कर्ण
karṇa/kɐ́ɾ.ɳɐ/masculine
In Sanskrit, the word for ear is कर्ण (karṇa). Wiktionary also lists श्रवण (śravaṇa) and श्रुति (śruti).
Meaning: organ of hearing (noun)
Ways to say it
| Sanskrit | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| कर्ण | karṇa | /kɐ́ɾ.ɳɐ/ (Vedic) /kɐɾ.ɳɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
masculine |
| श्रवण | śravaṇa | /ɕɾɐ́.ʋɐ.ɳɐ/ (Vedic) /ɕɾɐ.ʋɐ.ɳɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
neuter |
| श्रुति | śruti | /ɕɾú.ti/ (Vedic) /ɕɾu.t̪i/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
feminine |
The term refers to the organ of hearing.
Which one should you use?
The masculine form karṇa refers to the physical organ of the ear.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms provided are कर्ण (masculine), śravaṇa (neuter) and śruti (feminine).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of karṇa is /kɐ́ɾ.ɳɐ/.
Did you know?
- Some linguists once theorized that कर्ण (karṇa) might have originally meant a 'defect' or 'mutilation' of the ear before becoming the standard word for the organ itself.
- The word karṇa is linked to the name of one of the most tragic and complex heroes in the epic Mahabharata.
- The word śravaṇa refers to the act of hearing and is also the name of a month in the Hindu calendar.
Examples in context
- व्याघ्रः कर्णानि समीक्षति।The tiger examines its ears.
- तस्य कर्णः विशालः अस्ति।tasya karṇaḥ viśālaḥ asti.His ear is large.
- कर्णः श्रवणस्य अङ्गम् अस्ति।karṇaḥ śravaṇasya aṅgam asti.The ear is the organ of hearing.
Example conversation
A boy describes his physical sensation to a girl.
- मीरा Miraआदित्य, किं भवतः कर्णे पीडा अस्ति?Āditya, kiṃ bhavataḥ karṇe pīḍā asti?Aditya, does your ear hurt?
- आदित्य Adityaआम्, मम कर्णः अतीव पीडितः अस्ति।Ām, mama karṇaḥ atīva pīḍitaḥ asti.Yes, my ear is very painful.
- मीरा Miraकिं भवान् चिकित्सकं गमिष्यति?Kiṃ bhavān cikitsakaṃ gamiṣyati?Will you go to a doctor?
- आदित्य Adityaआम्, अहं चिकित्सालयं गमिष्यामि।Ām, ahaṃ cikitsālayaṃ gamiṣyāmi.Yes, I will go to the clinic.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ear” translations and entries कर्ण, श्रवण, श्रुति, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries कर्ण, श्रवण, श्रुति, CC BY-SA 4.0.
