विमान (Hindi)
Where does "विमान" come from?
The Hindi word 'विमान' (vimāna) is borrowed from the Sanskrit term of the same name, which combines the prefix 'vi-' (apart) with 'māna' (measuring). Originally implying the concept of 'measuring out' or 'traversing' space, the word traces its deeper roots back to the Proto-Indo-European root '*men-', meaning to think or process. Over time, its meaning evolved from these abstract notions of calculation and movement into the modern term for an aircraft or airliner.
Full etymology tree
- विमान (vimān) (Hindi), 'airplane, aircraft, airliner, jet'
- borrowed विमान (vimāna) (Sanskrit), 'measuring out, traversing (RV., AV., MBh.)'
- compound वि- (vi-) (Sanskrit), 'Prefix to verbs or nouns and other parts of speech derived from verbs, to express division, distinction, distribution, arrangement, order, opposition, or deliberation.'
- inherited *wí (Proto-Indo-Iranian)
- inherited *wí (Proto-Indo-European), 'apart, asunder'
- inherited *wí (Proto-Indo-Iranian)
- compound मान (mā́na) (Sanskrit), 'opinion; notion; conception; idea'
- derived मन् (man) (Sanskrit), 'to think, believe, suppose'
- inherited *man- (Proto-Indo-Iranian)
- inherited *men- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to think, mind'
- inherited *man- (Proto-Indo-Iranian)
- suffix -अ (-a) (Sanskrit), 'creates action nouns from roots'
- derived मन् (man) (Sanskrit), 'to think, believe, suppose'
- compound वि- (vi-) (Sanskrit), 'Prefix to verbs or nouns and other parts of speech derived from verbs, to express division, distinction, distribution, arrangement, order, opposition, or deliberation.'
- borrowed विमान (vimāna) (Sanskrit), 'measuring out, traversing (RV., AV., MBh.)'
Ancestors
- विमान (Sanskrit)
Cognates and doublets
- बेवान (Hindi)
Descendants and derived words
- विमान-पत्तन (Hindi)
Updated June 2026
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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris