List of Sanskrit and Persian roots in Hindi
The following is an alphabetical (according to Hindi's alphabet) list of Sanskrit and Persian roots, stems, prefixes, and suffixes commonly used in Hindi.
अ (a)
Root |
English Equivalent |
Origin language |
Etymology |
Hindi examples
|
अग्नि- (agni-) |
pyro-, ignite(Latin)- |
Sanskrit |
अग्नि (fire) |
अग्निशामक (agniśāmak) = fire extinguisher; अग्निरोधक (agnirōdhak) = fire-proof; अग्निभीति (agnibhīti) = pyrophobia
|
-अणु (-aṇu) |
|
Sanskrit |
अणु (minute, particle, atomic) |
प्राणु (prāṇu) = proton; धनाणु (dhanāṇu) = positron; विषाणु (viṣāṇu) = virus
|
अति- (ati-) |
super- |
Sanskrit |
अति (extremely, beyond, over) |
अतिकाल (atikāl) = delay
|
अधि- (adhi-) |
epi-, meta- |
Sanskrit |
अधि (over, above, upon, after) |
अधिकार (adhikār) = rights, authority
|
अन- (an-), अ- (a-) |
non-, un-, a-, an- |
Sanskrit |
अन-, अ- (not, without) |
अकारण (akāraṇ) = causeless, unprovoked; अनादर (anaadar) = disrespect
|
अनु- (anu-) |
|
Sanskrit |
अनु (along, orderly, accordingly) |
अनुक्रम (anukram) = sequence
|
अम्ल- (aml-) |
acid- |
Sanskrit |
अम्ल (acid) |
अम्लप्रेमी(amlapremī) = acidophile
|
अप- (ap-) |
ab- |
Sanskrit |
अप (away, off) |
अपमान (apmān) = insult
|
अभि- (abhi-) |
ambi-/ἀμφί- |
Sanskrit |
अभि (to, towards, into, over, upon) |
अभिज्ञान (abhijñyān) = recognition, identification
|
-अर्बुद (arbud) |
-oma, onco- |
Sanskrit |
अर्बुद (tumor, swelling) |
लसीकार्बुद (lasīkārbud) = lymphoma; अर्बुदविज्ञान (arbudvijñān) = oncology
|
अव- (av-) |
|
Sanskrit |
अव (down, off, away) |
अवरोध (avarodh) = barrier, inhibition; अवगुण (avguṇ) = failing, fault, demerit
|
अर्ध- (ardha-) |
semi-, demi-, |
Sanskrit |
अर्ध (half) |
अर्धचालक (ardhachālak) = semiconductor; अर्धपारगम्य (ardhapārgamya) = semipermeable
|
आत्म- (ātma-) |
auto-, self- |
Sanskrit |
आत्मा (self) |
आत्महत्या (ātmahatyā) = suicide; आत्मज्ञान (ātmajñān) = self-knowledge; आत्मकथा (ātmakathā) = autobiography
|
अष्ट- (aṣṭa-) |
octo- |
Sanskrit |
अष्ट (eight) |
अष्टकोण (aṣṭakōṇ) = octagon; अष्टपदी (aṣṭapadī) = octave; अष्टभुज (aṣṭabhuj) = octopus
|
आ (ā)
-आना (-ānā) |
Adjective-forming. -ish, -ous, -ly. |
Persian |
انه (âneh) |
दोस्ताना (dostānā) = friendly; फ़क़ीराना (faqīrānā) = austere, ascetic.
|
आप-/अप- (aap-/ap-) |
aqua- |
Sanskrit |
आप (water) |
अप्सरा; अब्ज
|
आब- (aab-) |
aqua- |
Persian |
آب (aab) (water) |
आबखोरा (ābkhorā) = mug, pot; आबहवा (ābhavā) = climate; पंजाब (Panjāb) = Punjab (Land of five Rivers)
|
इ (i)
ई (ī)
उ (u)
उद- (ud-) |
hydro- |
Sanskrit |
उद (water) |
उदजन (udjan) = hydrogen
|
उभय- (ubhaya-) |
ambi-, amphi- |
Sanskrit |
उभय (both) |
उभयभावी (ubhayabhāvī) = ambivalent; उभयलिंगी (ubhayalingī) = bisexual; उभयचर (ubhayachar) = amphibian
|
उप- (up-) |
sub- |
Sanskrit |
उप (below, subsidiary, towards) |
उपवन (upvan) = orchard, park; उपमार्ग (upmārg) = bypass, side street; उपमहाद्वीप (upmahādvīp) = subcontinent
|
ऊ (ū)
ए (e)
एक- (ek-) |
uni-, mono- |
Sanskrit |
एक (one) |
एकभाषी (ekbhāṣī) = monolingual; एकपक्षीय (ekpakśīya) = unilateral; एकवर्णी (ekvarnī) = monochromatic
|
ऐ (ai)
ओ (o)
औ (au)
अं (am/an)
अंतः- (antaḥ-) |
inter-, endo- |
Sanskrit |
अंतः (in, inside) |
अंतःकरण (antaḥkaraṇ) = conscience
|
अंतर- (antar-) |
inter- |
Sanskrit |
अंतर् (in the middle, internal, amongst, within) |
अंतर्राष्ट्रीय (antarrāṣtrīya) = international
|
अंश- (amś-) |
|
Sanskrit |
अंश (part, portion) |
अंशकालिक (amśakālik) = part-time; अंशांकन (amśānkan) = calibration
|
क (k)
कम- (kam-) |
min- |
Persian |
کم (kam) (low, little, small) |
कमज़ोर (kamzor) = weak
|
कठ- (kath-), काठ- (kāth-) |
xylo- |
Sanskrit |
काष्ठ (kāṣth) (timber, wood) |
कठफोड़वा (kathphodvā) = woodpecker ; काठमांडू (kāthmānḍū) = Kathmandu
|
काष्ठ- (kāṣt-) |
xylo- |
Sanskrit |
काष्ठ (timber, wood) |
काष्ठवाद्य (kāṣthavādya) = xylophone, काष्ठशर्करा (kāṣṭhaśarkarā) = xylose
|
-काय (-kāya) |
-some, -soma |
Sanskrit |
काय (Body) |
लयनकाय (layankāya) = lysosome; कायिक (kāyik) = somatic
|
-कोण (-koṇa) |
-gon |
Sanskrit |
कोण (corner, angle) |
त्रिकोण (trikoṇa) = triangle; षट्कोण (ṣaṭkoṇa) = hexagon
|
ख़ (kh)
ख़ुद- (khud-) |
auto-,
sui-
|
Persian |
خود (xod) (self, own, ego) |
ख़ुदग़रज़ी (khudgarzī) = selfishness
|
ख़ुश- (khuś-) |
good-, eu- |
Persian |
خوش (xoš) (good) |
ख़ुशनसीब (khuśnasīb) = fortunate; ख़ुशफ़हमी (khuśfahmī) = fantasy (lit. good understanding)
|
ख़ून- (khụn-) |
|
Persian |
خون (xun) (blood, gore) |
ख़ूँखार(khūnkhār) = bloodthirsty
|
ग (g)
गाव- (gaav-) |
|
Persian |
گاو (gaav) (cow) |
गावशुमारी (gaavśumārī) = cow census
|
गो- (go-) |
|
Sanskrit |
गो (cow) |
गोविन्द (govind) = cow herder
|
ग़ (ġ)
ग़ैर- (ġair-) |
non- |
Arabic |
غير (ghayr) (non-, un-) |
ग़ैरमुल्की (ġairmulkī) = foreigner, non-native
|
घ (gh)
च (ch)
चल- (chal-) |
|
Sanskrit |
चल (moving) |
चलचित्र (chalchitra) = movie, motion picture
|
चित्र- (chitra-) |
|
Sanskrit |
चित्र (picture) |
चित्रयंत्र (citrayantra) = camera
|
छ (chh)
छद्म- (chhadm-) |
pseudo- |
Sanskrit |
छद्म (deceptive) |
छद्मावरण (chhadmāvaraṇ) = camouflage
|
ज (j)
-जन (-jan) |
-gen |
Sanskrit |
जन (generating) |
उदजन (Udjan) = Hydrogen; तुषारजन (Tuṣārjan) = cryogen
|
जल- (jal-) |
aqua- |
Sanskrit |
जल (water) |
जलसेतु (jalsetu) = aqueduct
|
जीव- (jīva-) |
bio- |
Sanskrit |
जीव (life, living) |
जीवविज्ञान (jīvavijñān) = biology; जीवतत्व (jīvatatva) = physiology; जीवाणु (jīvānu) = bacteria
|
जन- (jan-) |
|
Sanskrit |
जन (people) |
जनगणना (jangaṇanā) = census; जनसंख्या (jansankhyā) = population; जनरञ्जक (janrañjak) = popular
|
ज़ (z)
-ज़दा (-zadā) |
Adjective forming, denoting "stricken, afflicted" |
Persian |
زده (beaten, hit) |
मुसीबतज़दा = (musībatzadā) = disaster-stricken; हैरतज़दा = (hairatzadā) = awestruck
|
झ (jh)
ट (ṭ)
ठ (ṭh)
ड (ḍ)
ढ (ḍh)
त (t)
ताप- (tāp-) |
|
Sanskrit |
ताप (heat, fever) |
तापमान (tāpmān) = temperature
|
तारा- (tārā-) |
stell- |
Sanskrit |
तारा (star) |
तारामीन (tārāmīn) = starfish
|
तुषार- (tuṣār) |
cryo- |
Sanskrit |
तुषार (cold, ice, frigid) |
तुषाराच्छादन (tuṣārācchādan) = frosting
|
तृण- (tṛiṇ) |
|
Sanskrit |
तृण (grass, straw, herb) |
तृणमणि (tṛiṇmaṇi) = amber
|
थ (th)
द (d)
दंश- (danś-) |
|
Sanskrit |
दंश (bite) |
उपदंशक्षत (upadanśakṣat) = hard chancre
|
-दान (-dān) |
|
Sanskrit |
दान (donation, charity) |
रक्तदान (raktdān) = blood donation; भिक्षादान = (bhikṣādān) = charity, alms-giving; मतदान (matdān) = vote, poll
|
दिल- (dil-) |
|
Persian |
دل (dil) (heart) |
दिलचस्पी (dilcaspī) = interest, zeal
|
-दार (-dār) |
adjective-forming suffix, denoting "having, possessing" |
Persian |
دار (having) |
ईमानदार (īmāndār) = honest; ज़िम्मेदार = (zimmedār) = responsible, held-accountable
|
दूर- (dūr-) |
tele- |
Sanskrit |
दूर (far, distant) |
दूरदर्शन (dūrdarśan) = television; दूरबीन (dūrbīn) = binoculars; दूरभाष (dūrbhāṣ) = telephone; दूरदर्शक (dūrdarśak) = Telescope
|
द्रुत- (drut-) |
|
Sanskrit |
द्रुत (rapid) |
द्रुतगति (drutgati) = high-speed; द्रुतगामी (drutgāmī) = express
|
द्वि- (dvi-) |
bi-, di- |
Sanskrit |
द्वि (two) |
द्विकोणीय (dvikōṇīya) = biangular; द्विध्रुव (dvidhruv) = dipole
|
दो- (do-) |
bi-, di- |
Sanskrit |
द्वि (two) |
दोगुना (dogunā) = double; दोहरा (doharā) = duplex; दोपहर (dopahar) = midday, noon
|
ध (dh)
ध्वनि- (dhvani-) |
phon-, son- |
Sanskrit |
ध्वनि (tune, sound) |
ध्वनीलेख (dhvanīlekh) = phonograph
|
न (n)
नाय- (nāy-) |
|
Sanskrit |
नाय (guide, leader, direction) |
नायकत्व (nāykatva) = leadership; नायक (nāyak) = hero; नायिका (nāyikā) = heroine (feminine of hero)
|
निद्रा- (nidrā-) |
somn- |
Sanskrit |
निद्रा (sleep) |
निद्राजनक (nidrājanak) = soporific, somniferous
|
निम्न- (nimn-) |
min- |
Sanskrit |
निम्न (low, less, depressed) |
निम्नलिखित (nimnalikhit) = following
|
-नाक (-nāk) |
adjective-forming suffix, denoting "full of" |
Persian |
|
दर्दनाक (dardnāk) = painful; ख़ौफ़नाक (khaufnāk)= terrifying, fearsome
|
प (p)
पाण्डुर- (pāndur-) |
flav- |
Sanskrit |
पाण्डुर (yellow) |
पाण्डुरविषाणु (pāṇdurviṣāṇu) = Flavivirus
|
पीत- (pīt-) |
xanth- |
Sanskrit |
पीत (yellow) |
पीतार्बुद (pītārbud) = xanthoma
|
पुरा- (purā-) |
archae-, arche- |
Sanskrit |
पुरा (of old, long ago) |
पुरातत्त्व (purātattva) = archaeology
|
पूति- (pūti-) |
|
Sanskrit |
पूति (stink, putrid) |
पूतिता (pūtitā) sepsis, पूतिजीवरक्तता (pūtijīvaraktatā) = septicemia
|
पूर्व- (pūrv-) |
ante-,
pre-
|
Sanskrit |
पूर्व (early, previous, former) |
मृत्युपूर्व (mrutyupūrva) = antemortem
|
पेशाब- (peśāb-) |
ur-, uro- |
Persian |
پیشاب (peśāb) (urine) |
पेशाबघर (peśābghar) = urinal
|
प्रजा- (prajā-) |
dem- |
Sanskrit |
प्रजा (man, mankind) |
प्रजानायक (prajānāyak) = demagogue
|
प्रति- (prati-) |
anti- |
Sanskrit |
प्रति (back, against, opposite) |
प्रतिजैविक (pratijaivik) = antibiotic; प्रतिलघुगणक (pratilaghugaṇak) = antilogarithm
|
परम- (param-) |
|
Sanskrit |
परम (absolute, utmost, highest) |
परमात्मा (paramātmā) = god, supreme being; परमाणु (paramāṇu) = atom
|
-पाद (-pād) |
-pod |
Sanskrit |
पाद (foot, quarter) |
द्विपाद (dvipād) = biped; संधिपाद (sandhipād) = arthropod
|
पार- (pār-) |
trans- |
Sanskrit |
पार (crossing, opposite side) |
पारलैंगिक (pārlaingik) = transsexual; पारदर्शक (pārdarśak) = transparent; पारवहन (pārvahan) = transit
|
फ (ph)
फल- (phal-) |
fruct-, frug- |
Sanskrit |
फल (fruit) |
फलदायक (phaldāyak) = available; फलधु (phaladhu), फलशर्करा (phalśarkarā) = fructose
|
ब (b)
बा- (baa-) |
|
Persian |
با (baa) (with) |
बाक़ायदा (bāqāydā) = methodically (lit. by the principles);
|
बर्फ़- (barf-) |
glaci- |
Persian |
برف (barf) (ice) |
बर्फानी (barfānī) = blizzard
|
बाष्प- (bāṣp-) |
vap- |
Sanskrit |
बाष्प (vapor, steam) |
बाष्पातु (bāṣpātu) = rhenium
|
बे- (be-) |
|
Persian |
بی (be) (without) |
बेतार (betār) = wireless; बेशुमार (beśumār) = uncountable, innumerable
|
-बीन (-bīn) |
-scope |
Persian |
|
दूरबीन (dūrbīn) = binoculars; खुर्दबीन (khurdbīn) = microscope
|
भ (bh)
भीति- (bhīti-) |
phobia- |
Sanskrit |
भीति (fear) |
अग्निभीति (agnibhīti) = pyrophobia; जलभीति (jalabhīti) = Aquaphobia
|
-भुज (-bhuja) |
|
Sanskrit |
भुज (hand, arm, side) |
अष्टभुज (aṣtabhuja) = octagon, eight-armed
|
म (m)
मल- (mal-) |
mal- |
Sanskrit |
मल (dirt, impurity) |
मलोत्सर्ग (malotsarg) = bowel movement; मलावरोध (malāvarodh) = constipation
|
मांस- (mā̃s-) |
carn- |
Sanskrit |
मांस (flesh, meat) |
मांसाहारी (mā̃sāhaarī) = carnivore
|
मार्ग- (mārg-) |
|
Sanskrit |
मार्ग (road, passage) |
राजमार्ग (rājmārg) = highway
|
मूत्र- (mūtr-) |
ur-, uro- |
Sanskrit |
मूत्र (urine) |
मूत्रविज्ञान (mūtravinyān) = urology; मूत्राशय (mūtrāśay) = bladder
|
मेघ- (megh-) |
|
Sanskrit |
मेघ (cloud) |
मेघधनुष (meghdhanuṣ) = rainbow
|
मृद- (mṛid-) |
|
Sanskrit |
मृद (loam, clay, soil) |
मृदभक्षण (mṛidbhakṣaṇ) = geophagy
|
-मंद (-mand) |
adjective-forming suffix, denoting possession |
Persian |
|
अक़्लमंद (aqlmand) = wise; दौलतमंद (daulatmand) = wealthy
|
मनो (mano-) |
psycho- |
Sanskrit |
मन (thought, view, imaginary) |
मनोविज्ञान (manovijñān) = psychology; मनोदशा (manodaśā) = mood
|
महा- (mahā-) |
mega- |
Sanskrit |
मह (great, mighty) |
महात्मा (mahātmā) = saint; महारानी (mahārānī) = empress
|
मेरु- (meru-) |
|
Sanskrit |
मेरु (spinal) |
मेरुदण्ड (merudanḍa) = spinal column; मेरुरज्जु (merurajju) = spinal cord; मेरुनाल (merunāl) = spinal canal
|
य (y)
यव- (yav-) |
|
Sanskrit |
यव (barley) |
यवसुरा (yavsurā) = ale
|
र (r)
रक्त- (rakt-) |
hem-, haem- |
Sanskrit |
रक्त (blood) |
रक्तविज्ञान (raktavinyān) = hematology, रक्तला (raktalā) = erbium
|
ल (l)
ला- (lā-) |
-less, used for negation |
Arabic |
لا (no) |
लापरवाह (lāparvāh) = carefree, careless; लाजवाब (lājavāb) = matchless, unequalled; लापता (lāpatā) = missing
|
लाप- (lāp-) |
|
Sanskrit |
लाप (speaking, speech) |
संलाप (samlāp) = discourse; आलाप (ālāp) = dialogue
|
लोक- (lok-) |
|
Sanskrit |
लोक (people, public, human race) |
लोकतंत्र (loktantra) = democracy; लोकप्रिय (lokpriya) = popular; लोकसभा (loksabhā) = House of Commons
|
व (v)
वायु- (vāyu-) |
aer—as- |
Sanskrit |
वायु (gas) |
वायुगतिकी (vāyugatikī) = aerodynamics
|
वृष- (vriṣabh-) |
taur—os- |
Sanskrit |
वृष (bull) |
नरवृषभ (narvriṣabh) = Minotaur—os
|
विद्युत्- (vidyut-) |
|
Sanskrit |
विद्युत (electricity) |
विद्युत चुम्बकीय (vidyutchumbakīya) = electromagnetic; विद्युदणु (vidyudaṇu) = electron
|
वित्त- (vitta-) |
|
Sanskrit |
वित्त (wealth, money, finance) |
वित्तमंत्री (vittamantrī) = finance minister; वित्तदाता (vittadātā) = financer
|
श (ś)
शति- (śati-) |
centi- |
Sanskrit |
शत (hundred) |
शतिमान (śatimān) = centimeter
|
शत- (śata-) |
hecto- |
Sanskrit |
शत (hundred) |
शतमान (śatamān) = hectometre
|
शिला- (śilā-) |
petro- |
Sanskrit |
शिला (stone) |
शिलातैल (śilātail) = petroleum; शिलाचित्र (śilācitra) = petroglyphy
|
शीत- (śit-) |
cryo- |
Sanskrit |
शीत (cold, frigid) |
शीतागार (śitāgār) = cold storage; शीतदंश (śitdanś) = frostbite
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शुष्क- (śuṣk-) |
xer- |
Sanskrit |
शुष्क (dry) |
शुष्काक्षिपाक (śuṣkākṣipāk) = xerophthalmia
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श्याम- (śyām-) |
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Sanskrit |
श्याम (black) |
श्यामपट्ट (śyāmpatt) = blackboard
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ष (ṣ)
स (s)
सद- (sad-) |
sed-, -sid-, sess- |
Sanskrit |
सद (sitting) |
सदन (sadan) = assembly, tenement
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सर्व- (sarv-) |
salv- |
Sanskrit |
सर्व (whole, each, entire, all) |
सर्वश्रेष्ठ (sarvaśreṣth) = foremost, ace, ultimate
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सह- (sah-) |
con-, co-, col-, com-, cor- |
Sanskrit |
सह (with) |
सहपक्ष (sahpakṣ) = aileron
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स्था- (sthā-) |
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Sanskrit |
स्था (stand) |
स्थानान्तरण (sthānāntaraṇ) = transfer, shift
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स्मृ- (smri-) |
memor- |
Sanskrit |
स्मृ (remember) |
स्मृती (smritī) = remembrance
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स्फट- (sphat-) |
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Sanskrit |
स्फट (crystal) |
द्विस्फटिक (dvisphatik) = macle; स्फटयातु (sphatayātu) = aluminum
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स्व- (sva-) |
auto- |
Sanskrit |
स्व (self, own) |
स्वाभिमान (svābhimān) = self-respect
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सु - (su-) |
eu- |
Sanskrit |
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सुभाग्य (subhāgya) = good-fortune; सुस्वर = (susvar) = euphonious
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सहस्र- (sahasra-) |
kilo- |
Sanskrit |
सहस्र (thousand) |
सहस्रमान (sahasramān) = kilometre
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सहस्रि- (sahasri-) |
milli- |
Sanskrit |
सहस्र (thousand) |
सहस्रिमान (sahasrimān) = millimetre
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सूक्ष्म- (sūkṣma-) |
micro- |
Sanskrit |
सूक्ष्म (minute, fine) |
सूक्ष्मदर्शी (sūkṣmadarśī) = microscope; सूक्ष्मतरंग (sūkṣmatarang) = microwave; सूक्ष्मजीव (sūkṣmajīv) = micro-organism
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-सरट (-saraṭ) |
-saur |
Sanskrit |
सरट (lizard) |
भीमसरट (bhīmsaraṭ) = dinosaur; त्रिशृंगसरट (triśringasaraṭ) = triceratops; वर्मसरट (varmasaraṭ) = stegosaurus
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ह (h)
हम- (ham-) |
fellow, co-, sym- |
Persian |
هم (ham) (fellow, kindred) |
हमवतन (hamvatan) = compatriot; हमदर्द (hamdard) = sympathy (lit. kindred pain)
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हिम- (him-) |
glaci- |
Sanskrit |
हिम (ice, snow) |
हिमनद (himnad) = glacier
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-हीन (-hīn) |
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Sanskrit |
हीन (poor, without) |
शक्तिहीन (śaktihīn) = powerless; भावनाहीन (bhāvnāhīn) = emotionless
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हरित- (harit-) |
chloro- |
Sanskrit |
हरित (green) |
हरितलवक (haritlavak) = chloroplast; पर्णहरित (parnaharit) = chlorophyll
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क्ष (kṣ)
त्र (tr)
ज्ञ (jñ)
ऋ (ṛi)
ऋक्ष- (ṛikṣ-) |
urs- |
Sanskrit |
ऋक्ष (bear) |
लघु सप्तर्षि (Ursa Minor)
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