Where does “Ramayana” come from?

Ramayana (English) comes from Sanskrit रामायण, from Sanskrit राम, from Proto-Indo-Iranian raHmás, from Proto-Indo-European reh₁mós — dirty; dirt.

Ramayana (English): An ancient Sanskrit epic of Indian mythology about the legendary king Rāma

Definitions

  1. An ancient Sanskrit epic of Indian mythology about the legendary king Rāma

Ancestry of “Ramayana”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1SanskritरामायणRama’s journey
2Sanskritरामdark, dark-coloured, black; white; pleasing,...
3Proto-Indo-IranianraHmás—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanreh₁mósdirty; dirt
Every word from Proto-Indo-European reh₁mós →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian raHmás →Every word from Sanskrit राम →