अप्
ap/ɐ́p/feminine
The English word water is अप् (ap) in Sanskrit. Wiktionary also lists जल (jala) and पानीय (pānīya).
Meaning: inorganic compound H₂O (noun)
Ways to say it
| Sanskrit | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| अप् | ap | /ɐ́p/ (Vedic) /ɐp/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
feminine |
| जल | jala | /d͡ʑɐ.lɐ́/ (Vedic) /d͡ʑɐ.l̪ɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
neuter |
| पानीय | pānīya | /pɑː.niː.jɐ/ (Vedic) /pɑː.n̪iː.jɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
neuter |
All forms refer to the inorganic compound H₂O.
Which one should you use?
The form जल is the most standard and widely used word for water in everyday Sanskrit. In contrast, अप् is more common in Vedic and classical poetic contexts. The form पानीय is used specifically when referring to water intended for drinking.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form अप् is grammatically feminine, while both जल and पानीय are neuter. The form जल is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ap and the IPA is /ɐ́p/.
Did you know?
- In ancient Vedic Sanskrit, the word अप् was often used to refer to cosmic waters or divine entities rather than just a simple liquid.
- In traditional Indian customs, water is often offered as a gesture of hospitality or purification before a guest enters a home.
Examples in context
- जलमश्वान्नरो नयति।The man takes the horses to the water.This sentence shows how to use जल when a man leads horses to the water.Tatoeba #4159671 by richke, translation #4159672 by richke
- आपः शीतलाः सन्ति।āpaḥ śītalāḥ santi.The water is cold.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Aditya and Mira are talking by a river.
- आदित्य Adityaमीरा, अप्सु मत्स्याः सन्ति।Mīrā, apsu matsyāḥ santi.Mira, there are fish in the water.
- मीरा Miraआदित्य, आपः अतीव शीतलाः सन्ति।Āditya, āpaḥ atīva śītalāḥ santi.Aditya, the waters are very cold.
- आदित्य Adityaकिं भवती अपः पिबति?kiṃ bhavatī apaḥ pibati?Do you drink the water?
- मीरा Miraनहि, अहं न पिबामि।nahi, ahaṃ na pibāmi.No, I do not drink it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “water” translations and entries अप्, जल, पानीय, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries अप्, जल, पानीय, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
