नाग

See also: नग and नंगा

Hindi

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Sanskrit नाग (nāga).

Pronunciation

• (Delhi Hindi) IPA^(key): /nɑːɡ/, [näːɡ]

Noun

नाग • (nāg) m (Urdu spelling ناگ)

1. male serpent

   Synonyms: साँप (sā̃p), सर्प (sarp)

2. (specifically) the 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

Pali

Alternative forms

Alternative forms

• 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) IPA^(key): /ˈn̪ɑː.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”).

Alternatively, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)nog-ó-s, from *(s)neg- (“to crawl; a creeping thing”) and cognate with Old English snaca (whence English snake).

Noun

नाग • (nāgá) stem, m

1. a snake, especially Coluber naga
   • 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 (nāgá)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	नागः nāgáḥ	नागौ / नागा¹ nāgaú / nāgā́¹	नागाः / नागासः¹ nāgā́ḥ / nāgā́saḥ¹
Vocative	नाग nā́ga	नागौ / नागा¹ nā́gau / nā́gā¹	नागाः / नागासः¹ nā́gāḥ / nā́gāsaḥ¹
Accusative	नागम् nāgám	नागौ / नागा¹ nāgaú / nāgā́¹	नागान् nāgā́n
Instrumental	नागेन nāgéna	नागाभ्याम् nāgā́bhyām	नागैः / नागेभिः¹ nāgaíḥ / 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
Notes	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 (nagô)
• → Tamil: நாக (nāka), நாகம் (nākam)
• → 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 (nāgá)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	नागः nāgáḥ	नागौ / नागा¹ nāgaú / nāgā́¹	नागाः / नागासः¹ nāgā́ḥ / nāgā́saḥ¹
Vocative	नाग nā́ga	नागौ / नागा¹ nā́gau / nā́gā¹	नागाः / नागासः¹ nā́gāḥ / nā́gāsaḥ¹
Accusative	नागम् nāgám	नागौ / नागा¹ nāgaú / nāgā́¹	नागान् nāgā́n
Instrumental	नागेन nāgéna	नागाभ्याम् nāgā́bhyām	नागैः / नागेभिः¹ nāgaíḥ / 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
Notes	¹Vedic

Feminine ā-stem declension of नागा (nāgā́)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	नागा nāgā́	नागे nāgé	नागाः nāgā́ḥ
Vocative	नागे nā́ge	नागे nā́ge	नागाः nā́gāḥ
Accusative	नागाम् nāgā́m	नागे nāgé	नागाः nāgā́ḥ
Instrumental	नागया / नागा¹ nāgáyā / nāgā́¹	नागाभ्याम् nāgā́bhyām	नागाभिः nāgā́bhiḥ
Dative	नागायै nāgā́yai	नागाभ्याम् nāgā́bhyām	नागाभ्यः nāgā́bhyaḥ
Ablative	नागायाः / नागायै² nāgā́yāḥ / nāgā́yai²	नागाभ्याम् nāgā́bhyām	नागाभ्यः nāgā́bhyaḥ
Genitive	नागायाः / नागायै² nāgā́yāḥ / nāgā́yai²	नागयोः nāgáyoḥ	नागानाम् nāgā́nām
Locative	नागायाम् nāgā́yām	नागयोः nāgáyoḥ	नागासु nāgā́su
Notes	¹Vedic ²Brāhmaṇas

Neuter a-stem declension of नाग (nāgá)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	नागम् nāgám	नागे nāgé	नागानि / नागा¹ nāgā́ni / nāgā́¹
Vocative	नाग nā́ga	नागे nā́ge	नागानि / नागा¹ nā́gāni / nā́gā¹
Accusative	नागम् nāgám	नागे nāgé	नागानि / नागा¹ nāgā́ni / nāgā́¹
Instrumental	नागेन nāgéna	नागाभ्याम् nāgā́bhyām	नागैः / नागेभिः¹ nāgaíḥ / 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
Notes	¹Vedic

Feminine ī-stem declension of नागी (nāgī́)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	नागी nāgī́	नाग्यौ / नागी¹ nāgyaù / nāgī́¹	नाग्यः / नागीः¹ nāgyàḥ / nāgī́ḥ¹
Vocative	नागि nā́gi	नाग्यौ / नागी¹ nā́gyau / nā́gī¹	नाग्यः / नागीः¹ nā́gyaḥ / nā́gīḥ¹
Accusative	नागीम् nāgī́m	नाग्यौ / नागी¹ nāgyaù / nāgī́¹	नागीः nāgī́ḥ
Instrumental	नाग्या nāgyā́	नागीभ्याम् nāgī́bhyām	नागीभिः nāgī́bhiḥ
Dative	नाग्यै nāgyaí	नागीभ्याम् nāgī́bhyām	नागीभ्यः nāgī́bhyaḥ
Ablative	नाग्याः / नाग्यै² nāgyā́ḥ / nāgyaí²	नागीभ्याम् nāgī́bhyām	नागीभ्यः nāgī́bhyaḥ
Genitive	नाग्याः / नाग्यै² nāgyā́ḥ / nāgyaí²	नाग्योः nāgyóḥ	नागीनाम् nāgī́nām
Locative	नाग्याम् nāgyā́m	नाग्योः nāgyóḥ	नागीषु nāgī́ṣu
Notes	¹Vedic ²Brāhmaṇas

Etymology 2

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 • (nāgá) 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 (nāgá)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	नागम् nāgám	नागे nāgé	नागानि / नागा¹ nāgā́ni / nāgā́¹
Vocative	नाग nā́ga	नागे nā́ge	नागानि / नागा¹ nā́gāni / nā́gā¹
Accusative	नागम् nāgám	नागे nāgé	नागानि / नागा¹ nāgā́ni / nāgā́¹
Instrumental	नागेन nāgéna	नागाभ्याम् nāgā́bhyām	नागैः / नागेभिः¹ nāgaíḥ / 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
Notes	¹Vedic

Etymology 3

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

Noun

नाग • (nāga) 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)

Further reading

• Monier Williams (1899) “नाग”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 0532.