Sunya
/ˈʃuːn.jə/noun
A Sanskrit-derived term referring to emptiness, voidness, or zero, especially in Buddhist and Hindu philosophical contexts.
Did you know?In Indian mathematics, the concept represented by śūnya helped make positional zero possible, while Buddhist philosophy used the same word for the emptiness of inherent existence.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱuH-n-yós
“Reconstructed form associated with emptiness or hollowness; the deeper origin is debated.”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
śūnya
“Empty, void, vacant, or hollow.”
5th–7th Century
Sanskrit
śūnya
“A term used for zero in developing Indian mathematical notation.”
7th Century
Sanskrit
śūnya
“Emptiness or lack of inherent essence in Buddhist philosophical writing.”
19th–20th Century
English
sunya
“An English transliteration used in discussions of Indian philosophy, Buddhism, and mathematics.”