Exploring the Linguistic Similarities Between Russian Language and Sanskrit

Russian and Sanskrit are both Indo-European languages, and as such, they share many linguistic features and similarities. However, over time, the two languages have developed and changed in different ways, resulting in some notable differences in pronunciation and spelling.

One common phenomenon in both languages is the shifting of certain letters over time. For example, in Sanskrit, the letter “r” can shift to “l” in certain contexts. This phenomenon is known as retroflexion and is particularly common in the Dravidian languages of South India. In Russian, a similar phenomenon occurs with the letter “r”, which can sometimes sound like “l” or “w” depending on its position in a word or phrase.

Another example of letter shifting is the interchange between the sounds “b” and “v”. In both languages, these sounds are produced by the same basic mouth shape, and so it is not uncommon for them to be confused or interchanged over time. This phenomenon is known as labialization and can be observed in many different languages.

Interestingly, these letter shifts can also occur between different languages. For example, the Sanskrit word “bhratar” meaning “brother” has a cognate in Russian, “brat”, which also means “brother”. The shift from “b” to “v” is one example of how the two languages have developed differently over time.

In summary, the shifting of certain letters over time is a common phenomenon in many languages, including Russian and Sanskrit. These shifts can result in some notable differences in pronunciation and spelling between related languages, but they also provide insights into the historical development of those languages and their connections to one another.

There are also some examples of retroflexion occurring in the sound “n” between Russian and Sanskrit. In Sanskrit, the retroflex nasal “n” is represented by the Devanagari letter “ण” (ṇa), which is pronounced by curling the tongue backwards and touching the roof of the mouth.

In Russian, the retroflex “n” sound can be heard in certain dialects and accents, particularly in the Moscow and St. Petersburg regions. It is produced by curling the tongue backwards and touching the alveolar ridge (the bony ridge behind the teeth). This retroflex “n” sound can sometimes be heard in words like “танцы” (tantsy, meaning “dances”) or “английский” (angliyskiy, meaning “English”).

Interestingly, there are also some examples of the sound “n” retroflexing from Russian into Sanskrit. For example, the Russian word “князь” (knyaz’, meaning “prince”) is believed to have been borrowed from the Old East Slavic word “кънѧзь” (kŭnęzĭ), which in turn is thought to have originated from the Proto-Slavic word “kъnędzь”. This Proto-Slavic word is thought to have a Sanskrit origin, with scholars tracing it back to the Sanskrit word “kñāti” which means “relative” or “kinsman”.

Overall, retroflexion is an interesting linguistic phenomenon that occurs in many languages, including Russian and Sanskrit. It provides insights into the historical development of these languages and their connections to one another.

Romani (Gypsy)SanskritRussian (transliteration)
yekekamодин (odin)
duydveдва (dva)
trintriniтри (tri)
starchatvariчетыре (chetyre)
panshpancaпять (pyat’)
shovshatшесть (shest’)
eftasaptaсемь (sem’)
ochtoashtaвосемь (vosem’)
enjanavaдевять (devyat’)
deshdasaдесять (desyat’)

Transliterated RussianCyrillicDevanagari SanskritTransliterated SanskritTranslation
AbrikosАбрикосअंबरीकंambarīkaṃApricot
BazarБазарबाज़ारbāzāraMarket
BelyiБелыйभालाbhālāWhite
BolshoyБольшойवृद्धvṛddhaBig
ChajЧайचायcāyaTea
ChashkaЧашкаचष्कcaṣkaCup
ChetyreЧетыреचत्वारिcatvāriFour
DachaДачаदछdaśaCountry house
DomДомदमdamaHouse
DushДушदुःखduḥkhaShower
DymДымधूमdhūmaSmoke
GorodГородग्रामgrāmaCity
GovoritГоворитьगार्गदgārgadaTo speak
GrechkaГречкаगृह्याकgṛhyākaBuckwheat
GrozaГрозаगर्जgarjaThunderstorm
GulatГулятьगोलgolaTo walk
IvanИванयवनyavanaJohn
KashaКашаकशkaśaPorridge
KlyuchКлючकुलिशkuliśaKey
KnigaКнигаक्नीहknīhaBook
KomnataКомнатаकम्बोदkambodaRoom
KrasnyiКрасныйकृष्णkṛṣṇaRed
KuklaКуклаकोकलkokalaDoll
KupitКупитьकृणुतेkṛṇuteTo buy
LavaЛаваलवlavason of Rama
Transliterated RussianCyrillicDevanagari SanskritTransliterated SanskritTranslation
LedyanoiЛедянойलडवlaḍvaIcy
LesЛесवनvanaForest
ListЛистलिक्षlikṣaLeaf
MalchikМальчикमल्लकmallakaBoy
MedvedМедведьमृगmṛgaBear
KoloКолоकुलkulaFamily
KupitКупитьकृपयाkṛpayāPlease
LavaЛаваलवlavaSon of Rama
LeshchЛещलक्षlakṣaAim, goal
LopataЛопатаलपटlapṭaTo cling, to embrace
LukЛукलुकlukaOnion
MajaМаяमायाmāyāIllusion, magic
MedМедमधुmadhuHoney
MirМирमीरmīraPeace
MladshijМладшийमुलताmulatāYouth
MolokoМолокоमद्यmadyaMilk
MorozМорозमरुद्marudFrost
MuravejМуравейमुर्गmurgaAnt
NeboНебоनभस्nabhasSky
NosНосनासाnāsāNose
OgonОгоньअग्निagniFire
OzeroОзероउषिरuṣīraLake
PerekrestokПерекрестокप्रकृष्टprakṛṣṭaIntersection
PetrovПетровपितृpitṛAncestor, father
PlenПленपालनpālanaCustody, care
PodushkaПодушкаपद्मpadmaPillow
Transliterated RussianCyrillicDevanagari SanskritTransliterated SanskritTranslation
PogodaПогодаप्रकृतिprakṛtiWeather
PodarokПодарокप्रदानpradānaGift
PokaПокаप्रकटprakaṭaBye
PolkaПолкаपोथकpothakaShelf
PomidorПомидорपुष्पफलpuṣpaphalaTomato
PoraПораप्रभातprabhātaTime
PortnoyПортнойपार्ष्णिकpārṣṇikaTailor
PosudaПосудаपात्रpātraTableware
PostelПостельपोषणpoṣaṇaBedding
PrazdnikПраздникपर्वparvaHoliday
PravdaПравдаप्रत्यक्षpratyakṣaTruth
PredmetПредметपदार्थpadārthaObject
PriyatnoПриятноप्रीतिprītiPleasantly
ProblemaПроблемаपरीक्षाparīkṣāProblem
PticaПтицаपक्षिpakṣiBird
PyatiletkaПятилеткаपञ्चवर्षीयpañcavarṣīyaFive-year plan
RabotaРаботаकार्यkāryaWork
RekaРекаनदीnadīRiver
RezinaРезинаरबड़rabhaḍaRubber
RisРисव्रीहिvrīhiRice
RuchkaРучкаलेखनीlekhaniPen
RybaРыбаमत्स्यmatsyaFish
SadСадउद्यानudyānaGarden
SamoljotСамолётविमानvimānaAirplane
SbornikСборникसंग्रहsaṃgrahaCollection
SeichasСейчасअभीabhīNow
SemejstvoСемействоपरिवारparivāraFamily
SerdceСердцеहृदयhṛdayaHeart
SestraСестраस्त्रीstrīSister
SilaСилаशक्तिśaktiPower
Transliterated Russian – CyrillicRussianSanskrit DevanagariSanskrit TransliterationTranslation
SilaСилаसिलाŚīlaConduct, Character
SkazkaСказкаसाक्षात्SākṣātReality
SledstvieСледствиеफलPhalaResult
SluzhbaСлужбаसेवाSevāService
SobakaСобакаसोबाकाŚvānaDog
SolnceСолнцеसूर्यSūryaSun
SredaСредаस्रेदाMadhyamaMiddle
StolСтолस्तोलAsanaSeat
StranaСтранаस्त्रानाDeśaCountry, Place
SvobodaСвободаस्वोबोदाSvātantryaFreedom
TeloТелоतेलोŚarīraBody
TolpaТолпаतोल्पाSādhāraṇaCommon, Ordinary
TrudТрудत्रुद्KarmaWork, Action
UdachaУдачаउदचाBhāgyaFortune
UdarУдарउदरUdaraAbdomen
UrovenУровеньउरोवेंSthānaPosition, Level
UspekhУспехउस्पेखSaphalaSuccess
UtesУтесउतेसParvataMountain
UzelУзелउजेलSaṃbandhaConnection
ZadachaЗадачаजदचाKāryaTask
ZdanieЗданиеज्दаниеBhavanaBuilding, Structure
ZemlyaЗемляजेम्ल्याBhūmiEarth
ZerkaloЗеркалоदर्पणDarpaṇaMirror

SanskritTransliterated RussianRussianTranslation
bhrātṛbratбратBrother
bhrūbrov’бровьEyebrow
vidhavavdovaвдоваWidow
vartanaveretenòверетеноSpindle
viśves’весьAll
vātṛveterветерWind
vṛkavolkволкWolf
dvārdver’дверьDoor
dvayadvoeдвоеTwo
devṛdever’деверьBrother-in-law
dinaden’деньDay
dam, damadomдомHouse
janīženaженаWife
jīvaživживAlive
jñānaznanieзнаниеKnowledge
kadakogdaкогдаWhen
katarakotoryjкоторыйWhich
kumbhakubкубPot
laghuljogokлёгкийLight
rocilučлучRay
madhumjodмёдHoney
mūṣmyš’мышьMouse
māsmjasoмясоMeat
RussianSanskrit DevanagariSanskrit TransliterationEnglish Translation
Našनश्NaṣOurs
Svoiस्वSvaOne’s own
Tyत्वम्TvamThou
Tebyaत्वाTvaThou
Brovभ्रूBhrūBrow
DeverदेवृDeverBrother in law
GovoritगवतिGavatiTo speak
Grabit’ग्रभतिGrabhatiTo seize, loot
Grivaग्रीवGrīvaNeck
Krovक्रव्यKravyaBlood
MyasoमांसMāṃsaFlesh
Zhizn’जीवनJīvanaLife
Nosorogनससृङ्गNasasṛṅgaRhinoceros
OkhotnikअखेतिकAkhetikaHunter
Neboनभस्NabhasSky
VeterवातृVātṛWind
GoraगिरिGiriMountain
BogभगBhagaGod
PochitaniyeपूजनPūjanaWorship
Nochनक्तNaktaNight
Ogonअग्निAgniFire
Dverद्वारDvāraDoor
SoyuzसंयोगSamyogaUnion

                                

Meaning Rus.RussianSanskritMeaning Skr.
to argue, to slandervad – vaditvad – vadatiवद्-वदतिto confer or dispute about; to contend, quarrel
to askpros – prositprach – prachhatiप्रछ् – पृच्छतिto ask, to question, interrogate
to ask various questions, make various inquiriesvɨspra – vɨsprašivaetviprach – viprcchatiविप्रछ – विपृच्छतिto ask various questions, make various inquiries
to bake, cookpeč – pečyotpас – pacatiपच् – पचतिto cook, bake, roast, boil
to barklay – laetrai – rayatiरै – रैयतिto bark
to be, existbɨ – budetbhū – bhavatiभू – भ्वतिto become, be
to beat, hittuz – tuzittuj – tojayatiतुज् – तोजयतिto hurt
to burn, to shinegor – goritghṛ – ghаratiघृ  – घरतिto shine, burn
to caress, fondle, comfortlas – laskaetlas – lasātiलस् – लसतिto play, sport, frolic; to embrace
to cart, transport, carry, drawvoz – vozitvah – vahatiवह –  वहतिto carry, transport, convey
to catchlov – lovitlabh – labhateलभ् – लभतेto take, seize, catch
to coddle, pumper; to cherish, fosterlel – lelyeetlal – lālayatiलल् – लालयतिto  caress, fondle, foster, cherish
to continue to do smth.., to linger on; to delay; to entertainbav – bаvitbhū – bhavayatiभू – भावयतिexist, be found, live, stay, abide, happen, occur; to cause to be or become; to cherish, foster
to coughkasl – kaslyaetkās – kāsateकास्कासतेto cough
to dawnsvet – svetaetśvit – śvetateश्वित् – श्वेततेto be bright or white
to die , deceasemer – mryotmṛ – maratiमृ – मरतिto die, decease
to drinkpi – p’yotpī – piyateपी – पीयतेto drink
to dry, desiccatesuš – sušitśuṣ – śuṣyatiशुष् – शुषतिto dry, become dry or withered
to exterminate, to make to diemor – moritmṛ – mārayatiमृ –  मारयतिto cause to die, kill, slay
to fallpad – padyotpad – padyateपद् – पद्यतेto fall
to fartperd – perditpard – pardatiपर्द् –  पर्दतिto break wind downwards
to fear, be afraidboya – boitsyabhyas – bhyasateभ्यस् – भ्य्सतेto fear, be afraid, tremble
to give awayotda – otdayotuddā – uddadātiउद्दा – उद्ददातिto give away
to give out, to distributevɨd – vɨdayotvidā – vidadātiविदा – विददातिto give out, distribute, grant
to give to drinkpo – poitpa – pāyayatiपा – पाययतिto cause to drink, give to drink, water (horses or cattle)
to go, walki – idyotiṭ – eṭatiइट् – एटतिto go
to happen, to be present, to frequentbɨv – bɨvaetbhū – bhavatiभू – भ्वतिto happen, occur
to kneadmes – mesitmiśr – miśrayatiमिश्र् – मिश्रयतिto mix, mingle, blend, combine
to knowzna – znaetjña – jānātiज्ञ – जानतिto know, have knowledge
to lickliz – ližetlih – lihatiलिह् – लिहतिto lick
to lick outvɨliz – vɨlizɨvaetvilih – vilelihatविलिह् – विलेलिहत्to lick continually or repeatedly
to live, dwellživ – živaetjīv – jīvatiजीव् – जीवातिto live, be or remain alive
to lock; to hide (dial.)ver – veraetvṛ – varatiवृ – वरतिto cove, screen, veil, conceal, hide, surround, obstruct, to close (a door)
to love, likelyub – lyubitlubh – lubhatiलुभ् – लुभतिto desire greatly or eagerly, long for, be interested in
to make come back, turn aroundvorot – vorotitvṛt – vartayatiवृत् – वर्तयतिto cause to turn or revolve
to make warm, to melttop – topittap – tapatiतप् –  तपतिto make hot or warm
to measuremer – meritmi – mirotiमि –  मिरोतिto measure, meter, out, mark
to milkdo – doitdhe –  dhayatiधे – धयतिto suck, drink
to overturn, pull down, to drag downval – valitval – valitiवल् – वलतिto turn, turn round
to peel, to shellvɨlup – vɨlupitvilup – vilumpatiविलुप् – विलुम्पतिto tear or break off or to pieces, wound, lacerate pull out or up; to tear away
to praiseslav – slavitśram – śramyatiश्रम् – श्राम्यतिsound, shout, loud praise
to pull, stretchtyan – tyanettan – tanotiतन् –  तनोतिto stretch (a cord), extend
to push away, to cast (an arrow etc.); to flow or run quickly (usually down), to fall downri – rinetrī – riṇātiरी – रीणातिto release, set free, let go
to revolve, rotatevert – vertitvṛt – vartateवृत् – वर्ततेto turn, turn round, revolve, roll
to roar, bellow, howlrev – revyotru – ravītiरु – रवीतिto roar, bellow, howl, yelp, cry aloud
to roll, turn aroundval – valyaetval – valateवल् – वलतेto turn, turn round
to see; to know how to do smth..vid – viditvid – vidatiविद् – विदतिto notice,  observe; to know, understand, perceive, learn, become or be acquainted with, be conscious of
to seek, search; to wishisk – iščetiṣ –  icchati; eṣatiइष् – इच्छति; एषतिto seek, search; to desire, wish, long for, request
to sellproda – prodastpradā – pradatteप्रदा – प्रदत्तेto give away, give, offer, sell
to separate (off), to detachoddel – oddelyaetuddal – uddalatiउद्दल् –  उद्दलतिto split away, break away
to shaketryas – tryasyottras –  trasyatiत्रस् – त्रस्यतिto tremble
to shine, glitterbles – bleščetbhlāś – bhlāśateभ्लाश् – भ्लाशतेto shine, beam, glitter
to sitsid – siditsad – sīdatiसद् – सीदतिto sit upon or in or at smth.
to sleepspa – spitsvap – svapitiस्वप् – स्वपितिto sleep,  fall asleep
to sobrɨd – rɨdaetrud – rodatiरुद् – रोदितिto weep, cry, howl, roar, lament, wail
to squeeze, pinchklešč – kleščitkliś – kliśnatiक्लिश् – क्लिश्नातिto torment, cause pain
to stay awakebde – bditbudh – budhyatiबुध् – बुधय्तिto be awake
to stick (to), to  adhere (to)lip – lipnetlip – limpyatiलिप् – लिम्पयतिto be smeared; to be attached to, to stick, to adhere
to stick, to mould, modellep – lepitlip – lepayatiलिप् – लेपयतिthe act of smearing, daubing, anointing, plastering
to stretch out, extend, to draw out, extractvɨtyan – vɨtyanetvitan – vitanuteवितन् – वितनुतेto spread out, to stretch, extend,  to unfold, display, exhibit, manifest
to survivevɨživ – vɨživaetvijīv – vijīvatiविजीव् – विजीवतिto revive, return to life
to sweetenslad – sladitsvad – svadatiस्वद् –  स्वदतेto make sweet or pleasant or agreeable
to swim, floatplav – plavaetplu – plavateप्लु – प्लवतेto float, swim
to takebra – beryotbhṛ – bharatiभृ – भरतिto hold, possess, have, keep
to think, imaginemni – mnitmna – manateम्ना – मनतिto think, believe, imagine
to torturepɨt – pɨtaetpiṭh – peṭhatiपिठ् – पेठतिto inflict or feel pain
to touchkas – kasaetkaṣ – kaṣatiकष् – कषतिto  test, try; to rub
to turn awayvɨver – vɨvernetvivṛti – vivartateविवृत् – विवर्ततेto turn back or away
to turn back, to come backvert – vertaetvṛt – vartateवृत् – वर्ततेto turn, turn round
to twirl, to turn round and roundvert – vertitvrt – vartayatiवृत् – वर्तयतिto cause to turn or revolve
to wake upbud – buditbudh – budhyateबुध् – बुध्यतेto wake up
to have sexual intercourseyeb – yebyotyabh – yabhatiयभ्- यभतिto have sexual intercourse
to wish, wantvol – volitvṛ – vṛṇoti; varayatiवृ – वरति; वरयतिto choose, select, choose for one’s self, choose as; to like, love wel