Devanagari

[dey-vuh-nah-guh-ree]

noun

1. an alphabetic script with some syllabic features derived from Brahmi, used for the writing of Hindi and many other languages of India including Sanskrit.

Devanagari

/ ˌdeɪvəˈnɑːɡərɪ /

noun

1. a syllabic script in which Sanskrit, Hindi, and other modern languages of India are written

Word History and Origins

Origin of Devanagari¹

First recorded in 1775–85; from Sanskrit devanāgarī, equivalent to deva- “god” + nāgarī “pertaining to a city, urbane, refined,” hence “city (writing),” feminine singular adjective derived from nagara- “city”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Devanagari¹

C18: from Sanskrit: alphabet of the gods, from deva god + nagari an Indian alphabet

Example Sentences

He wanted to make a small number of good Urdu poems accessible by presenting each in three different scripts — in the original Urdu; in Devanagari, the script of Hindi; and in English transliteration.

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Amazon decided that some words and phrases, like “free,” “jeans” and “cash on delivery,” should be kept in English but written using Hindi’s Devanagari script.

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Amazon decided that some words and phrases, like “free,” “jeans” and “cash on delivery” should be kept in English but written using Hindi’s Devanagari script.

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Twenty-one were taught to read and write the Devanagari script, which is used in Hindi and other Indian languages, over six months.

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Can you imagine if, instead of Hindi's Devanagari script, it were written in Chinese?

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