# Sanskrit

/ˈsænskɹɪt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sanskrit
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the language

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

an ancient language of India that is still used today in Hindu religious ceremonies and classical literature.

For teachers: A classical Indo-European language of South Asia, which is the liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Uncountable in this sense.

- The priest chanted the ancient prayers in Sanskrit during the wedding ceremony.
- Scholars of historical linguistics often study Sanskrit to understand the shared roots of Indo-European languages like Greek and Latin.

Usage: Always capitalized as it refers to a specific language.

### 2. relating to the language

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

describing something written in or related to the Sanskrit language.

For teachers: Relating to or written in the Sanskrit language.

- She spent years studying Sanskrit literature to understand ancient Indian history.
- The library houses a vast collection of Sanskrit manuscripts, some dating back several centuries.

## Examples

- Many yoga poses have names in Sanskrit.
- The scholar spent years studying Sanskrit to read ancient religious texts in their original form.
- While no longer a primary spoken tongue, Sanskrit remains a vital academic and liturgical language, preserving a vast corpus of philosophical and scientific literature from the Indian subcontinent.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.