गजाः
gajāḥ
The Sanskrit word for "elephants" is गजाः (gajāḥ).
The term refers to large mammals characterized by their trunks and tusks.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form गजाः is the nominative plural, which is used when elephants are the subject of a sentence. The singular form of the word is गजः (gajaḥ).
How do you pronounce it?
gajāḥ
Did you know?
- While गजाः is the standard term, the word हस्ती (hastī) is often used as a synonym because it literally means 'the one with a hand', referring to the trunk.
- The elephant is so central to ancient Indian thought that Sanskrit possesses dozens of distinct words for them based on their age, size and temperament.
- In Sanskrit, the term गज is closely linked to the concept of 'gaja-shastra', an ancient science dedicated entirely to the training and psychology of elephants.
Example conversation
Vivan and Kavya are looking at a picture of animals.
- विवान Vivaanकाव्या, एते के सन्ति?kāvyā, ete ke santi?Kavya, what are these?
- काव्या Kavyaविवान, एते गजाः सन्ति।vivāna, ete gajāḥ santi.Vivan, these are elephants.
- विवान Vivaanकिं गजाः बुद्धिमानः भवन्ति?kiṃ gajāḥ buddhimānaḥ bhavanti?Are elephants intelligent?
- काव्या Kavyaआम्, ते अतीव बुद्धिमानः सन्ति।ām, te atīva buddhimānaḥ santi.Yes, they are very intelligent.
