मूष्
mūṣ/múːʂ/feminine, masculine
The Sanskrit word for mouse is मूष् (mūṣ). Wiktionary also lists आखु (ākhu).
Meaning: rodent of the genus Mus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Sanskrit | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| मूष् | mūṣ | /múːʂ/ (Vedic) /muːʂ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
feminine, masculine |
| आखु | ākhu | /ɑː.kʰú/ (Vedic) /ɑː.kʰu/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
masculine |
The term refers to a rodent of the genus Mus.
Which one should you use?
The form मूष् is tagged as both masculine and feminine, whereas आखु is specifically masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is mūṣ (/múːʂ/). The 'ṣ' in mūṣ is a retroflex sibilant, produced with the tongue curled back toward the hard palate.
Did you know?
- In Hindu iconography, the mouse is the chosen vehicle, or 'vāhana', of Lord Ganesha.
- In some ancient contexts, the root of the word for mouse, मूष्, is related to the concept of 'stealing'.
- The choice of a mouse as Ganesha's vehicle symbolizes the deity's ability to overcome obstacles and penetrate the smallest crevices of the mind.
Examples in context
- कुत्र गच्छसि, मूषक?Where are you going, mouse?
Example conversation
Isha and Aditya are in a room together.
- ईशा Ishaआदित्य, पश्य! तत्र मूषकः अस्ति।āditya, paśya! tatra mūṣakaḥ asti.Aditya, look! There is a mouse there.
- आदित्य Adityaकुत्र? अहं न पश्यामि।kutra? ahaṃ na paśyāmi.Where? I don't see it.
- ईशा Ishaफलकस्य अधः मूषकः धावति।phalakasya adhaḥ mūṣakaḥ dhāvati.A mouse is running under the table.
- आदित्य Adityaत्वम् उचितं कथयसि, मूषकः अत्रैव अस्ति।tvam ucitaṃ kathayasi, mūṣakaḥ atraiva asti.You are right, the mouse is right here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mouse” translations and entries मूष्, आखु, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries मूष्, CC BY-SA 4.0.
