मूर्ख
mūrkha/muːɾ.kʰɐ́/
The usual way to say stupid in Sanskrit is मूर्ख (mūrkha). If unsure, use मूर्ख. Wiktionary also lists मूर (mūra) and जल (jala).
Meaning: lacking in intelligence (adj)
Ways to say it
| Sanskrit | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| मूर्ख | mūrkha | /muːɾ.kʰɐ́/ (Vedic) /muːɾ.kʰɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
| मूर | mūra | /muː.ɾɐ́/ (Vedic) /muː.ɾɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
| जल | jala | /d͡ʑɐ.lɐ́/ (Vedic) /d͡ʑɐ.l̪ɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
| मूढ | mūḍha | /muː.ɖʱɐ́/ (Vedic) /muː.ɖʱɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
| निर्बुद्धि | nirbuddhi | /niɾ.búd.dʱi/ (Vedic) /n̪iɾ.bud̪.d̪ʱi/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
मूर्ख (mūrkha) is the general term for a fool or someone lacking in intelligence.
What does it mean word for word?
निर्बुद्धि (nirbuddhi) is made of nir meaning without and buddhi meaning intellect, so it literally means without intellect.
Which one should you use?
mūrkha is the general word. मूढ (mūḍha) often suggests being deluded, bewildered or spiritually ignorant rather than simply lacking mental ability. nirbuddhi stresses the absence of intellect.
How does it change in a sentence?
mūrkha is a stem form. In a sentence you add a case ending, for example the masculine nominative मूर्खः (mūrkhaḥ). With a neuter noun, such as a stupid thing, use मूर्खम् (mūrkham).
How do you pronounce it?
mūrkha has two syllables and is pronounced /muːɾ.kʰɐ́/, with a long u and an aspirated k.
Did you know?
- The Sanskrit word मूर (mūra) is a distant relative of the English words 'moron', 'sophomore' and 'oxymoron'.
- The word निर्बुद्धि ('nirbuddhi') uses the root बुद्धि ('buddhi'), which is the same root used for the 'Buddha', meaning 'the awakened one'.
Examples in context
- सः मूर्खः अस्ति।saḥ mūrkhaḥ asti.He is stupid.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a wrong decision.
- इशान Ishanमीरा, एतत् कार्यं मूर्खतापूर्णम् अस्ति।mīrā, etat kāryam mūrkhatāpūrṇam asti.Meera, this act is stupid.
- मीरा Miraअहं मूर्खा न अस्मि, इशान।ahaṃ mūrkhā na asmi, išāna.I am not stupid, Ishan.
- इशान Ishanतर्हि किमर्थं त्वं तत् कृतवती?tarhi kimarthaṃ tvaṃ tat kṛtavatī?Then why did you do that?
- मीरा Miraअहं केवलं विचारयितुं प्रयतितवती।ahaṃ kevalaṃ vicārayituṃ prayatitavatī.I was just trying to think.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stupid” translations and entries मूर्ख, मूर, जल, मूढ, निर्बुद्धि, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries जल, मूढ, मूर, मूर्ख, CC BY-SA 4.0.
