Anusvara

/ˈɑːnuːˈswɑːrə/ noun

Definition

In Sanskrit and other Indic languages, a diacritical mark (anusvara) placed above or before a consonant that nasalizes the preceding vowel.

Etymology

From Sanskrit 'anusvara,' literally meaning 'after sound' or 'sound that follows' ('anu-' = after, 'svara' = sound). This phonetic marker has been used in Sanskrit writing for thousands of years.

Kelly Says

The anusvara is written as a small dot and completely changes how Sanskrit words sound—it's one of several sophisticated diacritical marks in Devanagari script that allow readers to reproduce the exact tones and nasal qualities of this ancient language.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.