Suvarna
/sʊˈvɜːr.nə/noun
A Sanskrit-derived term meaning gold, especially a gold coin or a golden substance.
Did you know?In ancient Indian religious and literary traditions, suvarṇa was not merely money or metal; gold was repeatedly associated with purity, immortality, solar brilliance, and divine splendor.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁su-
“Good, favorable, or well”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
su-
“Good, excellent, or auspicious; a productive prefix”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
suvarṇa
“Gold; traditionally analyzed as “good-colored” or “beautifully colored””
Middle Indo-Aryan
Pali
suvaṇṇa
“Gold, golden substance, or golden object”
Classical and Medieval India
Sanskrit
suvarṇa
“Gold, a gold coin, or something golden in religious and literary usage”
Modern English
English
suvarna
“A Sanskrit-derived term used in English discussions of Indian history, religion, culture, and ancient coinage”