Where does “prana” come from?

Prana comes from Sanskrit प्राण, composed of the prefix प्र- and a root traced through Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁- meaning to breathe or live.

prana (English): Respiration, breathing, seen as a life principle...

Definitions

  1. Respiration, breathing, seen as a life principle...

Ancestry of “prana”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritप्राणbreath, respiration, the breath of life,...
2Sanskritप्र-forward, before; forward, forth; in front of
3Proto-Indo-Aryanpra-forth
4Proto-Indo-Iranianpra-toward, forward
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “prana”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →Every word from Proto-Indo-European per- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European por- →