A compact map of Sanskrit to Pāḷi
February 14, 2026
Here is a concise map of major sound changes from Old Indo-Aryan (Sanskrit) -> Middle Indo-Aryan (Pāḷi).
Consonant Cluster Simplification (Biggest Change)
Middle Indo-Aryan strongly simplifies clusters.
Stop + Stop -> Geminate
| Sanskrit | Meaning | Pāḷi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| dharma | law, doctrine | dhamma | teaching, doctrine |
| karma | action | kamma | action, deed |
| sapta | seven | satta | seven |
Rule (simplified): r + consonant often disappears; cluster becomes doubled consonant.
dhy -> jh
| Sanskrit | Meaning | Pāḷi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| dhyāna | meditation | jhāna | meditative absorption |
| dhyāyati | meditates | jhāyati | meditates |
| upādhyāya | preceptor, teacher | upajjhāya | monastic preceptor |
jñ -> ññ / ñā
| Sanskrit | Meaning | Pāḷi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| jñāna | knowledge | ñāṇa | knowledge, insight |
| ajña | ignorant person | añña | ignorant; "other" (by development) |
kṣ -> kkh / kh
| Sanskrit | Meaning | Pāḷi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| kṣetra | field | khetta | field |
| kṣānti | patience, forbearance | khanti | patience, endurance |
Loss of r in Clusters
Sanskrit r in clusters often disappears and causes doubling:
| Sanskrit | Meaning | Pāḷi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| karma | action | kamma | action |
| varṇa | color, class | vaṇṇa | color, appearance |
| śraddhā | faith | saddhā | faith, confidence |
Assimilation & Gemination
Clusters assimilate to nearby sounds:
| Sanskrit | Meaning | Pāḷi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| satya | truth | sacca | truth |
| tattva | principle, reality | tatta | that-ness; reality |
Sibilant Simplification
Sanskrit has 3 sibilants (ś ṣ s). Pāḷi reduces them mostly to s.
| Sanskrit | Meaning | Pāḷi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| śīla | moral conduct | sīla | moral virtue |
| śraddhā | faith | saddhā | faith |
Vowel Changes
Less dramatic than consonants, but:
- ai -> e
- au -> o
| Sanskrit | Meaning | Pāḷi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| maitrī | loving-kindness | mettā | loving-kindness |
| gaurava | weight, respect | garava | respect |
Aspiration Often Preserved
Unlike later Prakrits, Pāḷi often keeps aspiration:
| Sanskrit | Meaning | Pāḷi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| bhikṣu | mendicant, monk | bhikkhu | Buddhist monk |
| buddha | awakened one | buddha | the awakened one |
| duḥkha | suffering, pain | dukkha | suffering, unsatisfactoriness |
| laghu | light (in weight) | lahu | light, swift |
Big Picture
Old Indo-Aryan -> Middle Indo-Aryan (Pāḷi) shifts:
- Complex clusters -> simplified
- r in clusters -> lost + doubling
- dhy -> jh
- jñ -> ññ
- kṣ -> kkh/kh
- Three sibilants -> mostly one (s)
- Diphthongs simplified
Pāḷi is therefore phonologically simpler and more regular than classical Sanskrit.