Where does “bhikkhuni” come from?

bhikkhuni (English) comes from Pali bhikkhunī, from Sanskrit भिक्षुणी, from Sanskrit नी, from Proto-Indo-European neyH- — to lead.

bhikkhuni (English): A Buddhist nun

Definitions

  1. A Buddhist nun

Ancestry of “bhikkhuni”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1PalibhikkhunīBuddhist nun
2Sanskritभिक्षुणीBuddhist nun
3Sanskritनीto guide, govern, direct
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanneyH-to lead
Every word from Proto-Indo-European neyH- →Every word from Sanskrit नी →Every word from Sanskrit भिक्षुणी →