Where does “Maitreya” come from?

Maitreya comes from Sanskrit maitreya, derived from Sanskrit maitri meaning friendship or benevolence.

Maitreya (English): A bodhisattva who is considered to be a future Buddha

Definitions

  1. A bodhisattva who is considered to be a future Buddha

Ancestry of “Maitreya”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritमैत्रेयfriendly, benevolent; patronymic of कौषारव;...
2Sanskritमैत्रीfriendship
3Sanskritमैत्रfriendly, benevolent; friendship
4Sanskritमित्रa friend, companion, associate; the sun;...
5Proto-Indo-Aryanmitrásfriend
6Proto-Indo-Iranianmitráscovenant; treaty; agreement
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmēy-soft, tender, dear

Words derived from “Maitreya”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European mēy- →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian mitrás →Every word from Proto-Indo-Aryan mitrás →