Amla
/ˈɑːm.lə/noun
The small, sour fruit of the Indian gooseberry tree, also called emblic or Phyllanthus emblica.
Did you know?In Ayurveda, amla is a central ingredient in rasayana preparations—formulas traditionally associated with rejuvenation, longevity, and restoring vitality.
Etymological Timeline
Sanskrit
Sanskrit
āmalakī
“The Indian gooseberry tree or its fruit”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
amla
“Sour, acidic, or sharp-tasting”
Middle Indo-Aryan
Prakrit
āmalaya
“A form referring to the amla fruit”
Medieval Indian languages
Hindi and related languages
āmlā
“The Indian gooseberry”
19th Century
English
amla
“A South Asian name for the Indian gooseberry”
Modern English
English
amla
“The fruit used as a food, botanical ingredient, and Ayurvedic herb”