शून्य
śūnya/ɕuːn.jɐ́/neuter
The Sanskrit word for "zero" is शून्य (śūnya). Wiktionary also lists ०.
Meaning: cardinal number before 1, denoting nothing (num)
Ways to say it
| Sanskrit | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| शून्य | śūnya | /ɕuːn.jɐ́/ (Vedic) /ɕuːn̪.jɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) |
neuter |
| ० | numeral |
शून्य is used in a mathematical context to denote the number zero. It can also be used to describe a state of being void or empty.
What does it mean word for word?
The word शून्य literally means "void", "empty" or "hollow".
Which one should you use?
शून्य is the standard word for the concept, while ० is the numeral used to represent the digit zero.
How does it change in a sentence?
शून्य is a neuter noun. The abstract noun form is शून्यता, which means "emptiness" or "voidness".
How do you pronounce it?
śūnya (/ɕuːn.jɐ́/). It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The Sanskrit numeral ० is the direct ancestor of the modern '0' used in the Arabic numeral system globally today.
- In Sanskrit, the concept of zero is inseparable from the philosophical idea of 'shunyata', which refers to the Buddhist concept of emptiness or the lack of inherent existence in all phenomena.
- The word शून्य is used in yoga and meditation to describe a state of mind that is completely clear and free from distracting thoughts.
Examples in context
- मम खाते शून्यः अस्ति।mama khāte śūnyaḥ asti.There is zero in my account.
- फलितं शून्यं वर्तते।phalitaṃ śūnyaṃ vartate.The result is zero.
Example conversation
Mira and Aditya are studying mathematics together.
- मीरा Miraआदित्य, एतस्य उत्तरं किम्?āditya, etasya uttaraṃ kim?Aditya, what is the answer to this?
- आदित्य Adityaमीरा, उत्तरं शून्यं अस्ति।mīrā, uttaraṃ śūnyaṃ asti.Mira, the answer is zero.
- मीरा Miraकिं भवान् निश्चितः अस्ति?kiṃ bhavān niścitaḥ asti?Are you sure?
- आदित्य Adityaआम्, एतत् शून्यं एव।ām, etat śūnyaṃ eva.Yes, this is indeed zero.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “zero” translations and entries शून्य, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
