Possible Indian language (Sanskrit, Hindi) roots of some words of the New World languages
We come across many words of the Pre-Columbian ‘native’ American languages while reading, mostly place-names or proper names, that sound familiar to the Indian ears. Sometimes even etymology and meaning of such words is tantalizingly similar to our words.
This makes one wonder whether these words have a root in the Indian languages and if so, how these words reached the New World before Columbus.
There are many theories of pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contacts between the Old World and the New World. Among the theories of trans-Atlantic contacts, the Norse, Irish, Welsh, Arab, Mediterranean and African contacts have been proposed. Among the trans-Pacific contacts, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Polynesian contacts have been proposed.
All of these theories might be partially true and perhaps the people of the New World were a mix of the descendents of many a different race that had migrated to the New World, either accidentally or with planned navigation.
The Polynesian people, who trace their pre-historic origin to the Malay Archipelago, and who migrated to Americas, might provide an answer to the question of presence of Sanskrit-derived words in the Native American languages.
(The Malay Archipelago, sometimes also known as ‘East Indies’, included Indochina, Indian subcontinent and areas as far west as the Iranian Baluchistan. Indian influence was strong in these areas.)
So, here I have started making a glossary of such Native American words, which I believe, are related to Sanskrit. Some of my derivations might be correct and some might be wrong. The readers are invited to provide input so that the glossary can grow.
Please note that here I am not trying to prove anything. The only aim of this exercise is to remove some ambiguity from the etymology of such words. It might help some linguists.
Secondly, this is not original research. The only resources I have are on the Internet.
This is only a hypothesis. Here I am assuming that some words of the Native American languages might have Sanskrit roots.
(I have found this definition of ‘hypothesis’ on the Internet:
Definition: A supposition; a proposition or principle which is supposed or taken for granted, in order to draw a conclusion or inference for proof of the point in question; something not proved, but assumed for the purpose of argument, or to account for a fact or an occurrence; as, the hypothesis that head winds detain an overdue steamer.)
Of course, I do not mean to imply that the Native American languages are an offshoot of Indo-European family of languages. They might be altogether different. However, generally there is an exchange of loanwords even among languages belonging to different language-families and it is those loanwords that we are talking about.
The problem is further complicated by the compound words which are formed by adding individual words together, both in Sanskrit and in the Native American languages. So, sometimes a single compound word can be broken in many different ways giving it different meanings.
Please read the following article to see how the original Native American place-names were changed or misinterpreted. http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/origin_of_word_yosemite.html
The method employed to find the meaning of ‘Ahwanee’ looks to me more like a game of ‘dumb charades’. If this was the sort of method applied to arrive at the etymology of a Native American word, then it is more than probable that many of these etymologies are totally wrong.
Fortunately, the Spanish savants have compiled the dictionaries of the New World languages quite painstakingly and the meanings of the majority of the words have been correctly given.
However, one big problem is that some consonants of the Native American languages do not have an exactly corresponding alphabet in Spanish. Specifically, the soft ‘t’ (south spell it as ‘th’ like in ‘Malathi’) is represented by ‘tl’ and ‘x’ stands for any consonant ‘k’, ‘ksh’, ks’ sh’ or ‘sh’; making it difficult to find the root. The ‘hua’ might be ‘wa’ or ‘wha’.
Thus, the meaning and pronunciation of the words changes according to the context, though they might have the same spelling.
So, we should think of alternative etymologies based on logic, and a search for Indian-language roots might provide some answers.
I have come across many Indians who, like me, think that many Sanskrit word-roots are found in the Native American languages. However, they would not dare to write their interpretation or etymologies of these words. The fear of being ridiculed is what prevents them.
This fear is strong enough to prevent the publication of such alternative etymologies.
I too fear ridicule but the courage of my own convictions overcame the fear and so, I am web-publishing this article. I know that I would be inviting ridicule, but let it be.
So, without further ado, let me start the glossary or the Etymological Dictionary of Native American words with Sanskrit roots.
Please find the Etymological dictionary here:
There are thousands of words of this sort, i.e. Pre-Columbian words of Native American languages with Sanskrit roots. Sometimes the etymologies of these words are misleading because European/American scholars have not taken this aspect of the words and have not tried to find the Sanskrit toots.
It stands to logic that if some of the Native Americans were of Asian descent, then their languages also might have Asian loan-words.
Below is a list of a few of these words:
1) Atl = water (Nahuatl)
This word is derived from Sanskrit ‘Atra’ which means ‘essence’ or Spirit. (Like ‘attar of roses’)
2) Aztec
This word is pronounced as ‘Aastic’ meaning ‘Believer in God’ in Sanskrit. The Spanish ‘z’ is equivalent to‘s’ in English.
3) Atawallap, Atacama
4) Annotata (Nahuatl forefathers) Again ‘tata here is from Sanskrit ‘Tat’.
5) Banff
This word probably is derived from Hindi ’Bhanp’ meaning ‘steam’ from the steam issuing from the volcanic activity.
6) Baja/Bahia
This word is derived from Sanskrit ‘Bahu’ which means an ‘arm’.
7) Coatl/cohuatl/couatl meaning a snake is from the root ‘Kawatal’ meaning a python or a boa constrictor or a sea-serpant.
8) Copilli = Head-dress, tiara, crown
This is derived from ‘Kapal’ i.e. forehead, brow.
9) Cuzco/Cusco
This word is from Sanskrit ‘Kakshu’ meaning uterus i.e.’Mother’.
10) Cua (Nahuatl)
This mean ‘Khao’ in Hindi, Kaw-kaw is food in Hawaiian
11) Cuikatl
The spelling makes it extremely difficult to find the original meaning in Sanskrit. ‘Cui’ in Nahuatl is actually ‘Kawi’ in Sanskrit means ‘Poet’. ‘Cuikatl’ means a ‘poem’. Generally the poems were an oral tradition set to music, hence it also means ‘song’.
Thus Teocuikatl is ‘God’s Poem’ or Hymn or devotional song
12) Chocaya from Choca to weep, to cry
Chocayotica is adverb ‘weepingly’
‘Choca’ is derived from Sanskrit word ‘Shoka’ i.e. crying, weeping, mourning
13) Citlalin, Citlalli = Star,
‘From ‘Sitara’ in Hindi
14) The Mayan God’s name ‘Chaac’ is derived from Sanskrit ‘Chakra’ which means a ‘wheel’ or a ‘cycle’. In Hindu pantheon, ‘Chakradewa’ is ‘Kal’ or Father-Time.
15) Guatemala
This might be ‘Guati Maala’ meaning Grassy Plain
16) Huascar
The Quechua name ‘Waskhar’ meaning ‘Sun of Joy’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Bhaskar’ which mean ‘sun’.
17) Havana
This word is derived from Sanskrit ‘Havan’ which means ‘ritual sacrifice’ i.e. ‘Burnt Offerings’, leading to heaven.
18) Huanaco/Wanaco
This means ‘wild llama’ in native language. This word come from ‘Wana’ which means ‘wilds’ in Sanskrit, hence ‘wanaco’ is a wild animal.
Five out of the group of seven Hawaiian islands appear to be named after female relatives – Hawa-aai, Kau-ai, Mau-ai, Lahan-ai, Molok-ai
19) Ixtapa (Pronounced as Ish-tapa)
‘Ish’ is God in Sanskrit and ‘Tapa’ is ‘meditation’
20) Japlapa/Jalapan
This means ‘on the water’ or ‘By the water’. The ‘jal’ is water in Sanskrit.
21) ‘Jaguar’ is a corruption of Sanskrit word ‘Wyaghra’.
22) Kam-Mahemaha means “Kam, the Greatest of the great”. Kam is a Hindu minor God and ‘Maha’ means big, great. ‘Mahemaha’ is ‘greatest of the great’
23) Kalakaua (Hawaiian King )
Kala-Kaua means ‘Black Crow’ in Hindi.
24) Kaanapali
This word is derived from ‘Kaan-Pali’ which means the ‘External Ear’ because if you see the map, this portion of Maui is shaped like an ear.
25) Lilauti (Hawaiian queen)
In India, this name is spelled as ‘Lilawati’.
The Nahuatl ending ‘-loyan’ means room (Alayan is Sanskrit)
26) Thus Cochi-loyan = Bedroom (Cochi is again from Sanskrit ‘Kukshi’ , Wamkukshi = Sleeping on the left = Siesta )
27) Tla-cua-loyan = Kitchen/Dining Room
28) Mojave or Moyavi desert means ‘Mayavi’ desert, an adjective meaning ‘illusionary’ or ‘desert of mirages’
29) Montezuma/Moktesuma
‘Mouktik-Kusuma’ means the ‘Pearl in the Flower’ in Sanskrit. This old Indian concept is also applied to Buddha, who is called ‘Mani-Padma’ or ‘Gem in the Lotus Flower’.
30) Matawan
This means ‘Mother’s Forest’ in Sanskrit. ‘Mata’ is mother and ‘Wan’ is forest.
31) Mana
This Tahitian word is directly from Sanskrit, meaning ‘Mind’ or the ‘spiritual power of mind’.
32) ‘Mati’ (Nahuatl meaning is ‘to know’)
This is again derived from Sanskrit.
33) Mixtec (Pronounced as ‘Mishtic’) Notice the similarity to ‘mystic’
34) Nahuatl, Nawatl
This is probably Nawa-Atr meaning ‘Newness’ in Sanskrit.
35) The prefix ‘nix’ is from Sanskrit word ‘Nij’ meaning one’s own.
36) Nazca/Naska
This word is a corruption of the Hindi word ‘Naksha’, (from Sanskrit ‘Nakshtra’ which means ‘star-map’) which means a ‘map’.
37) Papeetee
This Polynesian word is derived from Pap+Iti from Sanskrit meaning ‘End of Sin’ (Pap=Sin, Iti=End)
38) Palenque
This word is actually ‘Palanki’ in Hindi (‘Palanquin’), which means a vehicle. (for carrying the idols of Gods in a procession.)
39) Banner = Pantli (pronounced as Panti)
Derived from ‘Pankti’ (Sanskrit) meaning a ‘row’
40) Poyo = claw/paw is ‘Paya’ (leg in Marathi/Hindi)
41) Squaw has the meaning ‘woman or ‘wife’. It may come from the Sanskrit word Sukumari > Sakwar > Squaw. (also chihua/chiwa of Nawatl)
42) Sonora comes from Hindi ‘Sunehra’ which means ‘Golden’
43) SaksayWaman
This is derived from ‘Sakshi Waman’. Waman is a God of Hindu pantheon.
44) Saskatchewan
Derived from ’Sakshat-che-wan’ meaning ‘God’s Forest’ in Indian languages. ‘Sakshat’ is God in Sanskrit amd ‘Wan’ is forest.
45) Teotihuacan, or Teotiwakan (Teoti-wakan) means “God’s Story” in Sanskrit. Teoti is clearly derived from Devta and ‘wakan’ is a corrupt form of ‘Wyakhayn’ which means lecture, sermon, or speech.
46) Texas
This is ‘Tejas’. The Sanskrit meaning if ‘Tejas’ is ‘bright’ or ‘Luminous’, ‘light-emitting’.
47) Tahiti
This is probably a corruption of ‘Trah-Iti’ which means ‘End of Troubles’ in Sanskrit.
48) Tlaloc
This Aztec God’s name is derived from ‘Trilok’ (the Three Worlds) from Sanskrit.
49) Taboo/Tapu
This Polynesian word is derived from Sanskrit ‘Tapa’ which means
50) Taro
The ‘Taro’ vegetable’s name is derived from Sanskrit ‘Taru’, which means a shrub/small tree.
51) Many words ending in ‘tlan’
‘Tran’ is Strength or Power in Sanskrit. Many Polynesian languages do not have the ‘r’ sound. Thus ‘-tlan’ denotes ‘strength of/ Abundance of’ something
Az-tlan
‘Maza-tlan’
Tenochti-tlan
52) Tijuana
This is ‘Tejowana’ or ‘Forest of Light’ or Luminous Forest or again God’s Forest
53) Teotl
The ‘Teo’ is obviously ‘Dewa/Dev’ i.e. God in Sanskrit.
54) ‘Teocalli’ means temple or Teo-calli.
55) TEO-YAOM-QUI
In Aztec mythology, Teoyaomqui (or Teoyaoimquit, Huahuantli) was the god of dead warriors, particularly those who had died in battle. He is a solar deity, the god of the Sixth Hour of the Day.
This is essentially, the Hindu God of Death ‘Yama’
56) That-li which means father is derived from Sanskrit ‘Taat’
57) Te, tehua, tehuatl which means ‘you’ in Nahuatl, is derived from ‘Tu, tuwa’ from Indian languages.
58) Tical
Probably a corruption of ‘Trikal’ a Sanskrit word describing the three ‘tenses’ – Past, Present and Future
59) Tlal = Earth
This word is from Sanskrit ‘Tal’ like in ‘Bhumital’
60) Tlalcuaya = He ate earth
This figuratively means he was defeated.
61) Tlal-teu-ctli = God of the Earth or, depending on reference to context, ‘Earth of the God’.
62) Tlallolini i.e. tlal-lolini = Earthquake
63) Tezcatlalli i.e. Tezcat +lalli = Mirror-stone earth
Tez+cat+lalli (Tez is from Sanskrit ‘Tej’ i.e. Lunimosity, halo
Tezcat becomes the adjective meaning ‘bright, shining, luminous’ a good adjective for obsidian earth.
64) Tlantli = = Tantli = Tooth
This has root in Sanskrit ‘Dant’
65) Tejati = Tej+atl means fiery water
66) Tezoatlan = Bright spirit
67) Tototl = Bird (From Hindi ‘Tota’ or parrot)
68) Viracocha/Wirakocha
This name of Inca God means ‘Reservoir of Braves’ in Sanskrit
Vir=Brave, Warrior, Kosha=Treasure, Storage, Reservoir
69) Xochipilli = ‘Xochitl’ is a corruption of ‘shuchit’ i.e. Sacred, ‘Cleansed’ So, this word means ‘Sacred Child’ or a ‘Bud’
70) Xochitl = Flower in Nahuatl , Sacredness
71) ‘pilli’ is ‘young of a species’
Like ‘pillu’ in Marathi.
72) Xihuitl = Year
This word is derived from ‘Jiwit’ (Sanskrit) meaning ‘Being’ or ‘Period’ or Life-span of something.
73) Xoqui is ‘concha-shell) or ‘Shankha’ in Sanskrit
74) Yosemite people called the Yosemite valley ‘awooni’ meaning ‘awani’ (earth) in Sankrit. Yosemite might have been derived from ‘Yashomiti’.
75) Yax Mutal, which is the original name of Tikal, has the word ‘Yax’ which means a ‘Yaksha’ in Sanskrit.
76) Yehua (Yewa)
This means ‘he, she, it’ from ‘Yeh’ in Hindi.
77) Yaotachcui = War Leader
78) Yaotihua = Warrior (Sanskrit Yodhdha)
79) Yaoyotl = Warfare
80) Yaca-xihuitl = Nose-being (nose ornament)
References :
http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/aztec/rva/rvagloss.htm
http://www.aguila-blanca.com/Nahuatl.html
http://www.freelang.net/online/nahuatl.php?lg=gb
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 5
Baja probably comes from the Spanish, meaning to Discharge.
California is probably "hot oven" from the Spanish.
The Caddio Indians in Texas called the area Tejas, meaning "group of friends."
Our English word "ukelele" comes from the Hawaiian king.
Guatemala:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/701217/Guatemala
The origin of the name Guatemala is Indian, but its derivation and meaning are undetermined. Some hold that the original form was Quauhtemallan (indicating an Aztec rather than a Mayan origin), meaning “land of trees,” and others hold that it is derived from Guhatezmalha, meaning “mountain of vomiting water”— referring no doubt to such volcanic eruptions as the one that destroyed Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala (modern-day Antigua Guatemala),
It is certainly true that the Native Americans of North and South America used one or more land bridges thousands and thousands of years ago to come to the Western Hemisphere from one or more parts of Asia.
Dear Kathryn,
Thank you for your input.
Most of the words in my article were taken from classical Nahuatl language, which was the court-language of the Aztecs BEFORE Columbus set foot on the new World. Thus these words are not derived from Spanish.
There is a strong similarity between Sanskrit and classical Nahuatl, especially when you convert the Spanish spelling (substitute 's' for 'z', 'sh' for 'x', 'w' for 'hu' etc.) into equivalent English spelling. Then suddenly, both the sound and the meaning of these match the Sanskrit words.
Apart from the land-bridges, people of Asian origin, especially the Polynesians might have come to Americas through planned or unplanned sea-voyages in the last 3000 years, i.e. AFTER the land-bridges vanished.
The Polynesians languages, though not descendents of Sanskrit, had a lot of loan-words from Sanskrit since the Sanskrit was a 'prestige language' in these parts. It is more than probable that the Polynesians carried those words to the New World BEFORE Columbus.
Hence, we need to have a fresh look at the etymology of many of these words, especially the place-names of famous temple-complexes (Aztec, Mayan or Inca) or the names of Royalty/chiefs.
Thanks again for your input.
Charuavi
I too have wondered the connection between Native American words and Sanskrit. My travels across the US southwest, Central and South America have taken me to many ruins, museums and encounters with Amerindians. Also while reading the book "Aztec" by Gary Jennings which uses a lot of Nahuatl words I noticed a few words to sound Indo-European.
Hence I googled up "Native American words East Indian" which gave me no results. This adds to my frustration of using "Indians" for Native Americans as well. Then I googled up "Native Americans Sanskrit" and stumbled upon your comments.
Interesting I must say.. but I think you have gone too far.
There has been some research on the influence of Sanskrit (Indo-European) on Polynesian languages. But I have doubts on the Polynesia and Indochina connection, since the origins of the Pacific Islanders is still largely unknown.
I do not disagree that POlynesians may have landed on the South American coast and had some influence on the natives there. But I disagree with your hypothesis that language of the natives from Saskatchewan to Peru to be largely influenced by handful of Polynesians. The polynesians did not invade or dominate the natives (or atleast that has not been proven) so as to change the words for even the basic elements of nature such as water, sky and sun. These words can not have Sanskrit origins.
In many cases you are trying to relate a native american word to barely-similar-sounding Sanskrit word.
For eg - Saskatchewan means "swift flowing river" and has no relation to "Sakshat che wan" or God's forest. And Palanki means god's chariot in Sanskrit but Palenque is Spanish name for the city.
The europeans, the east asians have all tried to claim their influence on Native Americans and teaching them of civilization. Your comments seem to suggest "me too" with East Indians.
In short, its possible that native americans borrowed some words from polynesians (and hence Sanskrit). But the Native Americans are descendants of Siberians and it was the cultivation of corn that sparked off civilization in th e Americas.
Rajesh R
Pune, India.
You have summed up my article beautifully, namely that many Pre-Columbian Native American languages might have loan-words of Sanskrit origins, taken there by East Indians.
Please note that my article was NOT about the 'race' of Native Americans or about their civilizations. It was about the etymology of these words and their interpretation. If my article makes possible an alternative etymology of these words, which would make their meaning clear, it would have achieved it's goal.
The minor details of some erroneous (perhaps) derivations should be ignored.
Thanks for your profound comment and sorry that I am a bit late in answering.
Charuavi