ब्राह्मण

Hindi

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇa). Doublet of बाम्हन (bāmhan).

Pronunciation

• (Delhi) IPA^(key): /bɾɑːɦ.məɳ/, [bɾäːʱ.mɐ̃ɳ]

Noun

ब्राह्मण • (brāhmaṇ) m (Urdu spelling بْراہْمَن)

1. a Brahmin (member of the highest caste of Hinduism traditionally regarded as priests)

Declension

Declension of ब्राह्मण (masc cons-stem)

	singular	plural
direct	ब्राह्मण brāhmaṇ	ब्राह्मण brāhmaṇ
oblique	ब्राह्मण brāhmaṇ	ब्राह्मणों brāhmaṇõ
vocative	ब्राह्मण brāhmaṇ	ब्राह्मणो brāhmaṇo

Related terms

• जाति (jāti, “caste”)

Pali

Alternative forms

Alternative scripts

• brāhmaṇa (Latin script)
• 𑀩𑁆𑀭𑀸𑀳𑁆𑀫𑀡 (Brahmi script)
• ব্রাহ্মণ (Bengali script)
• බ්‍රාහ‍්මණ (Sinhalese script)
• ဗြာဟ္မဏ or ၿြႃႁ္မꧣ or ၿြႃႁ်မꧣ (Burmese script)
• พฺราหฺมณ or พราหมะณะ (Thai script)
• ᨻᩕᩣᩉ᩠ᨾᨱ (Tai Tham script)
• ພ຺ຣາຫ຺ມຓ or ພຣາຫມະຓະ (Lao script)
• ព្រាហ្មណ (Khmer script)
• 𑄝𑄳𑄢𑄂𑄦𑄴𑄟𑄕 (Chakma script)

Noun

ब्राह्मण m (feminine ब्राह्मणी)

1. Devanagari script form of brāhmaṇa (“brahmin”)

Declension

Declension table of "ब्राह्मण" (masculine)

Case \ Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	ब्राह्मणो (brāhmaṇo)	ब्राह्मणा (brāhmaṇā) or ब्राह्मणासे (brāhmaṇāse)
Accusative (second)	ब्राह्मणं (brāhmaṇaṃ)	ब्राह्मणे (brāhmaṇe)
Instrumental (third)	ब्राह्मणेन (brāhmaṇena)	ब्राह्मणेहि (brāhmaṇehi) or ब्राह्मणेभि (brāhmaṇebhi)
Dative (fourth)	ब्राह्मणस्स (brāhmaṇassa) or ब्राह्मणाय (brāhmaṇāya) or ब्राह्मणत्थं (brāhmaṇatthaṃ)	ब्राह्मणानं (brāhmaṇānaṃ)
Ablative (fifth)	ब्राह्मणस्मा (brāhmaṇasmā) or ब्राह्मणम्हा (brāhmaṇamhā) or ब्राह्मणा (brāhmaṇā)	ब्राह्मणेहि (brāhmaṇehi) or ब्राह्मणेभि (brāhmaṇebhi)
Genitive (sixth)	ब्राह्मणस्स (brāhmaṇassa)	ब्राह्मणानं (brāhmaṇānaṃ)
Locative (seventh)	ब्राह्मणस्मिं (brāhmaṇasmiṃ) or ब्राह्मणम्हि (brāhmaṇamhi) or ब्राह्मणे (brāhmaṇe)	ब्राह्मणेसु (brāhmaṇesu)
Vocative (calling)	ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇa)	ब्राह्मणा (brāhmaṇā)

Sanskrit

Alternative forms

Alternative scripts

• ব্ৰাহ্মণ (Assamese script)
• ᬩ᭄ᬭᬵᬳ᭄ᬫᬡ (Balinese script)
• ব্রাহ্মণ (Bengali script)
• 𑰤𑰿𑰨𑰯𑰮𑰿𑰦𑰜 (Bhaiksuki script)
• 𑀩𑁆𑀭𑀸𑀳𑁆𑀫𑀡 (Brahmi script)
• ဗြာဟ္မဏ (Burmese script)
• બ્રાહ્મણ (Gujarati script)
• ਬ੍ਰਾਹ੍ਮਣ (Gurmukhi script)
• 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌣 (Grantha script)
• ꦧꦿꦴꦲ꧀ꦩꦟ (Javanese script)
• 𑂥𑂹𑂩𑂰𑂯𑂹𑂧𑂝 (Kaithi script)
• ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ (Kannada script)
• ព្រាហ្មណ (Khmer script)
• ພ຺ຣາຫ຺ມຓ (Lao script)
• ബ്രാഹ്മണ (Malayalam script)
• ᠪᡵᠠ᠎᠊ᠠᡥᠮᠠᢏᠠ (Manchu script)
• 𑘤𑘿𑘨𑘰𑘮𑘿𑘦𑘜 (Modi script)
• ᠪᠷᠠᢗᠾᠮᠠᢏᠠ᠋ (Mongolian script)
• 𑧄𑧠𑧈𑧑𑧎𑧠𑧆𑦼 (Nandinagari script)
• 𑐧𑑂𑐬𑐵𑐴𑑂𑐩𑐞 (Newa script)
• ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ (Odia script)
• ꢨ꣄ꢬꢵꢲ꣄ꢪꢠ (Saurashtra script)
• 𑆧𑇀𑆫𑆳𑆲𑇀𑆩𑆟 (Sharada script)
• 𑖤𑖿𑖨𑖯𑖮𑖿𑖦𑖜 (Siddham script)
• බ්‍රාහ‍්මණ (Sinhalese script)
• 𑩲 𑪙𑩼𑩛𑪂 𑪙𑩴𑩪 (Soyombo script)
• 𑚠𑚶𑚤𑚭𑚩𑚶𑚢𑚘 (Takri script)
• ப்³ராஹ்மண (Tamil script)
• బ్రాహ్మణ (Telugu script)
• พฺราหฺมณ (Thai script)
• བྲཱ་ཧྨ་ཎ (Tibetan script)
• 𑒥𑓂𑒩𑒰𑒯𑓂𑒧𑒝 (Tirhuta script)
• 𑨠𑩇𑨫𑨊𑨱𑩇𑨢𑨘 (Zanabazar Square script)

Etymology

Vṛddhi derivative of ब्रह्मन् (brahman), most likely from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“to become high, rise, elevate”). Less likely, cognate with Latin flāmen (“priest”) via a hypothetical root *bʰlag-, but this presents phonetic problems. In any case, synchronically equivalent to the root √bṛh (“to grow, swell”).

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /bɾɑ́ːɦ.mɐ.ɳɐ/
• (Classical Sanskrit) IPA^(key): /ˈbɾɑːɦ.mɐ.ɳɐ/

Adjective

ब्राह्मण • (brāhmaṇa) stem

1. relating to or given by a Brahmin, befitting or becoming a Brahmin

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of ब्राह्मण (brā́hmaṇa)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	ब्राह्मणः brā́hmaṇaḥ	ब्राह्मणौ / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇau / brā́hmaṇā¹	ब्राह्मणाः / ब्राह्मणासः¹ brā́hmaṇāḥ / brā́hmaṇāsaḥ¹
Vocative	ब्राह्मण brā́hmaṇa	ब्राह्मणौ / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇau / brā́hmaṇā¹	ब्राह्मणाः / ब्राह्मणासः¹ brā́hmaṇāḥ / brā́hmaṇāsaḥ¹
Accusative	ब्राह्मणम् brā́hmaṇam	ब्राह्मणौ / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇau / brā́hmaṇā¹	ब्राह्मणान् brā́hmaṇān
Instrumental	ब्राह्मणेन brā́hmaṇena	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणैः / ब्राह्मणेभिः¹ brā́hmaṇaiḥ / brā́hmaṇebhiḥ¹
Dative	ब्राह्मणाय brā́hmaṇāya	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणेभ्यः brā́hmaṇebhyaḥ
Ablative	ब्राह्मणात् brā́hmaṇāt	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणेभ्यः brā́hmaṇebhyaḥ
Genitive	ब्राह्मणस्य brā́hmaṇasya	ब्राह्मणयोः brā́hmaṇayoḥ	ब्राह्मणानाम् brā́hmaṇānām
Locative	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणयोः brā́hmaṇayoḥ	ब्राह्मणेषु brā́hmaṇeṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Feminine ā-stem declension of ब्राह्मणा (brā́hmaṇā)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	ब्राह्मणा brā́hmaṇā	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणाः brā́hmaṇāḥ
Vocative	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणाः brā́hmaṇāḥ
Accusative	ब्राह्मणाम् brā́hmaṇām	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणाः brā́hmaṇāḥ
Instrumental	ब्राह्मणया / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇayā / brā́hmaṇā¹	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणाभिः brā́hmaṇābhiḥ
Dative	ब्राह्मणायै brā́hmaṇāyai	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणाभ्यः brā́hmaṇābhyaḥ
Ablative	ब्राह्मणायाः / ब्राह्मणायै² brā́hmaṇāyāḥ / brā́hmaṇāyai²	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणाभ्यः brā́hmaṇābhyaḥ
Genitive	ब्राह्मणायाः / ब्राह्मणायै² brā́hmaṇāyāḥ / brā́hmaṇāyai²	ब्राह्मणयोः brā́hmaṇayoḥ	ब्राह्मणानाम् brā́hmaṇānām
Locative	ब्राह्मणायाम् brā́hmaṇāyām	ब्राह्मणयोः brā́hmaṇayoḥ	ब्राह्मणासु brā́hmaṇāsu
Notes	¹Vedic ²Brāhmaṇas

Neuter a-stem declension of ब्राह्मण (brā́hmaṇa)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	ब्राह्मणम् brā́hmaṇam	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणानि / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇāni / brā́hmaṇā¹
Vocative	ब्राह्मण brā́hmaṇa	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणानि / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇāni / brā́hmaṇā¹
Accusative	ब्राह्मणम् brā́hmaṇam	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणानि / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇāni / brā́hmaṇā¹
Instrumental	ब्राह्मणेन brā́hmaṇena	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणैः / ब्राह्मणेभिः¹ brā́hmaṇaiḥ / brā́hmaṇebhiḥ¹
Dative	ब्राह्मणाय brā́hmaṇāya	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणेभ्यः brā́hmaṇebhyaḥ
Ablative	ब्राह्मणात् brā́hmaṇāt	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणेभ्यः brā́hmaṇebhyaḥ
Genitive	ब्राह्मणस्य brā́hmaṇasya	ब्राह्मणयोः brā́hmaṇayoḥ	ब्राह्मणानाम् brā́hmaṇānām
Locative	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणयोः brā́hmaṇayoḥ	ब्राह्मणेषु brā́hmaṇeṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Noun

ब्राह्मण • (brāhmaṇa) stem, m (feminine ब्राह्मणी)

1. one who has divine knowledge (sometimes applied to Agni), a Brahmin, a man belonging to the 1st of the 3 twice-born classes and of the 4 original divisions of the Hindu body (generally a priest, but often in the present day a layman engaged in non-priestly occupations although the name is strictly only applicable to one who knows and repeats the Veda)
   • c. 1700 BCE – 1200 BCE, Ṛgveda 6.75.10:

     ब्राह्म॑णास॒: पित॑र॒: सोम्या॑सः शि॒वे नो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॑ने॒हसा॑ ।
     पू॒षा न॑: पातु दुरि॒तादृ॑तावृधो॒ रक्षा॒ माकि॑र्नो अ॒घशं॑स ईशत ॥

     brā́hmaṇāsa: pítara: sómyāsaḥ śivé no dyā́vāpṛthivī́ anehásā.
     pūṣā́ na: pātu duritā́dṛtāvṛdho rákṣā mā́kirno agháśaṃsa īśata.

     May the brāhmaṇas, the progenitors presenters of the Soma, the observers of truth, protect us; may the faultless heaven and earth be propitious to us; may Pūṣan preserve us from misfortune, let no calumniator prevail over us.

2. a Brahmin in the second stage (between मात्र (mātra) and श्रोत्रिय (śrotriya))
3. name of the 28th lunar mansion

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of ब्राह्मण (brā́hmaṇá)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	ब्राह्मणः brā́hmaṇaḥ	ब्राह्मणौ / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇau / brā́hmaṇā¹	ब्राह्मणाः / ब्राह्मणासः¹ brā́hmaṇāḥ / brā́hmaṇāsaḥ¹
Vocative	ब्राह्मण brā́hmaṇa	ब्राह्मणौ / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇau / brā́hmaṇā¹	ब्राह्मणाः / ब्राह्मणासः¹ brā́hmaṇāḥ / brā́hmaṇāsaḥ¹
Accusative	ब्राह्मणम् brā́hmaṇam	ब्राह्मणौ / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇau / brā́hmaṇā¹	ब्राह्मणान् brā́hmaṇān
Instrumental	ब्राह्मणेन brā́hmaṇena	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणैः / ब्राह्मणेभिः¹ brā́hmaṇaiḥ / brā́hmaṇebhiḥ¹
Dative	ब्राह्मणाय brā́hmaṇāya	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणेभ्यः brā́hmaṇebhyaḥ
Ablative	ब्राह्मणात् brā́hmaṇāt	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणेभ्यः brā́hmaṇebhyaḥ
Genitive	ब्राह्मणस्य brā́hmaṇasya	ब्राह्मणयोः brā́hmaṇayoḥ	ब्राह्मणानाम् brā́hmaṇānām
Locative	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणयोः brā́hmaṇayoḥ	ब्राह्मणेषु brā́hmaṇeṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Noun

ब्राह्मण • (brā́hmaṇa) stem, n

1. that which is divine, the divine
2. sacred or divine power
3. the Brahmana portion of the Veda (as distinct from its mantra and Upanishad portion)
4. the soma vessel of the Brahmin priest
5. a society or assemblage of Brahmins, a conclave

Declension

Neuter a-stem declension of ब्राह्मण (brā́hmaṇa)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	ब्राह्मणम् brā́hmaṇam	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणानि / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇāni / brā́hmaṇā¹
Vocative	ब्राह्मण brā́hmaṇa	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणानि / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇāni / brā́hmaṇā¹
Accusative	ब्राह्मणम् brā́hmaṇam	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणानि / ब्राह्मणा¹ brā́hmaṇāni / brā́hmaṇā¹
Instrumental	ब्राह्मणेन brā́hmaṇena	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणैः / ब्राह्मणेभिः¹ brā́hmaṇaiḥ / brā́hmaṇebhiḥ¹
Dative	ब्राह्मणाय brā́hmaṇāya	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणेभ्यः brā́hmaṇebhyaḥ
Ablative	ब्राह्मणात् brā́hmaṇāt	ब्राह्मणाभ्याम् brā́hmaṇābhyām	ब्राह्मणेभ्यः brā́hmaṇebhyaḥ
Genitive	ब्राह्मणस्य brā́hmaṇasya	ब्राह्मणयोः brā́hmaṇayoḥ	ब्राह्मणानाम् brā́hmaṇānām
Locative	ब्राह्मणे brā́hmaṇe	ब्राह्मणयोः brā́hmaṇayoḥ	ब्राह्मणेषु brā́hmaṇeṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Descendants

Inherited

• Ashokan Prakrit: 𑀩𑁆𑀭𑀸𑀫𑁆𑀳𑀡 (brāmhaṇa)
  • Prakrit: 𑀩𑀫𑁆𑀳𑀡 (bamhaṇa), 𑀩𑀁𑀪𑀡 (baṃbhaṇa)
    • Early Assamese: বামন (bamono)
      • Assamese: বামুণ (bamun)
    • Bengali: বামন (bamon)
    • Bihari:
      • Bhojpuri: बाम्हन (bāmhan), बाभन (bābhan)
      • Maithili: बामन (bāman), बाभन (bābhan)
    • Gujarati: બામણ (bāmaṇ)
    • Hindustani:
      • Awadhi: बाम्हन (bāmhan)
      • Hindi: बाम्हन (bāmhan)
    • Konkani:

      Devanagari script: बामण (bāmaṇ)

      Latin script: bamonn

    • Marathi: बामण (bāmaṇ)
    • Nepali: बाहुन (bāhuna)
    • Odia: ବାମୁଣ (bāmuṇa) (dialectal or obsolete ବାଭୁଣ (bābhuṇa), ବାମୁଣ (bāmuṇa), ବାମ୍ଭୁଣ (bāmbhuṇa))
    • Pahari:
      • Garhwali: बामण (bāmaṇ)
      • Kumaoni: बामण (bāmaṇ)
    • Punjabi:

      Gurmukhi script: ਬਾਹਮਣ (bāhmaṇ)

      Shahmukhi script: باہْمَݨ (bāhmaṇ)

    • Sindhi: براهَمَڻُ
    • → Kurukh: बमभ्नस (bambhnas)
  • Elu:
    • Sinhalese: බඹ (baᵐba)
  • Gandhari: 𐨦𐨿𐨪𐨨𐨞 (bramaṇa)

Borrowed

• → Arabic: بِرَهْمَن (birahman)
  • → Persian: بَرَهمَن
• → Balinese: ᬩ᭄ᬭᬄᬫᬦ
• → Bengali: ব্রাহ্মণ (brahmon) (learned)
• → Middle Chinese: 婆羅門 (MC ba la mwon)
  • Chinese: 婆羅門／婆罗门 (póluómén)
  • Japanese: 婆羅門 (バラモン, ​baramon)
  • Korean: 파라문(婆羅門) (paramun)
  • Vietnamese: Bà La Môn (婆羅門)
• → French: brahmane
  • → German: Brahmane
    • → Finnish: brahmaani
  • → Dutch: bramaan
  • → Portuguese: brâmane
  • → Russian: брахма́н (braxmán)
    • → Belarusian: брахма́н (braxmán)
    • → Kazakh: брахман (braxman)
    • → Kyrgyz: брахман (brahman)
    • → Ukrainian: брахма́н (braxmán)
• → Ancient Greek: βραχμᾶνες pl (brakhmânes)
  • → Aramaic: ܒܪܟܡܢܐ
  • → Coptic: ⲃⲣⲁⲭⲙⲁⲛⲏⲥ (brakhmanēs)
  • → Greek: βραχμάνος (vrachmános)
  • → Latin: Bracmāni pl, Brachmānae, Bragmānae
    • → Middle English: bragman
• → Gujarati: બ્રાહ્મણ (brāhmaṇ) (learned)
• → Hindi: ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇ) (learned)
• → Kannada: ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ (brāhmaṇa) (learned)
• →? Old Khmer: វ្រះ (vraḥ)
• → Lao: ພາມ (phām)
• → Malayalam: ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ (brāhmaṇaṉ) (learned)
• → Marathi: ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇ) (learned)
• → Odia: ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ (brāhmaṇa) (learned)
• → Pali: brāhmaṇa (learned)
  • → Burmese: ပုဏ္ဏား (punna:)
  • → Burmese: ဗြာဟ္မဏ (brahma.na.) (learned)
  • → Sinhalese: බ්රාහ්මණය (brāhmaṇaya) (learned)
• → Portuguese: bramine (obsolete)
  • → Middle French: bramine
    • French: brahmine
    • → English: brahmin, brahman
      • → Irish: Bráman
      • → Korean: 브라만 (beuraman)
      • → Russian: брами́н (bramín)
  • → Italian: bramino
• → Sogdian: 𐼾𐽀𐼰𐼺𐼻 (prʾmn), 𐼾𐽀𐼰𐼺𐼰𐼻 (prʾmʾn), 𐼾𐽀𐼰𐼰𐼺𐼰 (prʾʾmʾ), 𐼾𐽀𐼰𐼰𐼺𐼻 (prʾʾmn)
  • → Old Uyghur: [script needed] (braman)
    • → Middle Mongol: ᠪᠢᠷᠠᠮᠠᠨ (biraman)
      • Classical Mongolian: ᠪᠢᠷᠠᠮᠠᠨ (biraman)
        • Buryat: бирман (birman)
        • Mongolian: бярман (bjarman)
      • Written Oirat: [Term?]
        • Kalmyk: бирмн (birmn)
• → Tamil: பிராமணர் (pirāmaṇar) (learned)
• → Telugu: బ్రాహ్మణులు (brāhmaṇulu) (learned)
• → Thai: พราหมณ์ (praam)
• → Classical Tibetan: བྲམ་ཟེ (bram ze) (learned)
• → Tocharian A: brāmaṃ, brāhmaṃ, prāmaṃ, prāhmaṃ, prāmmaṃ
• → Tocharian B: brāhmaṇe
• → Urdu: براہمن (learned)