Arya
/ˈɑːr.jə/noun
A Sanskrit and Indo-Iranian term meaning 'noble' or 'honorable'; also a personal name in modern use.
Did you know?Arya is an ancient Indo-Iranian self-designation meaning “noble,” and its deep root is shared with words for honor and order across related languages.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-Iranian
PII
rya-
“noble, honorable; a member of the in-group”
Old Persian
OP
ariya-
“Aryan; belonging to the Iranian people”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
rya-
“noble, worthy, honorable”
Avestan
Avestan
airya-
“Aryan; noble, belonging to the people”
Modern English
English
Arya
“A personal name and loanword based on the ancient Indo-Iranian term”
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