabhīti) = Aquaphobia
-भुज (-bhuja)Sanskritभुज (hand, arm, side)अष्टभुज (aṣtabhuja) = octagon, eight-armed

म (m)

मल- (mal-)mal-Sanskritमल (dirt, impurity)मलोत्सर्ग (malotsarg) = bowel movement; मलावरोध (malāvarodh) = constipation
मांस- (mããs-)carn-Sanskritमांस (flesh, meat)मांसाहारी (mããsaahaaree) = carnivore
मार्ग- (mārg-)Sanskritमार्ग (road, passage)राजमार्ग (rājmārg) = highway
मूत्र- (mootr-)ur-, uro-Sanskritमूत्र (urine)मूत्रविज्ञान (mootravinyān) = urology; मूत्राशय (mootrāśay) = bladder
मेघ- (megh-)Sanskritमेघ (cloud)मेघधनुष (meghdhanuṣ) = rainbow
मृद- (mrid-)Sanskritमृद (loam, clay, soil)मृदभक्षण (mridbhakṣaɳ) = geophagy
-मंद (-mand)adjective-forming suffix, denoting possessionPersianअक़्लमंद (aqlmand) = wise; दौलतमंद (daulatmand) = wealthy
मनो (mano-)psycho-Sanskritमन (thought, view, imaginary)मनोविज्ञान (manovijñān) = psychology; मनोदशा (manodashā) = mood
महा- (mahā-)mega-Sanskritमह (great, mighty)महात्मा (mahātmā) = saint; महारानी (mahārānī) = empress
मेरु- (meru-)Sanskritमेरु (spinal)मेरुदण्ड (merudanda) = spinal column; मेरुरज्जु (merurajju) = spinal cord; मेरुनाल (merunāl) = spinal canal

य (y)

यव- (yav-)Sanskritयव (barley)यवसुरा (yavsurā) = ale

र (r)

रक्त- (rakt-)hem-, haem-Sanskritरक्त (blood)रक्तविज्ञान (raktavinyān) = hematology, रक्तला (raktalā) = erbium

ल (l)

ला- (lā-)-less, used for negationArabicلا (no)लापरवाह (parvāh) = carefree, careless; लाजवाब (javāb) = matchless, unequalled; लापता (patā) = missing
लाप- (lāp-)Sanskritलाप (speaking, speech)संलाप (samlāp) = discourse; आलाप (ālāp) = dialogue
लोक- (lok-)Sanskritलोक (people, public, human race)लोकतंत्र (loktantra) = democracy; लोकप्रिय (lokpriya) = popular; लोकसभा (loksabhā) = House of Commons

व (v)

वायु- (vāyu-)aer—as-Sanskritवायु (gas)वायुगतिकी (vāyugatikī) = aerodynamics
वृष- (vrishhabh-)taur—os-Sanskritवृष (bull)नरवृषभ (narvriṣabh) = Minotaur—os
विद्युत्‌- (vidyut-)Sanskritविद्युत (electricity)विद्युत चुम्बकीय (****vidyutchumbakīya) = electromagnetic; विद्युदणु (vidyudanu) = electron
वित्त- (vitta-)Sanskritवित्त (wealth, money, finance)वित्तमंत्री (vittamantrī) = finance minister; वित्तदाता (vittadātā) = financer

श (sh)

शति- (śati-)centi-Sanskritशत (hundred)शतिमान (śatimān) = centimeter
शत- (śata-)hecto-Sanskritशत (hundred)शतमान (śatamān) = hectometre
शिला- (śilā-)petro-Sanskritशिला (stone)शिलातैल (śilātail) = petroleum; शिलाचित्र (śilācitra) = petroglyphy
शीत- (śit-)cryo-Sanskritशीत (cold, frigid)शीतागार (śitāgār) = cold storage; शीतदंश (śitdanś) = frostbite
शुष्क- (śuṣk-)xer-Sanskritशुष्क (dry)शुष्काक्षिपाक (śuṣkākṣipāk) = xerophthalmia
श्याम- (śyām-)Sanskritश्याम (black)श्यामपट्ट (śyāmpatt) = blackboard

स (s)

सद- (sad-)sed-, -sid-, sess-Sanskritसद (sitting)सदन (sadan) = assembly, tenement
सर्व- (sarv-)salv-Sanskritसर्व (whole, each, entire, all)सर्वश्रेष्ठ (sarvaśreṣth) = foremost, ace, ultimate
सह- (sah-)con-, co-, col-, com-, cor-Sanskritसह (with)सहपक्ष (sahpakṣ) = aileron
स्था- (sthā-)Sanskritस्था (stand)स्थानान्तरण (sthānāntaraɳ) = transfer, shift
स्मृ- (smri-)memor-Sanskritस्मृ (remember)स्मृती (smritī) = remembrance
स्फट- (sphat-)Sanskritस्फट (crystal)द्विस्फटिक (dvisphatik) = macle; स्फटयातु (sphatayātu) = aluminum
स्व- (sva-)auto-Sanskritस्व (self, own)स्वाभिमान (svābhimān) = self-respect
सु - (su-)eu-Sanskritसुभाग्य (subhāgya) = good-fortune; सुस्वर = (susvar) = euphonious
सहस्र- (sahasra-)kilo-Sanskritसहस्र (thousand)सहस्रमान (sahasramān) = kilometre
सहस्रि- (sahasri-)milli-Sanskritसहस्र (thousand)सहस्रिमान (sahasrimān) = millimetre
सूक्ष्म- (sūkshma-)micro-Sanskritसूक्ष्म (minute, fine)सूक्ष्मदर्शी (sūkshmadarshī) = microscope; सूक्ष्मतरंग (sūkshmatarang) = microwave; सूक्ष्मजीव (sūkshmajīv) = micro-organism
-सरट (-saraṭ)-saurSanskritसरट (lizard)भीमसरट (bhīmsaraṭ) = dinosaur; त्रिशृंगसरट (triśringasaraṭ) = triceratops; वर्मसरट (varmasaraṭ) = stegosaurus

ह (h)

हम- (ham-)fellow, co-, sym-Persianهم (ham) (fellow, kindred)हमवतन (hamvatan) = compatriot; हमदर्द (hamdard) = sympathy (lit. kindred pain)
हिम- (him-)glaci-Sanskritहिम (ice, snow)हिमनद (himnad) = glacier
-हीन (-hīn)Sanskritहीन (poor, without)शक्तिहीन (śaktihīn) = powerless; भावनाहीन (bhāvnāhīn) = emotionless
हरित- (harit-)chloro-Sanskritहरित (green)हरितलवक (haritlavak) = chloroplast; पर्णहरित (parnaharit) = chlorophyll

ऋ (ri)

ऋक्ष- (rikṣ-)urs-Sanskritऋक्ष (bear)लघु सप्तर्षि (Ursa Minor)