छाया
chāyā́/t͡ɕʰɑː.jɑ́ː/
The Sanskrit word for shadow is छाया (chāyā́).
The term refers to an area protected from light by an obstacle.
Meaning: area protected by an obstacle (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /tɕʰɑː.jɑ́ː/.
Did you know?
- The word छाया is related to the Greek skiá, 'shadow', which also hides in the English word 'squirrel', literally 'shadow-tail'.
- In Hindu mythology, छाया is the name of a goddess who is the personification of shadow and the shadow-wife of the sun god Surya.
- In ancient Indian philosophy, the shadow is sometimes used to describe the illusory nature of the physical world, which is seen as a 'shadow' of a higher reality.
Example conversation
Isha and Aditya are walking outside on a hot sunny day.
- ईशा Ishaअद्य अतीव उष्णम् अस्ति।adya atīva uṣṇam asti.It is very hot today.
- आदित्य Adityaतत्र पश्यतु, छाया अस्ति।tatra paśyatu, chāyā asti.Look there, there is a shadow.
- ईशा Ishaआदित्य, तत्र चलतु।āditya, tatra calatu.Aditya, let's go there.
- आदित्य Adityaआम्, इदानीं सुखम् अस्ति।ām, idānīṃ sukham asti.Yes, now it is comfortable.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry छाया, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries छाया, CC BY-SA 4.0.
