Etymology Explorer › Pali

Where does “bhikkhunī” come from?

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

bhikkhunī (Pali): Buddhist nun

Definitions

  1. Buddhist nun

Ancestry of “bhikkhunī”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritभिक्षुणीBuddhist nun
2Sanskritनीto guide, govern, direct
3Proto-Indo-EuropeanneyH-to lead

Words derived from “bhikkhunī”

  • bhikkhuni
  • 比丘尼
  • 比丘尼
Every word from Proto-Indo-European neyH- →