शाकाहारी
śākāhārī
The Sanskrit word for vegetarian is शाकाहारी (śākāhārī).
This noun refers to a person who does not eat any animal flesh.
Meaning: person who does not eat any animal flesh (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of śāka, meaning vegetables or plants and āhārī, meaning one who eats or consumes.
How do you pronounce it?
śākāhārī
Did you know?
- In some traditional Sanskrit interpretations, the act of eating animal flesh is described as मांसभक्षण, where भक्षण implies a more aggressive 'consuming' or 'devouring' than the gentler आहारी.
- While शाकाहारी implies a diet, in many Indian cultural contexts, the term is often linked to the concept of 'ahimsa', or non-violence towards all living beings.
- Sanskrit texts distinguish between different levels of meat-avoidance, where some might be शाकाहारी but still consume dairy, as milk is traditionally seen as a gift of the cow rather than 'flesh'.
Examples in context
- सः शाकाहारी अस्ति।saḥ śākāhārī asti.He is a vegetarian.
- किं त्वं शाकाहारी असि?kiṃ tvaṃ śākāhārī asi?Are you a vegetarian?
Example conversation
Ishan and Kavya are discussing their food preferences.
- इशान Ishanकाव्ये, किं भवती शाकाहारी अस्ति?kāvye, kiṃ bhavatī śākāhārī asti?Kavya, are you a vegetarian?
- काव्या Kavyaआम्, अहं शाकाहारी अस्मि।ām, ahaṃ śākāhārī asmi.Yes, I am a vegetarian.
- इशान Ishanउत्तमम्, अहं अपि शाकाहारी अस्मि।uttamam, ahaṃ api śākāhārī asmi.Great, I am also a vegetarian.
- काव्या Kavyaएतत् अतीव शोभनम्।etat atīva śobhanam.That is very good.
