पीत
pīta/piː.tɐ́/
The Sanskrit word for yellow is पीत (pīta). Wiktionary also lists हारिद्र (hāridra).
Meaning: having yellow as its color (adj)
Ways to say it
| Sanskrit | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| पीत | pīta | /piː.tɐ́/ (Vedic) /piː.t̪ɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
| हारिद्र | hāridra |
Sanskrit uses different terms to describe yellow depending on the specific shade or context. पीत is a general term for the color yellow, whereas हारिद्र refers specifically to a deep yellow color. You can also use the compound पीतवर्ण to explicitly mean 'yellow-colored' or 'yellow complexion'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word हारिद्र is a way to describe something as being turmeric-colored.
Which one should you use?
While पीत is a general term for the color yellow, हारिद्र specifically evokes the deep yellow of turmeric.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The compound पीतवर्ण combines पीत (yellow) and varṇa (color/complexion) to mean 'yellow-colored'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of pīta is /piː.tɐ́/.
Did you know?
- The word पीत shares an unexpected ancestor with the Latin word 'pōtus', which relates to 'drinking'.
- In ancient Indian medicine and philosophy, the concept of pitta represents a biological fire that governs metabolism and is associated with the color yellow.
- In many traditional Indian contexts, the color हारिद्र is deeply tied to the use of turmeric in rituals for purity and prosperity.
Examples in context
- पीतः वर्णः अस्ति।pītaḥ varṇaḥ asti.The color is yellow.
- तस्य पीतं वस्त्रम् अस्ति।tasya pītaṃ vastram asti.He has yellow clothes.
- अत्र पीतं पुष्पम् अस्ति।atra pītaṃ puṣpam asti.There is a yellow flower here.
Example conversation
Kavya and Aryan are looking at flowers in a garden.
- काव्या Kavyaपश्य, पीतं पुष्पम् अस्ति!paśya, pītaṃ puṣpam asti!Look, there is a yellow flower!
- आर्यन Aryanआम्, एतत् अतीव सुन्दरम् अस्ति।ām, etat atīva sundaram asti.Yes, this is very beautiful.
- काव्या Kavyaकिं तव प्रियः वर्णः पीतः अस्ति?kiṃ tava priyaḥ varṇaḥ pītaḥ asti?Is yellow your favorite color?
- आर्यन Aryanन, मम प्रियः वर्णः नीलः अस्ति।na, mama priyaḥ varṇaḥ nīlaḥ asti.No, my favorite color is blue.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yellow” translations and entries पीत, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries पीत, CC BY-SA 4.0.
