Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dharma” come from?

Dharma comes from Sanskrit धर्म, derived from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-, a root meaning to support or hold firm.

dharma (English): The natural order of the universe; natural law,...

Definitions

  1. The natural order of the universe; natural law,...

Ancestry of “dharma”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritधर्मmorality, virtue, moral code, good deed, good...
2Proto-Indo-Iraniandʰármas—
3Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- →