Fruit is an integral component of our diets, and learning their names in different languages can be an invaluable way of expanding knowledge. This guide covers ten fruits in Sanskrit with both their English and Hindi names included for reference.
Grapes were brought into India by Persian invaders, while apples arrived via Mughal emperors.
1. Coconut
Coconut is a tropical fruit that isn’t technically classified as a nut (it’s technically classified as a drupe, not a proper nut). Coconuts have long been part of South Indian culture and are used in religious and social ceremonies, curries, desserts, and as natural sources of electrolytes during hot temperatures. Beach-goers and those looking to stay hydrated often turn to them.
Coconuts in India have long been seen as symbols of wealth and prosperity, used as part of worship services, and given away as offerings at temples. Their tree is considered a “kalpa vriksha,” or wish-fulfilling plant, as it meets all essential life requirements – making it a fixture at many Indian wedding ceremonies, welcoming visitors, or as a sign that someone needs help or comfort during a difficult time.
2. Grapes
Grapes are small, round fruits that grow on woody vines in clusters. Grapes are widely known to be critical components in wine-making processes and are also delicious when consumed fresh or dried in salads or as snacks; plus, they’re an excellent source of vitamin C!
Vitis vinifera, commonly cultivated worldwide for its fruits, juices, and wines, is native to the Mediterranean region, Central Asia, and Southwestern China and can even be found as remnants in lake dwellings dating back to prehistoric times. It is an indispensable plant in agricultural settings.
Grapes (Draksha, Swadufal Madhurasa, or Mirdvikka) have long been used in Ayurveda as a remedy to relieve thirst and prevent bleeding disorders; diuretic, astringent, and cooling properties make grapes effective at balancing vata and pitta; they make excellent appetizers, improve nutrition and contribute to weight loss as well as acting as an aphrodisiac; they have even been used in treating cough, asthma, fever and gout symptoms.
3. Cherry
Hindu parents cherish the name Cherry as an elegant yet meaningful name for their infant daughters. Derived from Hindi, the word cherry’s meaning includes cherry fruit, dear, beloved, form of Cheryl, and brotherly love.
Cherries are deciduous trees native to Eastern Asia that have become widely cultivated across India and other countries. Their delicate bloom is known as sakura (cherry blossom).
Sakura flowers are used to add beauty and fragrance to decorations, while their tree produces highly sought-after fruits – particularly the Sakura (also known as Aamrm or Guava in Hindi), which is known for its sweet taste and fragrant blossoms. Part of the Prunus Genus, Sakura fruit was introduced into Europe during the 16th Century trade from India.
4. Strawberry
Strawberry appears as a symbol of fertility and spiritual purity in Christian imagery. Additionally, its association with earthly pleasures could explain why Hieronymus Bosch painted his Garden of Earthly Delights painting including strawberries, among other fruits, as one of the subjects.
Other types of berries appear in the painting as well, with strawberries standing out among them due to their similarity to straw or their etymology: blackberry, blueberry, cranberry and boysenberry are bound morphemes whose meaning can only be understood when combined with “berry”.
Similar examples include loganberry and custard apple, which both use compound words that combine words. This trend isn’t unique to English; Latin and Italian also tend to utilize compounds for foods; perhaps this reflects slower formation times for these languages in comparison with Germanic and English languages.
5. Apple
Apples are the fruit of the Malus domestica tree, native to Eurasia. Widely cultivated and beloved across cultures around the globe for their firm, rounded edible fruit, apples also hold religious and mythological significance for various religions in the world.
Akbar brought this sweet fruit to India during his reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar, and it quickly flourished there in cool climates – including Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh in the northern states of India.
Apples are a widely consumed fruit in India, and their names appear numerous times throughout Indian scriptures, like Vedas. In Sanskrit, apple is known as svaaduphala – this term stands for extraordinary happiness, satisfaction, and contentment – it can even be used as a girl’s name! What do you think? Is this name suitable, or does it sound too childish to you? That decision lies with you alone!
6. Peach
Peaches are sweet, juicy fruits harvested from trees with delicate fragrance. Peaches are used widely in baking and have earned themselves a reputation for flavorful taste. Furthermore, they have long been seen as symbols of immortality across cultures – they even appear in popular culture, such as Princess Peach from the Mario video game series and Peach Landis on 2 Broke Girls being named after this fruit!
Peaches (Prunus persica), deciduous flowering plants belonging to the rose family, are widely grown worldwide, with China and Italy being significant producers. Peach fruits feature soft, fuzzy skin with sweet, fragrant flesh; mature fruits may either have freestones that separate easily from their pulp or may adhere firmly to the stone when ripe.
7. Orange
One of the more difficult linguistic riddles, similar to “chicken or egg,” concerns orange fruit or color.
Oranges were first brought into Europe via Persian and Arabic languages in the early 1500s, eventually becoming popular market fare. Over time, however, their color became identifiable as orange and inspired its description by way of name, so much so that its very existence gave rise to its exact name!
Orange doesn’t rhyme in English, though people have devised half-rhymes or near rhymes like range and syringe to try and make it rhyme. This lack of rhymes is typical when discussing words that describe multiple colors, such as food.
8. Mango
Mangoes are an iconic fruit used in numerous dishes, from desserts to smoothies. Additionally, the mango is seen as a symbol of love and affection, as depicted by the Hindu god Krishna carrying Radha on its branches.
Sanskrit for “mango” is amra (), while its scientific name, Mangifera, can also be used. Amra may be derived from the Dravidian loan word amrakaru>, which derives its meaning from the Latin ferre, meaning to carry or bring (see licorice and bear’s garlic for reference).
Mango pulp can be used in medicine to treat diarrhea and dysentery, while its bark, flower, and seed kernel powders have antiseptic and astringent properties that help stop bleeding from wounds. Furthermore, its dried pulp acts as an excellent aphrodisiac by increasing semen production and sexual vigor while simultaneously decreasing both Kapha dosha and Pitta dosha levels in the body.
9. Banana
Bananas are an exceptionally delicious tropical fruit eaten worldwide. As part of the banana family, bananas possess a distinctive sweet taste. Their Sanskrit word for banana is ‘.
The term banana derives its name from Sanskrit words meaning sweet, as the plant native to Southeast Asia produces large seed-bearing bunches shaped like bananas that bear seeds that produce sweet nectar-filled pods that contain many seeds that have banana-shaped fruits that produce sugary nectar-laden nectar that give banana its characteristic aroma and flavor. Bananas can also be found growing wild around Europe. Various languages use this word, such as English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Russian, when discussing bananas.
Sanskrit, which belongs to the Indo-European family of languages, can be traced back to Proto-Indo-Iranian, which has its roots in Iranian and Aryan languages. Today, it serves as the literary language of Hinduism as well as Jainism and Buddhism – it remains widely used across scholarly, academic, and technical writings in India today.
10. Pineapple
Pineapples are iconic tropical fruits, conjuring images of tropical beaches, palm trees swaying gently, and umbrella-topped cocktails. But where did their name originate? Ananas (pineapple) derives its name from the Tupi language spoken by indigenous Brazilian people. European explorers discovered it there and named it for its pinecone-like form.
Pineapples have long been used in Ayurveda to treat anorexia, improve digestion, and increase strength. Furthermore, pineapple is an effective diuretic, vermifuge, and emmenagogue; their leaf juice may even be used for fever relief and digestive health.
Pineapple is an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese. Additionally, pineapple provides fiber and potassium. Pineapple has long been considered an antidote against heat and dampness by helping regulate water supply while dispersing wind currents – all beneficial qualities in Chinese medicine as well. Furthermore, pineapple is featured in many Chinese dishes.
