पशु
/pɐ.ɕú/
The Sanskrit word for animal is पशु.
The word पशु refers to an organism other than a human.
Meaning: organism other than human (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Depending on the role of the word in a sentence, the form changes. The nominative plural form, meaning 'animals', is पशवः (paśavaḥ). If you need to express 'by' or 'with' an animal, use the instrumental singular form पशुना.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /pɐ.ɕú/ and consists of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- In Indian philosophy, the term पशु can be used metaphorically to describe a soul that is bound by ignorance and instinct, acting like a 'tethered animal' before achieving spiritual liberation.
- In the context of Shaivism, the term पशु refers to the individual soul, while the deity Shiva is called पशुपति meaning the 'Lord of the Animals'.
- The word पशु is a cognate of the Latin pecū, which is the root of the English word 'pecuniary' meaning relating to money.
Examples in context
- एषः पशुः अस्ति।eṣaḥ paśuḥ asti.This is an animal.
- पशुः वने वसति।paśuḥ vane vasati.The animal lives in the forest.
- वयं पशुभ्यः स्नेहं कुर्मः।vayaṃ paśubhyaḥ snehaṃ kurmaḥ.We love animals.
Example conversation
Meera and Vivan are looking at a picture book.
- मीरा Miraविवान, एषः कः पशुः अस्ति?vivāna, eṣaḥ kaḥ paśuḥ asti?Vivan, which animal is this?
- विवान Vivaanमीरा, एषः सिंहः अस्ति।mīrā, eṣaḥ siṃhaḥ asti.Meera, this is a lion.
- मीरा Miraकिं पशुः वने वसति?kiṃ paśuḥ vane vasati?Does the animal live in the forest?
- विवान Vivaanआम्, सिंहः वने वसति।ām, siṃhaḥ vane vasati.Yes, the lion lives in the forest.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry पशु, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries पशु, CC BY-SA 4.0.
