अम्ल
amla/ɐm.lɐ/
The English word "sour" is translated into Sanskrit as अम्ल (amla).
The term अम्ल is an adjective used to describe something that has an acidic, sharp or tangy taste.
Meaning: having an acidic, sharp or tangy taste (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ɐm.lɐ/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word अम्ल is related to the Latin word amārus, even though the Latin version is more commonly associated with 'bitter' than 'sour'.
- In the traditional Indian system of six tastes known as रस (rasas), अम्ल is one of the primary categories used to balance the body and mind in Ayurvedic medicine.
- In many ancient Indian texts, अम्ल does not just mean a taste, but can also describe a 'sour' or 'unpleasant' temperament in a person.
Examples in context
- अम्लः खाद्यः अस्ति।amlaḥ khādyaḥ asti.The food is sour.
Example conversation
Aditya and Kavya are tasting some lemon juice.
- आदित्य Adityaकाव्या, एतस्य रसः किम् अस्ति?Kāvyā, etasya rasaḥ kim asti?Kavya, what is the taste of this juice?
- काव्या Kavyaआदित्य, एषः रसः अति अम्लः अस्ति।Āditya, eṣaḥ rasaḥ ati amlaḥ asti.Aditya, this juice is very sour.
- आदित्य Adityaकिं तस्मिन् शर्करा नास्ति?kiṃ tasmin śarkarā nāsti?Is there no sugar in it?
- काव्या Kavyaन, अतः एतत् अम्लम् अस्ति।na, ataḥ etat amlam asti.No, that is why it is sour.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry अम्ल, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries अम्ल, CC BY-SA 4.0.
