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Where does the word "rajah" come from? It comes from Sanskrit raja, passing through Hindi before entering English (1500s-1600s).
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Where does the word "rajah" come from? It comes from Sanskrit raja, passing through Hindi before entering English (1500s-1600s).
Rajah’s story begins in Sanskrit: raja meant “king, ruler.” Meaning "king" or "ruler". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as raja. Used as a title for Indian kings and princes. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as rajah. Sanskrit 'king', related to Latin 'rex'; the White Rajahs of Sarawak were British. Today, rajah means a title for a king or prince in India or Southeast Asia.
- Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient raja "king, ruler", meaning "king" or "ruler".
- Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval raja "a king or prince", used as a title for Indian kings and princes.
- Stage 3 · English · 1500s-1600s rajah "an Indian king or prince", Sanskrit 'king', related to Latin 'rex'; the White Rajahs of Sarawak were British.