Maharaja
/ˌmɑːhəˈrɑːdʒə/noun
A great king or princely ruler, especially in India.
Did you know?The word comes from Sanskrit *mahā* (“great”) + *rājan* (“king”), the same ancient royal root behind words like *regal* and *rex*.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meh2-
“great, large”
Sanskrit
Skt
mahā
“great, mighty”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reg-
“to move in a straight line; to rule, lead”
Sanskrit
Skt
rājan
“king, ruler”
Perso-Indic / Sanskrit
Skt
mahārāja
“great king, high king”
English
Eng
maharaja
“a great king or princely ruler in India”