Skt.

Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Grammar and Dictionary

Skt.
Stands forSanskrit
CategoriesWriting & Everyday

Skt. stands for Sanskrit, a grammar and dictionary abbreviation.

Labels Sanskrit, the classical language of ancient India, as the source of a word in etymologies. Sanskrit is central to Indo-European linguistics and gave English religious and philosophical terms.

Example: karma (n.) from Skt. karman "action, deed, fate"

Usage notes

English words from Sanskrit include yoga, mantra, guru, avatar and nirvana, many arriving via Hindi or through Buddhist and Hindu texts. In 1786 Sir William Jones pointed out Sanskrit's resemblance to Greek and Latin, launching the study of the Indo-European family. Variants include Skr. and Sans.

More grammar and dictionary abbreviations

  • rel. – Relative
  • RP – Received Pronunciation
  • sb – Somebody
  • Scot. – Scottish
  • sg – Singular (linguistic glossing)
  • sing. – Singular
  • sl. – Slang
  • Sp. – Spanish
  • spec. – Specifically
  • sth – Something
  • subj. – Subject
  • superl. – Superlative

See all 93 grammar and dictionary abbreviations →