मधु
madhu/mɐ́.dʱu/neuter
The Sanskrit word for honey is मधु (madhu).
मधु refers to the sweet substance produced by bees. Beyond this literal meaning, the word is often used metaphorically to represent sweetness, nectar or mead. It can also be applied to a person's speech when that speech is described as being sweet or melodious.
Meaning: sweet substance produced by bees (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun मधु is neuter in gender.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is madhu. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word मधु is used in the 'Madhuvidya' or 'Honey Knowledge', a philosophical teaching in the Upanishads where the entire universe is described as honey.
- The word 'madhu' is also the name of a famous demon in Hindu mythology, linking the sweet substance to a powerful figure.
- The Sanskrit word मधु shares a root with the Old Church Slavonic word медъ, which still means 'honey' in many modern Slavic languages today.
Examples in context
- यथा मधुLike honey
- तत् मधु मधुरम् अस्ति।tat madhu madhuram asti.That honey is sweet.
- भ्राता मधु खादितवान्।bhrātā madhu khāditavān.The brother ate honey.
Example conversation
Aryan and Ananya are in the kitchen.
- आर्यन Aryanअनन्ये, मधु कुत्र अस्ति?Ananye, madhu kutra asti?Ananya, where is the honey?
- अनन्या Ananyaमधु तत्र अस्ति।madhu tatra asti.The honey is there.
- आर्यन Aryanकिम् अहं मधु गृह्णामि?kim aham madhu gṛhṇāmi?May I take the honey?
- अनन्या Ananyaआम्, गृह्यताम्।ām, gṛhyatām.Yes, take it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “honey” translations and entries मधु, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries मधु, CC BY-SA 4.0.
