Namo
/ˈnɑː.moʊ/noun
A Buddhist or Hindu expression meaning homage, reverence, or obeisance, often used in chants and devotional formulas.
Did you know?In Buddhist formulas such as “Namo Amitabha,” the word preserves an ancient ritual idea that uttering a name can publicly enact devotion and allegiance.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nem-
“To bend, bow, or allot and distribute; the reconstructed root behind several later religious and social terms.”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
námas
“Bowing, obeisance, homage, or reverence.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
namaḥ
“A formal devotional expression meaning homage or reverence; the final consonant changes in certain grammatical contexts.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
namo
“A sandhi form of namaḥ, commonly appearing before particular following sounds in compounds and formulas.”
Pali
Pali
namo
“Homage or reverence, especially in Buddhist devotional language and chanting.”
Modern English
English
namo
“A loanword used mainly in translations, Buddhist practice, chants, and names of devotional formulas.”