arhat (English)
Where does "arhat" come from?
The word 'arhat' originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂elgʷʰ-, which conveyed the concepts of worth, value, and price. In Sanskrit, it evolved into the term 'arhat,' signifying one who is 'worthy of worship' or has attained spiritual enlightenment by shedding all worldly passions. This title for a Buddhist saint shares the same linguistic ancestors as terms relating to value and merit.
Full etymology tree
- arhat (English), 'One who has attained enlightenment; a Buddhist saint.'
- borrowed अर्हत् (arhat) (Sanskrit), 'deserving, entitled to (+ accusative) (RV.)'
- derived अर्ह् (arh) (Sanskrit), 'to deserve, merit, be worthy of'
- derived अर्हति (árhati) (Sanskrit), 'to be worth'
- inherited *Hárźʰati (Proto-Indo-Aryan)
- inherited *Hárǰʰati (Proto-Indo-Iranian), 'to be worth, have value; to cost'
- inherited *h₂elgʷʰ- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to cost, have value, be worth'
- inherited *Hárǰʰati (Proto-Indo-Iranian), 'to be worth, have value; to cost'
- inherited *Hárźʰati (Proto-Indo-Aryan)
- derived अर्हति (árhati) (Sanskrit), 'to be worth'
- derived अर्ह् (arh) (Sanskrit), 'to deserve, merit, be worthy of'
- borrowed अर्हत् (arhat) (Sanskrit), 'deserving, entitled to (+ accusative) (RV.)'
Direct ancestors
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris