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

  1. The hymn portions of the Vedas; any passage of...

Ancestry of “mantra”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritमन्त्रsacred text or speech; a prayer or song of praise...
2Proto-Indo-Iranian*mántrasmeditation, chanting
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

Words derived from “mantra”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European men- →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian *mántras →Every word from Sanskrit मन्त्र →