उज्ज्वल
ujjvala/ud.d͡ʑʋɐ.lɐ/
The Sanskrit word for bright is उज्ज्वल (ujjvala). Wiktionary also lists अर्जुन (arjuna).
Meaning: emitting much light, visually dazzling (adj)
Ways to say it
| Sanskrit | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| उज्ज्वल | ujjvala | /ud.d͡ʑʋɐ.lɐ/ (Vedic) /ud̪.d͡ʑʋɐ.l̪ɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
| अर्जुन | arjuna | /ɐ́ɾ.d͡ʑu.nɐ/ (Vedic) /ɐɾ.d͡ʑu.n̪ɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
The term उज्ज्वल is used to describe emitting much light or being visually dazzling, similar to the English words luminous or radiant. It can be used physically to describe light, but it is also used metaphorically to describe things like a bright or glorious future or a bright reputation.
Which one should you use?
While उज्ज्वल refers to the quality of brightness or radiance, अर्जुन is often used to describe something that is bright, clear or white in color, such as a person or an object.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ud.dʑʋɐ.lɐ/. It has three syllables.
Did you know?
- The Sanskrit अर्जुन shares a prehistoric root with the Latin word 'argentum' meaning 'silver'. Both derive from an ancient word for 'shining' or 'white'.
- Sanskrit has a specific tradition of 'bright' imagery in its aesthetics where उज्ज्वल is used to describe the aura of a deity, known as a 'tejas'.
- The spelling of उज्ज्वल is a common trap for students because it contains a 'double j' that is often miswritten as a single letter in modern Hindi.
Examples in context
- सूर्यः अति उज्ज्वलः अस्ति।sūryaḥ ati ujjvalaḥ asti.The sun is very bright.
- तस्य मुखं उज्ज्वलम् अस्ति।tasya mukhaṃ ujjvalam asti.His face is bright.
- एषः उज्ज्वलः प्रकाशः अस्ति।eṣaḥ ujjvalaḥ prakāśaḥ asti.This is a bright light.
Example conversation
Vivan and Isha are looking at the moonlit sky.
- विवान Vivaanपश्य, चन्द्रः कियत् उज्ज्वलः अस्ति!Paśya, candraḥ kiyat ujjvalaḥ asti!Look, how bright the moon is!
- ईशा Ishaआम्, एषः वास्तवमेव मनोहरः अस्ति।Ām, eṣaḥ vāstavameva manoharaḥ asti.Yes, it is truly beautiful.
- विवान Vivaanकिं त्वं उज्ज्वलम् आकाशं पश्यसि?Kiṃ tvaṃ ujjvalam ākāśaṃ paśyasi?Do you see the bright sky?
- ईशा Ishaअहं पश्यामि, विवान!Ahaṃ paśyāmi, Vivāna!I see it, Vivan!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bright” translations and entries उज्ज्वल, अर्जुन, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries अर्जुन, उज्ज्वल, CC BY-SA 4.0.
