प्रति
prati
The Sanskrit word for "to" (in the sense of direction) is प्रति (prati).
The word प्रति is used to indicate the idea of direction or movement towards something or someone. Depending on the context, it can also carry the sense of "against" or "back".
Meaning: in the direction of, and arriving at (prep)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, प्रति can mean "towards", "against" or "back".
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use प्रति to mean "towards", the noun that follows it should be in the accusative case.
How do you pronounce it?
prati
Did you know?
- The Sanskrit word प्रति is a distant relative of the English word 'price', via the Latin 'pretium', which originally related to the concept of 'value' or 'return' given in exchange.
- In Sanskrit, प्रति can be used to create words that mean 'each' or 'every'. For example, it can turn a word for 'day' into 'every day'.
- The word प्रतिशब्द, 'echo', is built with प्रति and literally means a sound that comes back.
Examples in context
- सः नगरं प्रति गच्छति।saḥ nagaraṃ prati gacchati.He is going to the city.
- वयं हिमालयं प्रति गच्छामः।vayaṃ himālayaṃ prati gacchāmaḥ.We are going to the Himalayas.
- त्वं विद्यालयं प्रति गच्छसि।tvaṃ vidyālayaṃ prati gacchasi.You are going to the school.
Example conversation
Aryan and Isha are discussing where they are going.
- आर्यन Aryanईशा, त्वं कुत्र गच्छसि?Īśā, tvaṃ kutra gacchasi?Isha, where are you going?
- ईशा Ishaअहं विद्यालयं प्रति गच्छामि।ahaṃ vidyālayaṃ prati gacchāmi.I am going to the school.
- आर्यन Aryanकिं अहं अपि आगच्छामि?kiṃ ahaṃ api āgacchāmi?May I come along too?
- ईशा Ishaआम्, आगच्छ।ām, āgaccha.Yes, come.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries प्रति, CC BY-SA 4.0.
