मध्य

Hindi

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit मध्य (mádhya), from Proto-Indo-European *médʰyos (“between, in the middle, middle”). Cognate with Latin medius (“middle, medium”), English mid, middle, Persian میان.

Pronunciation

• (Delhi) IPA^(key): /məd̪ʱ.jᵊ/, [mɐd̪ʱ.jᵊ]
• Rhymes: -əd̪ʱ.jᵊ

Adjective

मध्य • (madhya) (indeclinable)

1. middle (normally of time)
2. central, in the middle of

Noun

मध्य • (madhya) m

1. center/centre, middle

   Synonym: बीच (bīc)

2. (Indian classical music) Synonym of मध्यम (madhyam)
3. (Indian classical music) a medium tempo, played quicker than विलंबित (vilambit) and slower than द्रुत (drut)
4. (Indian classical music) the middle-pitch सप्तक (saptak), higher than मंद्र (mandra) and lower than तार (tār)

Declension

Declension of मध्य (masc cons-stem)

	singular	plural
direct	मध्य madhya	मध्य madhya
oblique	मध्य madhya	मध्यों madhyõ
vocative	मध्य madhya	मध्यो madhyo

Marathi

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit मध्य (mádhya). Doublet of मध्ये (madhye) and माज (māj).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /məd̪ʱ.jə/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

मध्य • (madhya) m

1. centre, middle
2. waist

References

• Molesworth, James Thomas (1857) “मध्य”, in A dictionary, Marathi and English, Bombay: Printed for government at the Bombay Education Society's Press

Sanskrit

Alternative scripts

Alternative scripts

• মধ্য (Assamese script)
• ᬫᬥ᭄ᬬ (Balinese script)
• মধ্য (Bengali script)
• 𑰦𑰠𑰿𑰧 (Bhaiksuki script)
• 𑀫𑀥𑁆𑀬 (Brahmi script)
• မဓျ (Burmese script)
• મધ્ય (Gujarati script)
• ਮਧ੍ਯ (Gurmukhi script)
• 𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯 (Grantha script)
• ꦩꦣꦾ (Javanese script)
• 𑂧𑂡𑂹𑂨 (Kaithi script)
• ಮಧ್ಯ (Kannada script)
• មធ្យ (Khmer script)
• ມຘ຺ຍ (Lao script)
• മധ്യ (Malayalam script)
• ᠮᠠᢡᠶᠠ (Manchu script)
• 𑘦𑘠𑘿𑘧 (Modi script)
• ᠮᠠᢑᠾᠶ᠎ᠠ (Mongolian script)
• 𑧆𑧀𑧠𑧇 (Nandinagari script)
• 𑐩𑐢𑑂𑐫 (Newa script)
• ମଧ୍ଯ (Odia script)
• ꢪꢤ꣄ꢫ (Saurashtra script)
• 𑆩𑆣𑇀𑆪 (Sharada script)
• 𑖦𑖠𑖿𑖧 (Siddham script)
• මධ්‍ය (Sinhalese script)
• 𑩴𑩮 𑪙𑩻 (Soyombo script)
• 𑚢𑚜𑚶𑚣 (Takri script)
• மத்⁴ய (Tamil script)
• మధ్య (Telugu script)
• มธฺย (Thai script)
• མ་དྷྱ (Tibetan script)
• 𑒧𑒡𑓂𑒨 (Tirhuta script)
• 𑨢𑨜𑩇𑨪 (Zanabazar Square script)

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-Iranian *mádʰyas (“middle”), from Proto-Indo-European *médʰyos (“middle”). Cognate with Avestan 𐬨𐬀𐬌𐬜𐬌𐬌𐬀 (maⁱδiia), Latin medius (“middle, medium”), Ancient Greek μέσος (mésos), English mid, middle.

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /mɐ́dʱ.jɐ/
• (Classical Sanskrit) IPA^(key): /mɐd̪ʱ.jɐ/

Adjective

मध्य • (mádhya) stem

1. middle
2. central

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of मध्य

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	मध्यः (madhyaḥ)	मध्यौ (madhyau) मध्या¹ (madhyā¹)	मध्याः (madhyāḥ) मध्यासः¹ (madhyāsaḥ¹)
accusative	मध्यम् (madhyam)	मध्यौ (madhyau) मध्या¹ (madhyā¹)	मध्यान् (madhyān)
instrumental	मध्येन (madhyena)	मध्याभ्याम् (madhyābhyām)	मध्यैः (madhyaiḥ) मध्येभिः¹ (madhyebhiḥ¹)
dative	मध्याय (madhyāya)	मध्याभ्याम् (madhyābhyām)	मध्येभ्यः (madhyebhyaḥ)
ablative	मध्यात् (madhyāt)	मध्याभ्याम् (madhyābhyām)	मध्येभ्यः (madhyebhyaḥ)
genitive	मध्यस्य (madhyasya)	मध्ययोः (madhyayoḥ)	मध्यानाम् (madhyānām)
locative	मध्ये (madhye)	मध्ययोः (madhyayoḥ)	मध्येषु (madhyeṣu)
vocative	मध्य (madhya)	मध्यौ (madhyau) मध्या¹ (madhyā¹)	मध्याः (madhyāḥ) मध्यासः¹ (madhyāsaḥ¹)

• ¹Vedic

Feminine ā-stem declension of मध्या

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	मध्या (madhyā)	मध्ये (madhye)	मध्याः (madhyāḥ)
accusative	मध्याम् (madhyām)	मध्ये (madhye)	मध्याः (madhyāḥ)
instrumental	मध्यया (madhyayā) मध्या¹ (madhyā¹)	मध्याभ्याम् (madhyābhyām)	मध्याभिः (madhyābhiḥ)
dative	मध्यायै (madhyāyai)	मध्याभ्याम् (madhyābhyām)	मध्याभ्यः (madhyābhyaḥ)
ablative	मध्यायाः (madhyāyāḥ) मध्यायै² (madhyāyai²)	मध्याभ्याम् (madhyābhyām)	मध्याभ्यः (madhyābhyaḥ)
genitive	मध्यायाः (madhyāyāḥ) मध्यायै² (madhyāyai²)	मध्ययोः (madhyayoḥ)	मध्यानाम् (madhyānām)
locative	मध्यायाम् (madhyāyām)	मध्ययोः (madhyayoḥ)	मध्यासु (madhyāsu)
vocative	मध्ये (madhye)	मध्ये (madhye)	मध्याः (madhyāḥ)

• ¹Vedic
• ²Brāhmaṇas

Neuter a-stem declension of मध्य

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	मध्यम् (madhyam)	मध्ये (madhye)	मध्यानि (madhyāni) मध्या¹ (madhyā¹)
accusative	मध्यम् (madhyam)	मध्ये (madhye)	मध्यानि (madhyāni) मध्या¹ (madhyā¹)
instrumental	मध्येन (madhyena)	मध्याभ्याम् (madhyābhyām)	मध्यैः (madhyaiḥ) मध्येभिः¹ (madhyebhiḥ¹)
dative	मध्याय (madhyāya)	मध्याभ्याम् (madhyābhyām)	मध्येभ्यः (madhyebhyaḥ)
ablative	मध्यात् (madhyāt)	मध्याभ्याम् (madhyābhyām)	मध्येभ्यः (madhyebhyaḥ)
genitive	मध्यस्य (madhyasya)	मध्ययोः (madhyayoḥ)	मध्यानाम् (madhyānām)
locative	मध्ये (madhye)	मध्ययोः (madhyayoḥ)	मध्येषु (madhyeṣu)
vocative	मध्य (madhya)	मध्ये (madhye)	मध्यानि (madhyāni) मध्या¹ (madhyā¹)

• ¹Vedic

Noun

मध्य • (mádhya) stem, m

1. centre, middle
   • c. 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE, Ṛgveda 10.111.8:

     दू॒रं किल॑ प्रथ॒मा ज॑ग्मुरासा॒मिन्द्र॑स्य॒ याः प्र॑स॒वे स॒स्रुरापः॑ ।
     क्व॑ स्वि॒दग्रं॒ क्व॑ बु॒ध्न आ॑सा॒मापो॒ मध्यं॒ क्व॑ वो नू॒नमन्तः॑ ॥

     dūráṃ kíla prathamā́ jagmurāsāmíndrasya yā́ḥ prasavé sasrúrā́paḥ.
     kvà svidágraṃ kvà budhná āsāmā́po mádhyaṃ kvà vo nūnámántaḥ.

     The first of those waters, which issued forth at Indra's sending, went very far. Where, waters, is your beginning, where your root, where is your centre, where indeed is your termination?

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of मध्य

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	मध्यः (mádhyaḥ)	मध्यौ (mádhyau) मध्या¹ (mádhyā¹)	मध्याः (mádhyāḥ) मध्यासः¹ (mádhyāsaḥ¹)
accusative	मध्यम् (mádhyam)	मध्यौ (mádhyau) मध्या¹ (mádhyā¹)	मध्यान् (mádhyān)
instrumental	मध्येन (mádhyena)	मध्याभ्याम् (mádhyābhyām)	मध्यैः (mádhyaiḥ) मध्येभिः¹ (mádhyebhiḥ¹)
dative	मध्याय (mádhyāya)	मध्याभ्याम् (mádhyābhyām)	मध्येभ्यः (mádhyebhyaḥ)
ablative	मध्यात् (mádhyāt)	मध्याभ्याम् (mádhyābhyām)	मध्येभ्यः (mádhyebhyaḥ)
genitive	मध्यस्य (mádhyasya)	मध्ययोः (mádhyayoḥ)	मध्यानाम् (mádhyānām)
locative	मध्ये (mádhye)	मध्ययोः (mádhyayoḥ)	मध्येषु (mádhyeṣu)
vocative	मध्य (mádhya)	मध्यौ (mádhyau) मध्या¹ (mádhyā¹)	मध्याः (mádhyāḥ) मध्यासः¹ (mádhyāsaḥ¹)

• ¹Vedic

Descendants

• Dardic:
  • Kashmiri: مَنٛز (manz)
• Ashokan Prakrit: 𑀫𑀛 (majha)
• Magadhi Prakrit: 𑀫𑀚𑁆𑀛 (majjha)
  • Assamese: মাজ (maz)
  • Bengali: মাঝ (majh), মেজ (mej), মেঝে (mejhe)
  • Magahi: माझ (mājh)
  • Odia: ମଝି (majhi)
  • Sylheti: ꠝꠣꠏ (mazó)
• Maharastri Prakrit: 𑀫𑀚𑁆𑀛 (majjha)
  • Marathi: माज (māj), माजी (mājī) (poetic)
• Paisaci Prakrit:
  • Punjabi: mañjh (“middle”) (noun)
    • Gurmukhi script: ਮੰਝ
    • Shahmukhi script: منجھ
  • Punjabi: maṉjhlā, majhlā (“middle, intermediate”), (adjective)
    • Gurmukhi script: ਮੰਝਲਾ, ਮਝਲਾ
    • Shahmukhi script: منجھلا, مجھلا
    • Punjabi: maṉjholā, majholā (alternative forms)
      • Gurmukhi script: ਮੰਝੋਲਾ, ਮਝੋਲਾ
      • Shahmukhi script: منجھولا, مجھولا
  • Punjabi: mājh (“in the midst of”), (postposition)
    • Gurmukhi script: ਮਾਝ
    • Shahmukhi script: ماجھ
  • Punjabi: maṉjhār (“in, within”) (archaic)
    • Gurmukhi script: ਮੰਝਾਰ
    • Shahmukhi script: منجھار
  • Punjabi: mājjhā (“Majha, central Punjab”)
    • Gurmukhi script: ਮਾਝਾ
    • Shahmukhi script: ماجھا
    • Punjabi: mājjhī (“Majhi dialect of Punjabi”)
      • Gurmukhi script: ਮਾਝੀ
      • Shahmukhi script: ماجھی
    • Punjabi: majhail (“native of Majha”)
      • Gurmukhi script: ਮਝੈਲ
      • Shahmukhi script: مجھیل
• Pali: majjha
• Sauraseni Prakrit: 𑀫𑀚𑁆𑀛 (majjha)
  • Old Gujarati: मांहि (māṃhi)
    • Gujarati: માં (mā̃)
  • Old Hindi:
    • Braj: माहिं (māhĩ, “in”)
    • Hindi: माँझ (māñjh) (obsolete), में (mẽ, “in”)
      • Urdu: میں (mẽ, “in”)
  • Pahari:
    • Nepali: मा (mā)
  • Romani: minʒ (possibly)
• → Bengali: মধ্য (moddho)
  • ⇒ Bengali: মধ্যে (moddhe)
• → Gujarati: મધ્ય (madhya)
  • ⇒ Gujarati: મધ્યે (madhye)
• → Hindi: मध्य (madhya)
• → Marathi: मध्य (madhya)
  • ⇒ Marathi: मध्ये (madhye), मधे (madhe)
• → Old Javanese: madhya
  • Javanese: ꦩꦢꦾ (madya)
    • → Indonesian: madya (“middle, medium”)
  • → Balinese: ᬫᬥ᭄ᬬ (madia)
• → Odia: ମଧ୍ୟ (madhya), ମଧ୍ୟେ (madhye)
• → Punjabi: ਮੱਧ (maddh)
• → Tamil: மதிய (matiya), மதியம் (matiyam), மத்தியம் (mattiyam)
• → Telugu: మధ్య (madhya), మధ్యము (madhyamu)

References

• Monier Williams (1899) “मध्य”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 781/3.
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (1996) Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen [Etymological Dictionary of Old Indo-Aryan]‎^[1] (in German), volume 2, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 303
• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “mádhya”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press

Further reading

• Hellwig, Oliver (2010–2025) “madhya”, in DCS - The Digital Corpus of Sanskrit, Berlin, Germany.