जिह्वा
jihvā́/d͡ʑiɦ.ʋɑ́ː/feminine
The English word tongue is translated into Sanskrit as जिह्वा (jihvā́). If unsure, use जिह्वा. Wiktionary also lists लोला (lolā) and रसना (rasanā).
Meaning: organ (noun)
Ways to say it
| Sanskrit | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| जिह्वा | jihvā́ | /d͡ʑiɦ.ʋɑ́ː/ (Vedic) /d͡ʑiɦ.ʋɑː/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
feminine |
| लोला | lolā | /l̪oː.l̪ɑː/ (Classical Sanskrit) | feminine |
| रसना | rasanā | feminine | |
| जुहू | juhū | /d͡ʑu.ɦúː/ (Vedic) /d͡ʑu.ɦuː/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
feminine |
The term refers to the anatomical organ of the mouth.
Which one should you use?
While जिह्वा is the standard anatomical term for the organ, रसना is frequently used in contexts relating to the sense of taste or flavor. Additionally, लोला serves as a poetic or descriptive synonym, often implying a flickering or moving tongue.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form जिह्वा is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
jihvā́ (/dʑiɦ.ʋɑ́ː/).
Did you know?
- In traditional Indian medicine and yoga, the जिह्वा is often analyzed for its color and coating to diagnose internal organ health.
- The Sanskrit word जिह्वा shares a common ancestor with the English word 'tongue', tracing back to a single Proto-Indo-European root.
- The term लोला is used to evoke the flickering image of a tongue, often appearing in descriptions of deities or mythical creatures.
Examples in context
- एषा मम जिह्वा।eṣā mama jihvā.This is my tongue.
Example conversation
Kavya and Aditya are talking about tasting a new fruit.
- काव्या Kavyaआदित्य, एतत् फलं खादतु।āditya, etat phalaṃ khādatu.Aditya, eat this fruit.
- आदित्य Adityaमम जिह्वा स्वादं अनुभवति।mama jihvā svādaṃ anubhavati.My tongue feels the taste.
- काव्या Kavyaकिं तत् अतिमधुरम् अस्ति?kiṃ tat atimadhuram asti?Is it very sweet?
- आदित्य Adityaआम्, एतत् अति मधुरं अस्ति।ām, etat ati madhuraṃ asti.Yes, it is very sweet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tongue” translations and entries जिह्वा, लोला, रसना, जुहू, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries जिह्वा, जुहू, रसना, लोला, CC BY-SA 4.0.
