raj

Where does the word "raj" come from? It comes from Sanskrit rajya, passing through Hindi before entering English (1859).

Raj’s story begins in Sanskrit: rajya meant “sovereignty, kingship.” Meant 'kingship, sovereignty, royal rule'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as raj. The everyday word for rule or dominion. It reached English by 1859 as Raj. British colonists borrowed the word unchanged, applying it to their own rule over India. Today, raj means british rule over the Indian subcontinent from 1858 to 1947; more generally, dominion or rule.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient rajya "sovereignty, kingship", meant 'kingship, sovereignty, royal rule'.
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval raj "rule, dominion", the everyday word for rule or dominion.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1859 Raj "British rule over the Indian subcontinent (1858-1947)", British colonists borrowed the word unchanged, applying it to their own rule over India.