सुख
sukhá/su.kʰɐ́/
In Sanskrit, the word for comfort is सुख (sukhá).
सुख is used to denote comfort in terms of pleasure, enjoyment and happiness.
Meaning: cause of relief or satisfaction (noun)
Which one should you use?
While सुख refers to pleasure and enjoyment, the term Prashama is used to denote a deeper sense of comfort associated with the alleviation of distress and suffering. The direct semantic opposite of सुख is दुःख, which means suffering or pain.
How does it change in a sentence?
In many contexts, particularly when the word is used as a direct object, the neuter singular form सुखम् is used. If you wish to describe something as being 'comforting' or as 'causing comfort', you should use the adjective सुखद.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced sukhá (IPA: /su.kʰɐ́/). It has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word सुख may originally have described a physical object, specifically one 'having a good axle-hole' in a wheel.
- In some philosophical texts, the goal is not to seek सुख but to transcend the cycle of both सुख and दुःख entirely.
- The Sanskrit term for 'comfort' is part of a larger linguistic family that includes the word for 'pain' through the inversion of the prefix 'su-' to 'du-'.
Examples in context
- पुस्तकैः महत् सुखं लभ्यते ।pustakaiḥ mahat sukhaṃ labhyate.Great comfort is obtained from books.
- माता पुत्राय सुखं ददाति ।mātā putrāya sukhaṃ dadāti.The mother gives comfort to the son.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about resting after a long day.
- ईशा Ishaविवान, किं त्वं सुखं अनुभवसि?Vivāna, kiṃ tvaṃ sukhaṃ anubhavasi?Vivan, do you feel comfort?
- विवान Vivaanआम् ईशे, इदानीं सुखं अस्ति।ām Īśe, idānīṃ sukhaṃ asti.Yes Isha, there is comfort now.
- ईशा Ishaविश्रामः सुखं ददाति।viśrāmaḥ sukhaṃ dadāti.Rest gives comfort.
- विवान Vivaanसत्यम्, एतत् उत्तमम्।satyam, etat uttamam.True, this is great.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry सुख, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries सुख, CC BY-SA 4.0.
