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) | Sanskrit | Russian (transliteration) |
---|---|---|
yek | ekam | один (odin) |
duy | dve | два (dva) |
trin | trini | три (tri) |
star | chatvari | четыре (chetyre) |
pansh | panca | пять (pyat’) |
shov | shat | шесть (shest’) |
efta | sapta | семь (sem’) |
ochto | ashta | восемь (vosem’) |
enja | nava | девять (devyat’) |
desh | dasa | десять (desyat’) |
Transliterated Russian | Cyrillic | Devanagari Sanskrit | Transliterated Sanskrit | Translation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Abrikos | Абрикос | अंबरीकं | ambarīkaṃ | Apricot |
Bazar | Базар | बाज़ार | bāzāra | Market |
Belyi | Белый | भाला | bhālā | White |
Bolshoy | Большой | वृद्ध | vṛddha | Big |
Chaj | Чай | चाय | cāya | Tea |
Chashka | Чашка | चष्क | caṣka | Cup |
Chetyre | Четыре | चत्वारि | catvāri | Four |
Dacha | Дача | दछ | daśa | Country house |
Dom | Дом | दम | dama | House |
Dush | Душ | दुःख | duḥkha | Shower |
Dym | Дым | धूम | dhūma | Smoke |
Gorod | Город | ग्राम | grāma | City |
Govorit | Говорить | गार्गद | gārgada | To speak |
Grechka | Гречка | गृह्याक | gṛhyāka | Buckwheat |
Groza | Гроза | गर्ज | garja | Thunderstorm |
Gulat | Гулять | गोल | gola | To walk |
Ivan | Иван | यवन | yavana | John |
Kasha | Каша | कश | kaśa | Porridge |
Klyuch | Ключ | कुलिश | kuliśa | Key |
Kniga | Книга | क्नीह | knīha | Book |
Komnata | Комната | कम्बोद | kamboda | Room |
Krasnyi | Красный | कृष्ण | kṛṣṇa | Red |
Kukla | Кукла | कोकल | kokala | Doll |
Kupit | Купить | कृणुते | kṛṇute | To buy |
Lava | Лава | लव | lava | son of Rama |

Transliterated Russian | Cyrillic | Devanagari Sanskrit | Transliterated Sanskrit | Translation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ledyanoi | Ледяной | लडव | laḍva | Icy |
Les | Лес | वन | vana | Forest |
List | Лист | लिक्ष | likṣa | Leaf |
Malchik | Мальчик | मल्लक | mallaka | Boy |
Medved | Медведь | मृग | mṛga | Bear |
Kolo | Коло | कुल | kula | Family |
Kupit | Купить | कृपया | kṛpayā | Please |
Lava | Лава | लव | lava | Son of Rama |
Leshch | Лещ | लक्ष | lakṣa | Aim, goal |
Lopata | Лопата | लपट | lapṭa | To cling, to embrace |
Luk | Лук | लुक | luka | Onion |
Maja | Мая | माया | māyā | Illusion, magic |
Med | Мед | मधु | madhu | Honey |
Mir | Мир | मीर | mīra | Peace |
Mladshij | Младший | मुलता | mulatā | Youth |
Moloko | Молоко | मद्य | madya | Milk |
Moroz | Мороз | मरुद् | marud | Frost |
Muravej | Муравей | मुर्ग | murga | Ant |
Nebo | Небо | नभस् | nabhas | Sky |
Nos | Нос | नासा | nāsā | Nose |
Ogon | Огонь | अग्नि | agni | Fire |
Ozero | Озеро | उषिर | uṣīra | Lake |
Perekrestok | Перекресток | प्रकृष्ट | prakṛṣṭa | Intersection |
Petrov | Петров | पितृ | pitṛ | Ancestor, father |
Plen | Плен | पालन | pālana | Custody, care |
Podushka | Подушка | पद्म | padma | Pillow |
Transliterated Russian | Cyrillic | Devanagari Sanskrit | Transliterated Sanskrit | Translation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pogoda | Погода | प्रकृति | prakṛti | Weather |
Podarok | Подарок | प्रदान | pradāna | Gift |
Poka | Пока | प्रकट | prakaṭa | Bye |
Polka | Полка | पोथक | pothaka | Shelf |
Pomidor | Помидор | पुष्पफल | puṣpaphala | Tomato |
Pora | Пора | प्रभात | prabhāta | Time |
Portnoy | Портной | पार्ष्णिक | pārṣṇika | Tailor |
Posuda | Посуда | पात्र | pātra | Tableware |
Postel | Постель | पोषण | poṣaṇa | Bedding |
Prazdnik | Праздник | पर्व | parva | Holiday |
Pravda | Правда | प्रत्यक्ष | pratyakṣa | Truth |
Predmet | Предмет | पदार्थ | padārtha | Object |
Priyatno | Приятно | प्रीति | prīti | Pleasantly |
Problema | Проблема | परीक्षा | parīkṣā | Problem |
Ptica | Птица | पक्षि | pakṣi | Bird |
Pyatiletka | Пятилетка | पञ्चवर्षीय | pañcavarṣīya | Five-year plan |
Rabota | Работа | कार्य | kārya | Work |
Reka | Река | नदी | nadī | River |
Rezina | Резина | रबड़ | rabhaḍa | Rubber |
Ris | Рис | व्रीहि | vrīhi | Rice |
Ruchka | Ручка | लेखनी | lekhani | Pen |
Ryba | Рыба | मत्स्य | matsya | Fish |
Sad | Сад | उद्यान | udyāna | Garden |
Samoljot | Самолёт | विमान | vimāna | Airplane |
Sbornik | Сборник | संग्रह | saṃgraha | Collection |
Seichas | Сейчас | अभी | abhī | Now |
Semejstvo | Семейство | परिवार | parivāra | Family |
Serdce | Сердце | हृदय | hṛdaya | Heart |
Sestra | Сестра | स्त्री | strī | Sister |
Sila | Сила | शक्ति | śakti | Power |
Transliterated Russian – Cyrillic | Russian | Sanskrit Devanagari | Sanskrit Transliteration | Translation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sila | Сила | सिला | Śīla | Conduct, Character |
Skazka | Сказка | साक्षात् | Sākṣāt | Reality |
Sledstvie | Следствие | फल | Phala | Result |
Sluzhba | Служба | सेवा | Sevā | Service |
Sobaka | Собака | सोबाका | Śvāna | Dog |
Solnce | Солнце | सूर्य | Sūrya | Sun |
Sreda | Среда | स्रेदा | Madhyama | Middle |
Stol | Стол | स्तोल | Asana | Seat |
Strana | Страна | स्त्राना | Deśa | Country, Place |
Svoboda | Свобода | स्वोबोदा | Svātantrya | Freedom |
Telo | Тело | तेलो | Śarīra | Body |
Tolpa | Толпа | तोल्पा | Sādhāraṇa | Common, Ordinary |
Trud | Труд | त्रुद् | Karma | Work, Action |
Udacha | Удача | उदचा | Bhāgya | Fortune |
Udar | Удар | उदर | Udara | Abdomen |
Uroven | Уровень | उरोवें | Sthāna | Position, Level |
Uspekh | Успех | उस्पेख | Saphala | Success |
Utes | Утес | उतेस | Parvata | Mountain |
Uzel | Узел | उजेल | Saṃbandha | Connection |
Zadacha | Задача | जदचा | Kārya | Task |
Zdanie | Здание | ज्दание | Bhavana | Building, Structure |
Zemlya | Земля | जेम्ल्या | Bhūmi | Earth |
Zerkalo | Зеркало | दर्पण | Darpaṇa | Mirror |

Sanskrit | Transliterated Russian | Russian | Translation |
---|---|---|---|
bhrātṛ | brat | брат | Brother |
bhrū | brov’ | бровь | Eyebrow |
vidhava | vdova | вдова | Widow |
vartana | veretenò | веретено | Spindle |
viś | ves’ | весь | All |
vātṛ | veter | ветер | Wind |
vṛka | volk | волк | Wolf |
dvār | dver’ | дверь | Door |
dvaya | dvoe | двое | Two |
devṛ | dever’ | деверь | Brother-in-law |
dina | den’ | день | Day |
dam, dama | dom | дом | House |
janī | žena | жена | Wife |
jīva | živ | жив | Alive |
jñāna | znanie | знание | Knowledge |
kada | kogda | когда | When |
katara | kotoryj | который | Which |
kumbha | kub | куб | Pot |
laghu | ljogok | лёгкий | Light |
roci | luč | луч | Ray |
madhu | mjod | мёд | Honey |
mūṣ | myš’ | мышь | Mouse |
mās | mjaso | мясо | Meat |
Russian | Sanskrit Devanagari | Sanskrit Transliteration | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
Naš | नश् | Naṣ | Ours |
Svoi | स्व | Sva | One’s own |
Ty | त्वम् | Tvam | Thou |
Tebya | त्वा | Tva | Thou |
Brov | भ्रू | Bhrū | Brow |
Dever | देवृ | Dever | Brother in law |
Govorit | गवति | Gavati | To speak |
Grabit’ | ग्रभति | Grabhati | To seize, loot |
Griva | ग्रीव | Grīva | Neck |
Krov | क्रव्य | Kravya | Blood |
Myaso | मांस | Māṃsa | Flesh |
Zhizn’ | जीवन | Jīvana | Life |
Nosorog | नससृङ्ग | Nasasṛṅga | Rhinoceros |
Okhotnik | अखेतिक | Akhetika | Hunter |
Nebo | नभस् | Nabhas | Sky |
Veter | वातृ | Vātṛ | Wind |
Gora | गिरि | Giri | Mountain |
Bog | भग | Bhaga | God |
Pochitaniye | पूजन | Pūjana | Worship |
Noch | नक्त | Nakta | Night |
Ogon | अग्नि | Agni | Fire |
Dver | द्वार | Dvāra | Door |
Soyuz | संयोग | Samyoga | Union |

Meaning Rus. | Russian | Sanskrit | Meaning Skr. | |
to argue, to slander | vad – vadit | vad – vadati | वद्-वदति | to confer or dispute about; to contend, quarrel |
to ask | pros – prosit | prach – prachhati | प्रछ् – पृच्छति | to ask, to question, interrogate |
to ask various questions, make various inquiries | vɨspra – vɨsprašivaet | viprach – viprcchati | विप्रछ – विपृच्छति | to ask various questions, make various inquiries |
to bake, cook | peč – pečyot | pас – pacati | पच् – पचति | to cook, bake, roast, boil |
to bark | lay – laet | rai – rayati | रै – रैयति | to bark |
to be, exist | bɨ – budet | bhū – bhavati | भू – भ्वति | to become, be |
to beat, hit | tuz – tuzit | tuj – tojayati | तुज् – तोजयति | to hurt |
to burn, to shine | gor – gorit | ghṛ – ghаrati | घृ – घरति | to shine, burn |
to caress, fondle, comfort | las – laskaet | las – lasāti | लस् – लसति | to play, sport, frolic; to embrace |
to cart, transport, carry, draw | voz – vozit | vah – vahati | वह – वहति | to carry, transport, convey |
to catch | lov – lovit | labh – labhate | लभ् – लभते | to take, seize, catch |
to coddle, pumper; to cherish, foster | lel – lelyeet | lal – lālayati | लल् – लालयति | to caress, fondle, foster, cherish |
to continue to do smth.., to linger on; to delay; to entertain | bav – bаvit | bhū – bhavayati | भू – भावयति | exist, be found, live, stay, abide, happen, occur; to cause to be or become; to cherish, foster |
to cough | kasl – kaslyaet | kās – kāsate | कास् – कासते | to cough |
to dawn | svet – svetaet | śvit – śvetate | श्वित् – श्वेतते | to be bright or white |
to die , decease | mer – mryot | mṛ – marati | मृ – मरति | to die, decease |
to drink | pi – p’yot | pī – piyate | पी – पीयते | to drink |
to dry, desiccate | suš – sušit | śuṣ – śuṣyati | शुष् – शुषति | to dry, become dry or withered |
to exterminate, to make to die | mor – morit | mṛ – mārayati | मृ – मारयति | to cause to die, kill, slay |
to fall | pad – padyot | pad – padyate | पद् – पद्यते | to fall |
to fart | perd – perdit | pard – pardati | पर्द् – पर्दति | to break wind downwards |
to fear, be afraid | boya – boitsya | bhyas – bhyasate | भ्यस् – भ्य्सते | to fear, be afraid, tremble |
to give away | otda – otdayot | uddā – uddadāti | उद्दा – उद्ददाति | to give away |
to give out, to distribute | vɨd – vɨdayot | vidā – vidadāti | विदा – विददाति | to give out, distribute, grant |
to give to drink | po – poit | pa – pāyayati | पा – पाययति | to cause to drink, give to drink, water (horses or cattle) |
to go, walk | i – idyot | iṭ – eṭati | इट् – एटति | to go |
to happen, to be present, to frequent | bɨv – bɨvaet | bhū – bhavati | भू – भ्वति | to happen, occur |
to knead | mes – mesit | miśr – miśrayati | मिश्र् – मिश्रयति | to mix, mingle, blend, combine |
to know | zna – znaet | jña – jānāti | ज्ञ – जानति | to know, have knowledge |
to lick | liz – ližet | lih – lihati | लिह् – लिहति | to lick |
to lick out | vɨliz – vɨlizɨvaet | vilih – vilelihat | विलिह् – विलेलिहत् | to lick continually or repeatedly |
to live, dwell | živ – živaet | jīv – jīvati | जीव् – जीवाति | to live, be or remain alive |
to lock; to hide (dial.) | ver – veraet | vṛ – varati | वृ – वरति | to cove, screen, veil, conceal, hide, surround, obstruct, to close (a door) |
to love, like | lyub – lyubit | lubh – lubhati | लुभ् – लुभति | to desire greatly or eagerly, long for, be interested in |
to make come back, turn around | vorot – vorotit | vṛt – vartayati | वृत् – वर्तयति | to cause to turn or revolve |
to make warm, to melt | top – topit | tap – tapati | तप् – तपति | to make hot or warm |
to measure | mer – merit | mi – miroti | मि – मिरोति | to measure, meter, out, mark |
to milk | do – doit | dhe – dhayati | धे – धयति | to suck, drink |
to overturn, pull down, to drag down | val – valit | val – valiti | वल् – वलति | to turn, turn round |
to peel, to shell | vɨlup – vɨlupit | vilup – vilumpati | विलुप् – विलुम्पति | to tear or break off or to pieces, wound, lacerate pull out or up; to tear away |
to praise | slav – slavit | śram – śramyati | श्रम् – श्राम्यति | sound, shout, loud praise |
to pull, stretch | tyan – tyanet | tan – tanoti | तन् – तनोति | to stretch (a cord), extend |
to push away, to cast (an arrow etc.); to flow or run quickly (usually down), to fall down | ri – rinet | rī – riṇāti | री – रीणाति | to release, set free, let go |
to revolve, rotate | vert – vertit | vṛt – vartate | वृत् – वर्तते | to turn, turn round, revolve, roll |
to roar, bellow, howl | rev – revyot | ru – ravīti | रु – रवीति | to roar, bellow, howl, yelp, cry aloud |
to roll, turn around | val – valyaet | val – valate | वल् – वलते | to turn, turn round |
to see; to know how to do smth.. | vid – vidit | vid – vidati | विद् – विदति | to notice, observe; to know, understand, perceive, learn, become or be acquainted with, be conscious of |
to seek, search; to wish | isk – iščet | iṣ – icchati; eṣati | इष् – इच्छति; एषति | to seek, search; to desire, wish, long for, request |
to sell | proda – prodast | pradā – pradatte | प्रदा – प्रदत्ते | to give away, give, offer, sell |
to separate (off), to detach | oddel – oddelyaet | uddal – uddalati | उद्दल् – उद्दलति | to split away, break away |
to shake | tryas – tryasyot | tras – trasyati | त्रस् – त्रस्यति | to tremble |
to shine, glitter | bles – bleščet | bhlāś – bhlāśate | भ्लाश् – भ्लाशते | to shine, beam, glitter |
to sit | sid – sidit | sad – sīdati | सद् – सीदति | to sit upon or in or at smth. |
to sleep | spa – spit | svap – svapiti | स्वप् – स्वपिति | to sleep, fall asleep |
to sob | rɨd – rɨdaet | rud – rodati | रुद् – रोदिति | to weep, cry, howl, roar, lament, wail |
to squeeze, pinch | klešč – kleščit | kliś – kliśnati | क्लिश् – क्लिश्नाति | to torment, cause pain |
to stay awake | bde – bdit | budh – budhyati | बुध् – बुधय्ति | to be awake |
to stick (to), to adhere (to) | lip – lipnet | lip – limpyati | लिप् – लिम्पयति | to be smeared; to be attached to, to stick, to adhere |
to stick, to mould, model | lep – lepit | lip – lepayati | लिप् – लेपयति | the act of smearing, daubing, anointing, plastering |
to stretch out, extend, to draw out, extract | vɨtyan – vɨtyanet | vitan – vitanute | वितन् – वितनुते | to spread out, to stretch, extend, to unfold, display, exhibit, manifest |
to survive | vɨživ – vɨživaet | vijīv – vijīvati | विजीव् – विजीवति | to revive, return to life |
to sweeten | slad – sladit | svad – svadati | स्वद् – स्वदते | to make sweet or pleasant or agreeable |
to swim, float | plav – plavaet | plu – plavate | प्लु – प्लवते | to float, swim |
to take | bra – beryot | bhṛ – bharati | भृ – भरति | to hold, possess, have, keep |
to think, imagine | mni – mnit | mna – manate | म्ना – मनति | to think, believe, imagine |
to torture | pɨt – pɨtaet | piṭh – peṭhati | पिठ् – पेठति | to inflict or feel pain |
to touch | kas – kasaet | kaṣ – kaṣati | कष् – कषति | to test, try; to rub |
to turn away | vɨver – vɨvernet | vivṛti – vivartate | विवृत् – विवर्तते | to turn back or away |
to turn back, to come back | vert – vertaet | vṛt – vartate | वृत् – वर्तते | to turn, turn round |
to twirl, to turn round and round | vert – vertit | vrt – vartayati | वृत् – वर्तयति | to cause to turn or revolve |
to wake up | bud – budit | budh – budhyate | बुध् – बुध्यते | to wake up |
to have sexual intercourse | yeb – yebyot | yabh – yabhati | यभ्- यभति | to have sexual intercourse |
to wish, want | vol – volit | vṛ – vṛṇoti; varayati | वृ – वरति; वरयति | to choose, select, choose for one’s self, choose as; to like, love wel |
