दूत
dūta/duː.tɐ́/masculine
The Sanskrit word for messenger is दूत (dūta).
The term refers to a person who brings messages.
Meaning: one who brings messages (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word दूत is a masculine noun. The plural form is दूताः (dūtāḥ).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /duː.tɐ́/. The romanization is dūta.
Did you know?
- The word दूत shares an ancient root with the English word 'distance' via the Proto-Indo-European root *dweh₂, meaning 'far' or 'long'.
- In classical Sanskrit literature, a दूत is not always a human, but can be a celestial being or even an animal acting as a divine envoy.
- The term is central to the 'Duta-kavya' genre, where the messenger's poetic descriptions of a landscape are as important as the message itself.
Examples in context
- राजा दूतं प्रेषयति।rājā dūtaṃ preṣayati.The king sends a messenger.
- सः एकः कुशलः दूतः अस्ति।saḥ ekaḥ kuśalaḥ dūtaḥ asti.He is a skilled messenger.
Example conversation
Meera and Ishan are talking about a royal arrival.
- मीरा Miraइशान, पश्य! दूतः आगच्छति।Iśāna, paśya! dūtaḥ āgacchati.Ishan, look! The messenger is coming.
- इशान Ishanसः कुतः आगच्छति?saḥ kutaḥ āgacchati?Where is he coming from?
- मीरा Miraदूतः अन्यनगरतः आगच्छति।dūtaḥ anyanagrataḥ āgacchati.The messenger is coming from another city.
- इशान Ishanतस्य संदेशः महत्वपूर्णः भविष्यति।tasya saṃdeśaḥ mahattvapūrṇaḥ bhaviṣyati.His message will be important.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “messenger” translations and entries दूत, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries दूत, CC BY-SA 4.0.
