Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Krishna” come from?

Krishna derives from Sanskrit कृष्ण, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European kr̥snós and the root kers-, relating to concepts of darkness or obscurity.

Ancestry of “Krishna”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritकृष्णblack, dark, dark-blue; black or dark-blue;...
2Proto-Indo-Aryankr̥ṣnás—
3Proto-Indo-Iraniankr̥šnásblack, dark
4Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥snósblack; dark, dusky
5Proto-Indo-Europeankers-black, dirty; run; to run

Words derived from “Krishna”

  • Krishnology
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kers- →