रस
rasa/ɾɐ́.sɐ/masculine
In Sanskrit, the word for taste is रस (rasa).
रस is used to refer to one of the sensations produced by the tongue. Beyond the physical sense of taste, it is used extensively in literature and philosophy to describe the essence of things.
Meaning: one of the sensations produced by the tongue (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, रस refers to juice, essence or sap, representing the physical medium through which taste is perceived.
How does it change in a sentence?
रस is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is rasa (/ɾɐ́.sɐ/).
When do people say it?
In Indian aesthetics, रस refers to the aesthetic flavor or emotional essence of a work of art that evokes a specific sentiment in the audience.
Did you know?
- The word रस is a distant linguistic relative of the Latin word rōs, meaning 'dew'.
- The concept of रस is central to the 'Natyashastra', one of the world's oldest treatises on performing arts.
- In Ayurvedic medicine, रस describes the six fundamental tastes that balance the body's health.
Examples in context
- अस्य भोजनस्य रसः अतीव मधुरः अस्ति।asya bhojanasya rasaḥ atīva madhuraḥ asti.The taste of this food is very sweet.
- फलस्य रसः कः अस्ति?phalasya rasaḥ kaḥ asti?What is the taste of the fruit?
- तव द्राक्षायाः रसः तीक्ष्णः अस्ति।tava drākṣāyāḥ rasaḥ tīkṣṇaḥ asti.The taste of your grape is sharp.
Example conversation
Aditya and Ananya are eating fruit together.
- आदित्य Adityaअनन्ये, एतस्य रसः कीदृशः अस्ति?ananye, etasya rasaḥ kīdṛśaḥ asti?Ananya, how is the taste of this?
- अनन्या Ananyaएतस्य रसः अतीव मधुरः अस्ति।etasya rasaḥ atīva madhuraḥ asti.The taste of this is very sweet.
- आदित्य Adityaकिम् एतत् फलम् अस्ति?kim etat phalam asti?Is this a fruit?
- अनन्या Ananyaआम्, एतस्य रसः मनोहरः अस्ति।ām, etasya rasaḥ manoharaḥ asti.Yes, its taste is lovely.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “taste” translations and entries रस, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries रस, CC BY-SA 4.0.
