sangha

Where does the word "sangha" come from? It comes from Sanskrit samgha, passing through Hindi before entering English (19th-20th c.).

Sangha’s story begins in Sanskrit: samgha meant “an assembly, community.” Compound meaning 'together' and 'in contact', a gathered community. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as sangha. Remained the general word for community or association. It reached English by 19th-20th c. as sangha. Adopted in English writing on Buddhism for the monastic community. Today, sangha means the Buddhist monastic community of monks and nuns; more broadly, a spiritual community.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient samgha "an assembly, community", compound meaning 'together' and 'in contact', a gathered community.
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval sangha "a community, association", remained the general word for community or association.
3. Stage 3 · English · 19th-20th c. sangha "the Buddhist monastic community, or community of practitioners", adopted in English writing on Buddhism for the monastic community.