च
ca/t͡ɕɐ/
The Sanskrit word for 'and' is च (ca).
The word च is used as a conjunction to connect two similar words or phrases.
Meaning: used to connect two similar words, phrases, et cetera (conj)
How does it change in a sentence?
In Sanskrit, च is a postpositive, which means it is placed after the words it connects rather than before them. When used in a sentence, च may undergo sandhi, a process of phonetic assimilation, with the preceding word.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of ca is /tɕɐ/.
Did you know?
- The word च descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *-kʷe, which also evolved into the Greek word τε.
- In classical Sanskrit poetry, च can be repeated multiple times in a single sentence to emphasize every single item in a list, acting like 'and… and… and'.
- The placement of च can be shifted for poetic meter, meaning it does not always follow the immediately preceding word but can move to fit a rhythmic pattern.
Examples in context
- कन्याः पठन्ति लिखन्ति च।The girls read and write.This sentence is useful for seeing how च connects two verbs.Tatoeba #4144630 by richke, translation #4144631 by richke
- जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ।Mother and motherland are greater than heaven.This sentence demonstrates how च connects two nouns.Tatoeba #2663680 by taro, translation #2663681 by sabretou
- अविर् अश्वाश् चThe sheep and the horsesThis sentence shows how च is used to connect two different nouns.
- रामः गच्छति तथा कृष्णः गच्छति।Rama goes and Krishna goes.
- माता च पिता च भ्राता च स्वामी च।Mother and father and brother and husband.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “and” translations and entries च, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries च, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
