Where does “mantra” come from?
Mantra derives from Sanskrit मन्त्र, rooted in Proto-Indo-European men- meaning "to think," with the instrumental suffix -tro- forming an agent noun in Proto-Indo-Iranian mántram.
mantra (English): The hymn portions of the Vedas; any passage of...
Definitions
- The hymn portions of the Vedas; any passage of...
Ancestry of “mantra”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Sanskrit | मन्त्र | sacred text or speech; a prayer or song of praise... |
| 2 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | *mántras | — |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |
Words derived from “mantra”