नाग

See also: नग and नंगा

Hindi

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Sanskrit नाग (nāga).

Pronunciation

• (Delhi) IPA^(key): /nɑːɡ/, [näːɡ]

Noun

नाग • (nāg) m (Urdu spelling ناگ)

1. male serpent

   Synonyms: साँप (sā̃p), सर्प (sarp)

2. (specifically) Indian cobra, Naja naja

   Synonym: भुजंग (bhujaṅg)

3. (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism) naga

Declension

Declension of नाग (masc cons-stem)

	singular	plural
direct	नाग nāg	नाग nāg
oblique	नाग nāg	नागों nāgõ
vocative	नाग nāg	नागो nāgo

Related terms

• नागिन (nāgin)
• नागिनी (nāginī)

Further reading

• McGregor, Ronald Stuart (1993) “नाग”, in The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, London: Oxford University Press

Marathi

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit नाग (nāga), through Old Marathi 𑘡𑘰𑘐 (nāga).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /naɡ/

Noun

नाग • (nāg) m (feminine नागीण)

1. a male serpent

   Synonyms: साप (sāp), सर्प (sarpa)

2. (specifically) Indian cobra, Naja naja

   Synonym: भुजंग (bhujaṅga)

3. (Hinduism, Buddhism) naga

Declension

Declension of नाग (masc cons-stem)
direct singular	नाग nāg
direct plural	नाग nāg
	singular एकवचन		plural अनेकवचन
nominative प्रथमा	नाग nāg		नाग nāg
oblique सामान्यरूप	नागा nāgā		नागां- nāgān-
acc. / dative द्वितीया / चतुर्थी	नागाला nāgālā		नागांना nāgānnā
ergative	नागाने, नागानं nāgāne, nāgāna		नागांनी nāgānnī
instrumental	नागाशी nāgāśī		नागांशी nāgānśī
locative सप्तमी	नागात nāgāt		नागांत nāgāt
vocative संबोधन	नागा nāgā		नागांनो nāgānno
Oblique Note: The oblique case precedes all postpositions. There is no space between the stem and the postposition. Locative Note: -त (-ta) is a postposition.

Genitive declension of नाग (masc cons-stem)
	masculine object पुल्लिंगी कर्म		feminine object स्त्रीलिंगी कर्म		neuter object नपुसकलिंगी कर्म		oblique सामान्यरूप
	singular एकवचन	plural अनेकवचन	singular एकवचन	plural अनेकवचन	singular* एकवचन	plural अनेकवचन
singular subject एकवचनी कर्ता	नागाचा nāgāċā	नागाचे nāgāċe	नागाची nāgācī	नागाच्या nāgācā	नागाचे, नागाचं nāgāċe, nāgāċa	नागाची nāgācī	नागाच्या nāgācā
plural subject अनेकवचनी कर्ता	नागांचा nāgānċā	नागांचे nāgānċe	नागांची nāgāñcī	नागांच्या nāgāncā	नागांचे, नागांचं nāgānċe, nāgānċa	नागांची nāgāñcī	नागांच्या nāgāñcā
* Note: Word-final ए (e) in neuter words is alternatively written with the anusvara and pronounced as अ (a). Oblique Note: For most postpostions, the oblique genitive can be optionally inserted between the stem and the postposition.

References

• Molesworth, James Thomas (1857) “नाग”, in A dictionary, Marathi and English, Bombay: Printed for government at the Bombay Education Society's Press
• Shankar Gopal Tulpule, Anne Feldhaus (1999) “नाग”, in A Dictionary of Old Marathi, Mumbai: Popular Prakashan

Pali

Alternative forms

Alternative scripts

• nāga (Latin script)
• 𑀦𑀸𑀕 (Brahmi script)
• নাগ (Bengali script)
• නාග (Sinhalese script)
• နာဂ or ၼႃၷ (Burmese script)
• นาค or นาคะ (Thai script)
• ᨶᩣᨣ (Tai Tham script)
• ນາຄ or ນາຄະ (Lao script)
• នាគ (Khmer script)
• 𑄚𑄂𑄉 (Chakma script)

Noun

नाग m

1. Devanagari script form of nāga

Declension

Declension table of "नाग" (masculine)

Case \ Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	नागो (nāgo)	नागा (nāgā)
Accusative (second)	नागं (nāgaṃ)	नागे (nāge)
Instrumental (third)	नागेन (nāgena)	नागेहि (nāgehi) or नागेभि (nāgebhi)
Dative (fourth)	नागस्स (nāgassa) or नागाय (nāgāya) or नागत्थं (nāgatthaṃ)	नागानं (nāgānaṃ)
Ablative (fifth)	नागस्मा (nāgasmā) or नागम्हा (nāgamhā) or नागा (nāgā)	नागेहि (nāgehi) or नागेभि (nāgebhi)
Genitive (sixth)	नागस्स (nāgassa)	नागानं (nāgānaṃ)
Locative (seventh)	नागस्मिं (nāgasmiṃ) or नागम्हि (nāgamhi) or नागे (nāge)	नागेसु (nāgesu)
Vocative (calling)	नाग (nāga)	नागा (nāgā)

Sanskrit

Alternative forms

Alternative scripts

• নাগ (Assamese script)
• ᬦᬵᬕ (Balinese script)
• নাগ (Bengali script)
• 𑰡𑰯𑰐 (Bhaiksuki script)
• 𑀦𑀸𑀕 (Brahmi script)
• နာဂ (Burmese script)
• નાગ (Gujarati script)
• ਨਾਗ (Gurmukhi script)
• 𑌨𑌾𑌗 (Grantha script)
• ꦤꦴꦒ (Javanese script)
• 𑂢𑂰𑂏 (Kaithi script)
• ನಾಗ (Kannada script)
• នាគ (Khmer script)
• ນາຄ (Lao script)
• നാഗ (Malayalam script)
• ᠨᠠ᠎᠊ᠠᡤᠠ (Manchu script)
• 𑘡𑘰𑘐 (Modi script)
• ᠨᠠᢗᠺᠠ (Mongolian script)
• 𑧁𑧑𑦰 (Nandinagari script)
• 𑐣𑐵𑐐 (Newa script)
• ନାଗ (Odia script)
• ꢥꢵꢔ (Saurashtra script)
• 𑆤𑆳𑆓 (Sharada script)
• 𑖡𑖯𑖐 (Siddham script)
• නාග (Sinhalese script)
• 𑩯𑩛𑩞 (Soyombo script)
• 𑚝𑚭𑚌 (Takri script)
• நாக³ (Tamil script)
• నాగ (Telugu script)
• นาค (Thai script)
• ནཱ་ག (Tibetan script)
• 𑒢𑒰𑒑 (Tirhuta script)
• 𑨝𑨊𑨍 (Zanabazar Square script)

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /nɑː.ɡɐ́/
• (Classical Sanskrit) IPA^(key): /n̪ɑː.ɡɐ/

Etymology 1

Probably the same word as नाग (nāga, “elephant”). Both the meanings “snake” and “elephant” can be explained as “*naked, hairless animal”, from Proto-Indo-European *nogʷós (“naked”). Cognate with Lithuanian núogas (“naked”). See also नग्न (nagná-, “naked”).

The comparison with Old English snaca (whence English snake) is nowadays considered unlikely.

Noun

नाग • (nāgá) stem, m

1. a snake, especially of species Naja naja
   • c. 700 BCE, Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa
2. a naga or serpent-demon
3. name of the numbers 7 and 8
4. one of the five airs of the human body (which is expelled by eructation)
5. any of several plants (Mesua roxburghii, Rottlera tinctoria etc.)

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of नाग

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	नागः (nāgáḥ)	नागौ (nāgaú) नागा¹ (nāgā́¹)	नागाः (nāgā́ḥ) नागासः¹ (nāgā́saḥ¹)
accusative	नागम् (nāgám)	नागौ (nāgaú) नागा¹ (nāgā́¹)	नागान् (nāgā́n)
instrumental	नागेन (nāgéna)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgā́bhyām)	नागैः (nāgaíḥ) नागेभिः¹ (nāgébhiḥ¹)
dative	नागाय (nāgā́ya)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgā́bhyām)	नागेभ्यः (nāgébhyaḥ)
ablative	नागात् (nāgā́t)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgā́bhyām)	नागेभ्यः (nāgébhyaḥ)
genitive	नागस्य (nāgásya)	नागयोः (nāgáyoḥ)	नागानाम् (nāgā́nām)
locative	नागे (nāgé)	नागयोः (nāgáyoḥ)	नागेषु (nāgéṣu)
vocative	नाग (nā́ga)	नागौ (nā́gau) नागा¹ (nā́gā¹)	नागाः (nā́gāḥ) नागासः¹ (nā́gāsaḥ¹)

• ¹Vedic

Descendants

Descendants

• Pali: nāga
• Prakrit: 𑀡𑀸𑀬 (ṇāya)
  • Sinhalese: නයා (nayā)
• Punjabi: ਨਾਗ (nāg, “cobra”)
• Saraiki: نانگ (nāng, “snake”)
• Sindhi: نانگ (“snake”)
• → Burmese: နဂါး (na.ga:), နာဂ (naga.)
• → Chinese:
  • Mandarin: 那伽 (nàjiā)
• → English: naga, naja
• → Hindi: नाग (nāg)
• → Bengali: নাগ (nag)
• → Italian: naga
• → Kannada: ನಾಗ (nāga)
• → Kashmiri: ناگ (nāg, “snake, lake, spring”)
• → Khmer: នាគ (niək)
• → Lao: ນາກ (nāk)
• → Lü: ᦓᦱᧅ (naak)
• → Malayalam: നാഗം (nāgaṁ)
• → Malay: naga
  • Indonesian: naga
• → Mon: နာ်
• → Odia: ନାଗ (nāga)
• → Old Marathi: 𑘡𑘰𑘐 (nāga)
  • → Marathi: नाग (nāg)
• → Tamil: நாக (nāka), நாகம் (nākam)
• → Tampuan: ណាក
• → Telugu: నాగము (nāgamu)
• → Thai: นาค (nâak)

Adjective

नाग • (nāgá) stem

1. formed of snakes, relating to serpents or serpents-demons, snaky, serpentine, serpent-like
2. belonging to an elephant, elephantine (as urine)

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of नाग

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	नागः (nāgáḥ)	नागौ (nāgaú) नागा¹ (nāgā́¹)	नागाः (nāgā́ḥ) नागासः¹ (nāgā́saḥ¹)
accusative	नागम् (nāgám)	नागौ (nāgaú) नागा¹ (nāgā́¹)	नागान् (nāgā́n)
instrumental	नागेन (nāgéna)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgā́bhyām)	नागैः (nāgaíḥ) नागेभिः¹ (nāgébhiḥ¹)
dative	नागाय (nāgā́ya)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgā́bhyām)	नागेभ्यः (nāgébhyaḥ)
ablative	नागात् (nāgā́t)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgā́bhyām)	नागेभ्यः (nāgébhyaḥ)
genitive	नागस्य (nāgásya)	नागयोः (nāgáyoḥ)	नागानाम् (nāgā́nām)
locative	नागे (nāgé)	नागयोः (nāgáyoḥ)	नागेषु (nāgéṣu)
vocative	नाग (nā́ga)	नागौ (nā́gau) नागा¹ (nā́gā¹)	नागाः (nā́gāḥ) नागासः¹ (nā́gāsaḥ¹)

• ¹Vedic

Feminine ā-stem declension of नागा

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	नागा (nāgā́)	नागे (nāgé)	नागाः (nāgā́ḥ)
accusative	नागाम् (nāgā́m)	नागे (nāgé)	नागाः (nāgā́ḥ)
instrumental	नागया (nāgáyā) नागा¹ (nāgā́¹)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgā́bhyām)	नागाभिः (nāgā́bhiḥ)
dative	नागायै (nāgā́yai)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgā́bhyām)	नागाभ्यः (nāgā́bhyaḥ)
ablative	नागायाः (nāgā́yāḥ) नागायै² (nāgā́yai²)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgā́bhyām)	नागाभ्यः (nāgā́bhyaḥ)
genitive	नागायाः (nāgā́yāḥ) नागायै² (nāgā́yai²)	नागयोः (nāgáyoḥ)	नागानाम् (nāgā́nām)
locative	नागायाम् (nāgā́yām)	नागयोः (nāgáyoḥ)	नागासु (nāgā́su)
vocative	नागे (nā́ge)	नागे (nā́ge)	नागाः (nā́gāḥ)

• ¹Vedic
• ²Brāhmaṇas

Feminine ī-stem declension of नागी

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	नागी (nāgī́)	नाग्यौ (nāgyaù) नागी¹ (nāgī́¹)	नाग्यः (nāgyàḥ) नागीः¹ (nāgī́ḥ¹)
accusative	नागीम् (nāgī́m)	नाग्यौ (nāgyaù) नागी¹ (nāgī́¹)	नागीः (nāgī́ḥ)
instrumental	नाग्या (nāgyā́)	नागीभ्याम् (nāgī́bhyām)	नागीभिः (nāgī́bhiḥ)
dative	नाग्यै (nāgyaí)	नागीभ्याम् (nāgī́bhyām)	नागीभ्यः (nāgī́bhyaḥ)
ablative	नाग्याः (nāgyā́ḥ) नाग्यै² (nāgyaí²)	नागीभ्याम् (nāgī́bhyām)	नागीभ्यः (nāgī́bhyaḥ)
genitive	नाग्याः (nāgyā́ḥ) नाग्यै² (nāgyaí²)	नाग्योः (nāgyóḥ)	नागीनाम् (nāgī́nām)
locative	नाग्याम् (nāgyā́m)	नाग्योः (nāgyóḥ)	नागीषु (nāgī́ṣu)
vocative	नागि (nā́gi)	नाग्यौ (nā́gyau) नागी¹ (nā́gī¹)	नाग्यः (nā́gyaḥ) नागीः¹ (nā́gīḥ¹)

• ¹Vedic
• ²Brāhmaṇas

Neuter a-stem declension of नाग

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	नागम् (nāgám)	नागे (nāgé)	नागानि (nāgā́ni) नागा¹ (nāgā́¹)
accusative	नागम् (nāgám)	नागे (nāgé)	नागानि (nāgā́ni) नागा¹ (nāgā́¹)
instrumental	नागेन (nāgéna)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgā́bhyām)	नागैः (nāgaíḥ) नागेभिः¹ (nāgébhiḥ¹)
dative	नागाय (nāgā́ya)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgā́bhyām)	नागेभ्यः (nāgébhyaḥ)
ablative	नागात् (nāgā́t)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgā́bhyām)	नागेभ्यः (nāgébhyaḥ)
genitive	नागस्य (nāgásya)	नागयोः (nāgáyoḥ)	नागानाम् (nāgā́nām)
locative	नागे (nāgé)	नागयोः (nāgáyoḥ)	नागेषु (nāgéṣu)
vocative	नाग (nā́ga)	नागे (nā́ge)	नागानि (nā́gāni) नागा¹ (nā́gā¹)

• ¹Vedic

Etymology 2

From Proto-Indo-European *nogʷós (“naked”). See नाग (nāga, “snake”).

Noun

नाग • (nāgá) stem, m

1. an elephant
   • c. 80 CE – 150 CE, Aśvaghoṣa, Buddhacarita 3.2:

     श्रुत्वा ततः स्त्रीजनवल्लभानां मनोज्ञभावं पुरकाननानाम् ।
     बहिःप्रयाणाय चकार बुद्धिम् अन्तर्गृहे नाग इवावरुद्धः ॥

     śrutvā tataḥ strījanavallabhānāṃ manojñabhāvaṃ purakānanānām.
     bahiḥprayāṇāya cakāra buddhim antargṛhe nāga ivāvaruddhaḥ.

     • 1893 translation by E. B. Cowell

       Having heard of the delightful appearance of the city groves beloved by the women,
       He resolved to go out of doors, like an elephant long shut up in a house.

Descendants

• Old Javanese: nāga (see there for further descendants)
• Pali: nāga (“elephant”)
• Prakrit: 𑀡𑀸𑀬 (ṇāya)

Etymology 3

Probably borrowed from Semitic, ultimately from Sumerian 𒀭𒈾 (anna). Compare Classical Syriac ܐܢܟܐ (ʾānḵāʾ, “tin”), Biblical Hebrew אֲנָךְ (ʾănāḵ), Arabic آنُك (ʔānuk, “lead; tin”).

Noun

नाग • (nāga) stem, n

1. tin, lead
2. a kind of talc
3. a kind of coitus
4. name of the 3rd invariable करण (karaṇa)
5. name of the effects of that period on anything happening during it
6. name of a district of भारतवर्ष (bhāratavarṣa)

Declension

Neuter a-stem declension of नाग

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	नागम् (nāgam)	नागे (nāge)	नागानि (nāgāni) नागा¹ (nāgā¹)
accusative	नागम् (nāgam)	नागे (nāge)	नागानि (nāgāni) नागा¹ (nāgā¹)
instrumental	नागेन (nāgena)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgābhyām)	नागैः (nāgaiḥ) नागेभिः¹ (nāgebhiḥ¹)
dative	नागाय (nāgāya)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgābhyām)	नागेभ्यः (nāgebhyaḥ)
ablative	नागात् (nāgāt)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgābhyām)	नागेभ्यः (nāgebhyaḥ)
genitive	नागस्य (nāgasya)	नागयोः (nāgayoḥ)	नागानाम् (nāgānām)
locative	नागे (nāge)	नागयोः (nāgayoḥ)	नागेषु (nāgeṣu)
vocative	नाग (nāga)	नागे (nāge)	नागानि (nāgāni) नागा¹ (nāgā¹)

• ¹Vedic

Etymology 4

Uncertain. Possibly from नाग (nāga, “snake”) as "snake tree".

Noun

नाग • (nāga) stem, m

1. name of the tree Mesua ferrea

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of नाग

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	नागः (nāgaḥ)	नागौ (nāgau) नागा¹ (nāgā¹)	नागाः (nāgāḥ) नागासः¹ (nāgāsaḥ¹)
accusative	नागम् (nāgam)	नागौ (nāgau) नागा¹ (nāgā¹)	नागान् (nāgān)
instrumental	नागेन (nāgena)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgābhyām)	नागैः (nāgaiḥ) नागेभिः¹ (nāgebhiḥ¹)
dative	नागाय (nāgāya)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgābhyām)	नागेभ्यः (nāgebhyaḥ)
ablative	नागात् (nāgāt)	नागाभ्याम् (nāgābhyām)	नागेभ्यः (nāgebhyaḥ)
genitive	नागस्य (nāgasya)	नागयोः (nāgayoḥ)	नागानाम् (nāgānām)
locative	नागे (nāge)	नागयोः (nāgayoḥ)	नागेषु (nāgeṣu)
vocative	नाग (nāga)	नागौ (nāgau) नागा¹ (nāgā¹)	नागाः (nāgāḥ) नागासः¹ (nāgāsaḥ¹)

• ¹Vedic

Further reading

• Monier Williams (1899) “नाग”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, pages 532-533.
• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “nāga”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press, page 404