राम

See also: रोम, रमा, रामा, रूम, रम, and रमी

Hindi

Etymology

Inherited from Sanskrit राम (rāma).

Pronunciation

(Delhi) IPA^(key): /ɾɑːm/, [ɾä̃ːm]
Audio: (file)

Proper noun

राम • (rām) m (Urdu spelling رام)

(Hinduism) Rama
राम राम ― rām rām ― hello (among Hindus)

Declension

Declension of *राम* (sg-only masc cons-stem)
	singular
direct	राम rām
oblique	राम rām
vocative	राम rām

Derived terms

References

McGregor, Ronald Stuart (1993) “राम”, in The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, London: Oxford University Press
Dāsa, Śyāmasundara (1965–1975) “राम”, in Hindī Śabdasāgara [lit. Sea of Hindi words] (in Hindi), Kashi [Varanasi]: Nagari Pracarini Sabha
Bahri, Hardev (1989) “राम”, in Siksarthi Hindi-Angrejhi Sabdakosa [Learners' Hindi-English Dictionary], Delhi: Rajpal & Sons.
Caturvedi, Mahendra, Bhola Nath Tiwari (1970) “राम”, in A practical Hindi-English dictionary, Delhi: National Publishing House
Hardev Bahri (2013) “राम”, in राजपाल हिंदी शब्दकोश [rājpāl hindī śabdakoś, Rajpal Hindi Dictionary], Rajpal and Sons, →ISBN

“राम”, in ریخْتَہ لُغَت (rexta luġat) - Rekhta Dictionary [Urdu dictionary with meanings in Hindi & English], Noida, India: Rekhta Foundation, 2025.
Platts, John T. (1884) “राम”, in A dictionary of Urdu, classical Hindi, and English, London: W. H. Allen & Co.

Pali

Alternative forms

Alternative scripts

rāma (Latin script)
𑀭𑀸𑀫 (Brahmi script)
রাম (Bengali script)
රාම (Sinhalese script)
ရာမ or ရႃမ (Burmese script)
ราม or รามะ (Thai script)
ᩁᩣᨾ (Tai Tham script)
ຣາມ or ຣາມະ (Lao script)
រាម (Khmer script)
𑄢𑄂𑄟 (Chakma script)

Noun

राम m

Devanagari script form of rāma (“delight”)

Declension

Declension table of "राम" (masculine)

Case \ Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	रामो (rāmo)	रामा (rāmā)
Accusative (second)	रामं (rāmaṃ)	रामे (rāme)
Instrumental (third)	रामेन (rāmena)	रामेहि (rāmehi) or रामेभि (rāmebhi)
Dative (fourth)	रामस्स (rāmassa) or रामाय (rāmāya) or रामत्थं (rāmatthaṃ)	रामानं (rāmānaṃ)
Ablative (fifth)	रामस्मा (rāmasmā) or रामम्हा (rāmamhā) or रामा (rāmā)	रामेहि (rāmehi) or रामेभि (rāmebhi)
Genitive (sixth)	रामस्स (rāmassa)	रामानं (rāmānaṃ)
Locative (seventh)	रामस्मिं (rāmasmiṃ) or रामम्हि (rāmamhi) or रामे (rāme)	रामेसु (rāmesu)
Vocative (calling)	राम (rāma)	रामा (rāmā)

Sanskrit

Alternative scripts

ৰাম (Assamese script)
ᬭᬵᬫ (Balinese script)
রাম (Bengali script)
𑰨𑰯𑰦 (Bhaiksuki script)
𑀭𑀸𑀫 (Brahmi script)
ရာမ (Burmese script)
રામ (Gujarati script)
ਰਾਮ (Gurmukhi script)
𑌰𑌾𑌮 (Grantha script)
ꦫꦴꦩ (Javanese script)
𑂩𑂰𑂧 (Kaithi script)
ರಾಮ (Kannada script)
រាម (Khmer script)
ຣາມ (Lao script)
രാമ (Malayalam script)
ᡵᠠ᠎᠊ᠠᠮᠠ (Manchu script)
𑘨𑘰𑘦 (Modi script)
ᠷᠠᢗᠮᠠ᠋ (Mongolian script)
𑧈𑧑𑧆 (Nandinagari script)
𑐬𑐵𑐩 (Newa script)
ରାମ (Odia script)
ꢬꢵꢪ (Saurashtra script)
𑆫𑆳𑆩 (Sharada script)
𑖨𑖯𑖦 (Siddham script)
රාම (Sinhalese script)
𑩼𑩛𑩴 (Soyombo script)
𑚤𑚭𑚢 (Takri script)
ராம (Tamil script)
రామ (Telugu script)
ราม (Thai script)
རཱ་མ (Tibetan script)
𑒩𑒰𑒧 (Tirhuta script)
𑨫𑨊𑨢 (Zanabazar Square script)

Etymology

Unknown; possibly related to Old English rōmiġ (“sooty”), presuming Proto-Indo-European *HreH-mó-s.^[1]^[2] Monier considers it to be a derivation from रम् (ram, “to enjoy; to stay”).

Pronunciation

(Vedic) IPA^(key): /ɾɑː.mɐ/
(Classical Sanskrit) IPA^(key): /ɾɑː.mɐ/

Adjective

राम • (rāma) stem

dark, dark-coloured, black (compare रात्रि (rātri))
white (?)
pleasing, pleasant, charming, lovely, beautiful

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of राम
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	रामः (rāmaḥ)	रामौ (rāmau) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)	रामाः (rāmāḥ) रामासः¹ (rāmāsaḥ¹)
accusative	रामम् (rāmam)	रामौ (rāmau) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)	रामान् (rāmān)
instrumental	रामेण (rāmeṇa)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामैः (rāmaiḥ) रामेभिः¹ (rāmebhiḥ¹)
dative	रामाय (rāmāya)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामेभ्यः (rāmebhyaḥ)
ablative	रामात् (rāmāt)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामेभ्यः (rāmebhyaḥ)
genitive	रामस्य (rāmasya)	रामयोः (rāmayoḥ)	रामाणाम् (rāmāṇām)
locative	रामे (rāme)	रामयोः (rāmayoḥ)	रामेषु (rāmeṣu)
vocative	राम (rāma)	रामौ (rāmau) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)	रामाः (rāmāḥ) रामासः¹ (rāmāsaḥ¹)

¹Vedic

Feminine ā-stem declension of रामा
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	रामा (rāmā)	रामे (rāme)	रामाः (rāmāḥ)
accusative	रामाम् (rāmām)	रामे (rāme)	रामाः (rāmāḥ)
instrumental	रामया (rāmayā) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामाभिः (rāmābhiḥ)
dative	रामायै (rāmāyai)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामाभ्यः (rāmābhyaḥ)
ablative	रामायाः (rāmāyāḥ) रामायै² (rāmāyai²)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामाभ्यः (rāmābhyaḥ)
genitive	रामायाः (rāmāyāḥ) रामायै² (rāmāyai²)	रामयोः (rāmayoḥ)	रामाणाम् (rāmāṇām)
locative	रामायाम् (rāmāyām)	रामयोः (rāmayoḥ)	रामासु (rāmāsu)
vocative	रामे (rāme)	रामे (rāme)	रामाः (rāmāḥ)

¹Vedic
²Brāhmaṇas

Neuter a-stem declension of राम
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	रामम् (rāmam)	रामे (rāme)	रामाणि (rāmāṇi) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)
accusative	रामम् (rāmam)	रामे (rāme)	रामाणि (rāmāṇi) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)
instrumental	रामेण (rāmeṇa)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामैः (rāmaiḥ) रामेभिः¹ (rāmebhiḥ¹)
dative	रामाय (rāmāya)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामेभ्यः (rāmebhyaḥ)
ablative	रामात् (rāmāt)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामेभ्यः (rāmebhyaḥ)
genitive	रामस्य (rāmasya)	रामयोः (rāmayoḥ)	रामाणाम् (rāmāṇām)
locative	रामे (rāme)	रामयोः (rāmayoḥ)	रामेषु (rāmeṣu)
vocative	राम (rāma)	रामे (rāme)	रामाणि (rāmāṇi) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)

¹Vedic

Noun

राम • (rāma) stem, m

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of राम
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	रामः (rāmaḥ)	रामौ (rāmau) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)	रामाः (rāmāḥ) रामासः¹ (rāmāsaḥ¹)
accusative	रामम् (rāmam)	रामौ (rāmau) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)	रामान् (rāmān)
instrumental	रामेण (rāmeṇa)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामैः (rāmaiḥ) रामेभिः¹ (rāmebhiḥ¹)
dative	रामाय (rāmāya)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामेभ्यः (rāmebhyaḥ)
ablative	रामात् (rāmāt)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामेभ्यः (rāmebhyaḥ)
genitive	रामस्य (rāmasya)	रामयोः (rāmayoḥ)	रामाणाम् (rāmāṇām)
locative	रामे (rāme)	रामयोः (rāmayoḥ)	रामेषु (rāmeṣu)
vocative	राम (rāma)	रामौ (rāmau) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)	रामाः (rāmāḥ) रामासः¹ (rāmāsaḥ¹)

¹Vedic

Noun

राम • (rāma) stem, n

same meanings as masculine gender
the leaf of Laurus cassia
Chenopodium album
= कुष्ठ (kuṣṭha)

Declension

Neuter a-stem declension of राम
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	रामम् (rāmam)	रामे (rāme)	रामाणि (rāmāṇi) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)
accusative	रामम् (rāmam)	रामे (rāme)	रामाणि (rāmāṇi) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)
instrumental	रामेण (rāmeṇa)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामैः (rāmaiḥ) रामेभिः¹ (rāmebhiḥ¹)
dative	रामाय (rāmāya)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामेभ्यः (rāmebhyaḥ)
ablative	रामात् (rāmāt)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामेभ्यः (rāmebhyaḥ)
genitive	रामस्य (rāmasya)	रामयोः (rāmayoḥ)	रामाणाम् (rāmāṇām)
locative	रामे (rāme)	रामयोः (rāmayoḥ)	रामेषु (rāmeṣu)
vocative	राम (rāma)	रामे (rāme)	रामाणि (rāmāṇi) रामा¹ (rāmā¹)

¹Vedic

Proper noun

राम • (rāma) stem, m

(Hinduism) Rāma, son of Dasharatha and Kausalya, an avatar of Vishnu.
Synonyms: दाशरथ (dāśaratha), पीताम्बर (pītāmbara), राघव (rāghava)
- c. 500 BCE – 100 BCE, Rāmāyaṇa 1.29.24:
  अद्य गच्छामहे राम सिद्धाश्रममनुत्तमम्।
  तदाश्रमपदं तात तवाप्येतद्यथा मम॥
  adya gacchāmahe rāma siddhāśramamanuttamam.
  tadāśramapadaṃ tāta tavāpyetadyathā mama.
  O Rāma, now let's go to the unparalleled Siddhashrama.
  O child this asrama is the same to you as it is to me (treat this as your own).
an epithet of Varuna
name of various mythical personages in the Vedas.

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of राम
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	रामः (rāmaḥ)	रामौ (rāmau)	रामाः (rāmāḥ)
accusative	रामम् (rāmam)	रामौ (rāmau)	रामान् (rāmān)
instrumental	रामेण (rāmeṇa)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामैः (rāmaiḥ)
dative	रामाय (rāmāya)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामेभ्यः (rāmebhyaḥ)
ablative	रामात् (rāmāt)	रामाभ्याम् (rāmābhyām)	रामेभ्यः (rāmebhyaḥ)
genitive	रामस्य (rāmasya)	रामयोः (rāmayoḥ)	रामाणाम् (rāmāṇām)
locative	रामे (rāme)	रामयोः (rāmayoḥ)	रामेषु (rāmeṣu)
vocative	राम (rāma)	रामौ (rāmau)	रामाः (rāmāḥ)

Derived terms

रामकिर्ति (rāmakirti)
रामचन्द्र (rāmacandra)
रामदास (rāmadāsa)
रामदूत (rāmadūta)
रामनवमी (rāmanavamī)
रामराज्य (rāmarājya)
रामलीला (rāmalīlā)
रामसेतु (rāmasetu)
रामा (rāmā)
रामानुज (rāmānuja)
रामायण (rāmāyaṇa)

Descendants

→ Bengali: রাম (ram)
→ Burmese: ရာမ (rama.)
→ Chinese: 羅摩 / 罗摩 (Luómó)
→ Hindi: राम (rām)
→ Khmer: រាម (riəm)
→ Lao: ຣາມ (rām)
→ Malay: Rama
→ Malayalam: രാമൻ (rāmaṉ), രാമ (rāma), രാം (rāṁ), റാം (ṟāṁ)
→ Marathi: राम (rām)
→ Nepali: राम (rām)
→ Old Javanese: rāma
- Javanese: ꦫꦩ (rama)
  - → Indonesian: rama, romo (semantic loan)
- → Balinese: ᬭᬵᬫ (rama)
→ Odia: ରାମ (rāma)
→ Punjabi: ਰਾਮ (rām)
→ Sinhalese: රාම (rāma)
→ Tamil: இராமர் (irāmar)
→ Telugu: రాముఁడు (rāmun̆ḍu)
→ Thai: ราม (raam)

References

^ Mayrhofer, Manfred (1992–2001) “rāmá-”, in Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen [Etymological Dictionary of Old Indo-Aryan]‎^[1] (in German), Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 449
^ Mallory, J. P., Adams, D. Q., editors (1997), “*rēmós”, in Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture, London, Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, page 160

Monier Williams (1899) “राम”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 0877.

[1] Mayrhofer, Manfred (1992–2001) “rāmá-”, in Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen [Etymological Dictionary of Old Indo-Aryan]‎^[1] (in German), Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 449

[2] Mallory, J. P., Adams, D. Q., editors (1997), “*rēmós”, in Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture, London, Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, page 160

[1]

[2]