सन्ति
santi
The Sanskrit word for "are" is सन्ति (santi).
सन्ति is used to state that multiple people or things exist in the present tense.
Which one should you use?
While सन्ति is used for 'they are', the singular form अस्ति is used for 'he/she/it is'.
How does it change in a sentence?
सन्ति is the third-person plural present indicative of the root √as 'to be'.
How do you pronounce it?
santi
Did you know?
- The root √as, which produces सन्ति, is also the root of the word satya, meaning 'truth', based on the idea that truth is that which truly 'is' or exists.
- In many ancient Sanskrit texts, the verb 'to be' is often omitted entirely, as the relationship between a subject and a noun can be understood through case endings alone.
- The root √as is shared with the Latin word 'esse', which is why the verb 'to be' looks similar across several ancient classical languages.
Examples in context
- त्वं वृषलः असि।You are a butcher (male).
- त्वं ब्राह्मणी असिYou are a Brahmin (female).
- ते अत्र सन्ति ।te atra santi.They are here.
- पुष्पाणि उद्याने सन्ति ।puṣpāṇi udyāne santi.Flowers are in the garden.
- बालकाः क्रीडन्तः सन्ति ।bālakāḥ krīḍantaḥ santi.The boys are playing.
Example conversation
Aryan and Isha are looking at a group of people in a park.
- आर्यन Aryanकति जनाः सन्ति?kati janāḥ santi?How many people are there?
- ईशा Ishaतत्र पञ्च जनाः सन्ति ।tatra pañca janāḥ santi.There are five people there.
- आर्यन Aryanकिं ते मित्राणि सन्ति?kiṃ te mitrāṇi santi?Are they friends?
- ईशा Ishaआम्, ते मित्राणि सन्ति ।ām, te mitrāṇi santi.Yes, they are friends.
