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noun

Pali

PAH-lee
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Pali (noun) means an ancient Indian language closely related to Sanskrit, used as the sacred language of Theravada Buddhist scripture. Example: “Many early Buddhist texts were written in Pali.”

noun
1
An ancient Indian language closely related to Sanskrit, used as the sacred language of Theravada Buddhist scripture.
"Many early Buddhist texts were written in Pali."

How to use Pali

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe classical language in which the earliest Buddhist scriptures were recorded.

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Word forms

Plural
Palis
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Many early Buddhist texts were written in _____.

Etymology

A learned borrowing from Sanskrit pāli.

Origin: Sanskrit

Rhymes for Pali

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Pali” mean?
The word “Pali” means an ancient Indian language closely related to Sanskrit, used as the sacred language of Theravada Buddhist scripture. In plain terms, the classical language in which the earliest Buddhist scriptures were recorded.
How do you pronounce “Pali”?
“Pali” is pronounced PAH-lee (/ˈpɑːli/ in IPA).
How do you use “Pali” in a sentence?
Here is “Pali” used in a sentence: “Many early Buddhist texts were written in Pali.”
What part of speech is “Pali”?
“Pali” is a noun.
Where does the word “Pali” come from?
The word “Pali” comes from Sanskrit. A learned borrowing from Sanskrit pāli.

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