लवण
lavaṇa/lɐ.ʋɐ.ɳɐ́/neuter
The Sanskrit word for salt is लवण (lavaṇa).
लवण refers to the chemical substance sodium chloride.
Meaning: sodium chloride (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word लवण is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /lɐ.ʋɐ.ɳɐ́/. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word लवण may share an ancient ancestor with the Lithuanian word saldus, which interestingly means 'sweet' or 'charming' rather than 'salty'.
- The Sanskrit term लवण is conceptually linked to the idea of 'beauty' or being 'charming', a sense of 'flavor' or 'appeal' that goes beyond mere sodium chloride.
- In ancient Ayurvedic medical traditions, लवण is classified as one of the six fundamental tastes, or रस, which are used to balance the body's internal humors.
Examples in context
- भोजनस्य कृते लवणम् आवश्यकम् अस्ति।bhojanasya kṛte lavaṇam āvaśyakam asti.Salt is necessary for the food.
- किं तव भोजने लवणम् अस्ति?kiṃ tava bhojane lavaṇam asti?Is there salt in your meal?
Example conversation
Aryan and Kavya are dining together at home.
- आर्यन Aryanकाव्या, किं भवती लवणम् इच्छति?kāvyā, kiṃ bhavatī lavaṇam icchati?Kavya, do you want salt?
- काव्या Kavyaआर्यन, आम्, कृपया लवणम् ददातु।āryana, ām, kṛpayā lavaṇam dadātu.Aryan, yes, please give me the salt.
- आर्यन Aryanअद्य लवणम् अतीव न्यूनम् अस्ति।adya lavaṇam atīva nyūnam asti.There is very little salt today.
- काव्या Kavyaसत्यम्, भोजनस्य स्वादः न्यूनः अस्ति।satyam, bhojanasya svādaḥ nyūnaḥ asti.True, the flavor of the food is lacking.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “salt” translations and entries लवण, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries लवण, CC BY-SA 4.0.
