Svara
/ˈsvɑː.rə/noun
In Indian music, a svara is a musical pitch or note, especially one of the seven basic notes of a scale.
Did you know?The seven traditional svaras are abbreviated as sa, ri, ga, ma, pa, dha, and ni, forming the foundation of Indian classical solfège.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*swerh₂-
“To sound, speak, or make a resonant noise”
Proto-Indo-Iranian
PII
*swarás
“Sounding or producing a sound”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
svará
“A sound, tone, musical note, or intoned accent”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
svara
“A musical note or pitch, especially within a scale”
Modern English
English
svara
“A pitch or note in Indian classical music”