विद्युत्
vidyut/ʋid.jút/feminine
The English word "lightning" is translated into Sanskrit as विद्युत् (vidyut). Wiktionary also lists शम्पा (śampā) and वज्र (vajra).
Meaning: discharge (noun)
Ways to say it
| Sanskrit | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| विद्युत् | vidyut | /ʋid.jút/ (Vedic) /ʋid̪.jut̪/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
feminine |
| शम्पा | śampā | feminine | |
| वज्र | vajra | /ʋɐ́d͡ʑ.ɾɐ/ (Vedic) /ʋɐd͡ʑ.ɾɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
masculine, neuter |
| अशनि | aśani | /ɐ.ɕɐ́.ni/ (Vedic) /ɐ.ɕɐ.n̪i/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
feminine |
What does it mean word for word?
The word अशनि specifically refers to the strike or the bolt of lightning itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form विद्युत् is a feminine noun and must agree with feminine adjectives in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of विद्युत् is /ʋid.jút/ (vidyut). It has 2 syllables.
When do people say it?
In Vedic and later Sanskrit literature, वज्र is the name of the indestructible thunderbolt weapon wielded by the deity Indra.
Did you know?
- The term विद्युत् is derived from the root द्युत् meaning 'to shine'. This same root is the ancestor of the word 'divine' via the Latin 'deus'.
- The word वज्र is also used to describe a diamond because of the shared qualities of hardness and brilliance.
- The word अशनि comes from a root meaning 'sharp'. It is a distant relative of the English word 'awn' which refers to the bristle on a grain of barley.
Examples in context
- आकाशे विद्युत् प्रकटीभवति।ākāśe vidyut prakaṭībhavati.Lightning appears in the sky.
Example conversation
Ananya and Aditya are watching a storm from a window.
- आदित्य Adityaपश्य, विद्युत् आगता!paśya, vidyut āgatā!Look, the lightning has come!
- अनन्या Ananyaअहं भीता अस्मि।ahaṃ bhītā asmi.I am afraid.
- आदित्य Adityaचिन्ता मा कुरु, अनन्या।cintā mā kuru, ananyā.Do not worry, Ananya.
- अनन्या Ananyaकिन्तु विद्युत् अतीव प्रबला अस्ति।kintu vidyut atīva prabalā asti.But the lightning is very powerful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lightning” translations and entries विद्युत्, वज्र, अशनि, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries अशनि, वज्र, विद्युत्, CC BY-SA 4.0.
