Kumbhar
/ˈkʊm.bɑːr/noun
A member of a traditional South Asian potter community or caste, especially in India and Nepal.
Did you know?The Sanskrit root behind Kumbhar is also associated with kumbha, the ritual water pot and the zodiac sign Aquarius, though Kumbhar specifically developed as a word for a potter.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
kumbha
“A pot, pitcher, or water jar”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
kumbhakāra
“A potter; literally, a maker of pots”
Middle Indo-Aryan
Prakrit
kumbhakāra / kumbhāra
“A potter or maker of earthen vessels”
Medieval period
Apabhraṃśa
kumbhāra
“A potter and, increasingly, a hereditary occupational community”
Modern South Asian languages
Hindi/Marathi
Kumhār / Kumbhār
“A potter; a traditional caste or community associated with pottery”
Modern English
English
Kumbhar
“An English-language spelling used for the South Asian potter community or caste”
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