Sanskrit Classroom Vocabulary
विद्यालय शब्दावली
School, Books, Learning in Sanskrit · NCERT Class 6
Key Points to Remember
- ▸Vidyālaya = vidyā + ālaya = knowledge + abode = school — a beautiful compound
- ▸Parīkṣā (exam) = pari + īkṣ = examining from all sides — the exam "looks at you" from all angles
- ▸Uttara = answer AND north — both "go beyond" the question/south
- ▸Lekhanī (pen) ← √likh (to write) → also "likhna" (लिखना) in modern Hindi
Vocabulary List
This vocabulary set covers the words you need to describe school and learning in Sanskrit — exactly the words used in NCERT Ruchira Chapter 1 and 2.
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning | Root / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| विद्यालय | vidyālaya (m.) | school | vidyā (knowledge) + ālaya (abode) — abode of knowledge |
| आचार्य | ācārya (m.) | teacher | ā + √car (to move/follow) — one who practices what is taught |
| शिष्य | śiṣya (m.) | student, disciple | √śiṣ — to teach; śiṣya = "one who is to be taught" |
| छात्र | chātra (m.) | student | chatra (umbrella/shade) → one who seeks shade/shelter of knowledge |
| पुस्तक | pustaka (n.) | book | possibly from pusta (painted/written) — that which is written |
| लेखनी | lekhanī (f.) | pen, writing instrument | √likh (to write) → lekhanī — writing tool |
| मसि | masi (f.) | ink | √mas (to crush/reduce) — the crushed pigment |
| पाठ | pāṭha (m.) | lesson, chapter | √paṭh (to read) → pāṭha — what is read |
| प्रश्न | praśna (m.) | question | pra + √praś (to ask) — a deep asking |
| उत्तर | uttara (n.) | answer, north | ut (upward) + √tṛ (to cross) — going beyond; also "north" as the "upper" direction |
| परीक्षा | parīkṣā (f.) | examination, test | pari (around) + √īkṣ (to see) — examining from all sides |
| पुरस्कार | puraskāra (m.) | award, reward | puras (ahead/in front) + √kṛ (to do) — putting in front = honouring |
Exercises (2)
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the school vocabulary
1. The teacher teaches: _______ (ācārya) पाठयति।
Show answer
आचार्यः (ācāryaḥ)
2. The student reads: _______ (chātra) पठति।
Show answer
छात्रः (chātraḥ)
3. "Vidyālaya" is formed from _______ + _______.
Show answer
विद्या (vidyā — knowledge) + आलय (ālaya — abode)
4. What is a "praśna" (प्रश्न)?
Show answer
A question (from √praś — to ask)
Exercise 2: Match the Column
Match word to meaning
1. परीक्षा (parīkṣā)
Show answer
examination
2. पुस्तक (pustaka)
Show answer
book
3. लेखनी (lekhanī)
Show answer
pen
4. उत्तर (uttara)
Show answer
answer (and: north!)
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