Ways to say it
| Sanskrit | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| चन्द्र | candrá | /t͡ɕɐn.dɾɐ́/ (Vedic) /t͡ɕɐn̪.d̪ɾɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
| सोम | soma | /sɐ́u̯.mɐ/ (Vedic) /s̪oː.mɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
In Sanskrit, the term for the natural satellite of Earth can be expressed through different words depending on whether you are describing the celestial body or referring to it in a religious or mythological context.
Which one should you use?
While both words refer to the moon, चन्द्र (candrá) is the standard descriptive or astronomical term for the celestial body. In contrast, सोम (soma) is used when the moon is being discussed in a mythological or ritualistic sense, such as in Vedic contexts or in relation to the sacred nectar known as soma.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word चन्द्र is masculine. When the moon is the subject of a standard sentence, it typically takes the masculine nominative singular ending '-ḥ' to become चन्द्रः (candráḥ).
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /tɕɐn.dɾɐ́/. It has two syllables: can-drá.
Did you know?
- The word सोम (soma) is derived from a root meaning 'to press forth', referring to the process of extracting the ritual juice from a plant.
- In Sanskrit, the moon is often personified as a deity who wears a crescent ornament on his head, making चन्द्र (candrá) both a celestial object and a god.
Examples in context
- चन्द्रः आकाशे प्रकाशते।candraḥ ākāśe prakāśate.The moon shines in the sky.
Example conversation
Vivān and Mīrā are looking at the night sky.
- विवान Vivaanमीरा, पश्यतु! चन्द्रः किम् अस्ति?mīrā, paśyatu! candrah kim asti?Mīrā, look! What is the moon?
- मीरा Miraविवान, चन्द्रः पृथ्वीयाः उपग्रहः अस्ति।vivāna, candrah pṛthvyāḥ upagrahaḥ asti.Vivān, the moon is a satellite of Earth.
- विवान Vivaanसः अतीव श्वेतः दृश्यते।saḥ atīva śvetaḥ dṛśyate.It looks very white.
- मीरा Miraआम्, चन्द्रः अतीव मनोहरः अस्ति।ām, candrah atīva manoharaḥ asti.Yes, the moon is very charming.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moon” translations and entries चन्द्र, सोम, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries चन्द्र, सोम, CC BY-SA 4.0.
