Jangal
/ˈdʒæŋ.ɡəl/noun
A wild, uncultivated tract of land, especially one covered with scrub or forest.
Did you know?The English word “jungle” entered through the same South Asian word family as *jangal*, whose older Sanskrit sense could mean rough, dry, or uncultivated terrain—not necessarily a lush rainforest.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
jaṅgala
“Dry, rough, barren, or uncultivated land”
Medieval Indo-Aryan
Prakrit
jaṅgala
“Wild or uncultivated country”
18th Century
Hindi/Urdu
jangal
“Forest, wilderness, or uncultivated tract”
18th–19th Century
Anglo-Indian English
jangal
“A wild or wooded area, especially in India”
18th Century
English
jungle
“A dense tropical forest or wild region”
Modern English
English
jangal
“A rare English term for wilderness or scrub-covered land”