Buddha
|bud-dha|
/ˈbʊdə/
the awakened one / enlightened person
Etymology
'Buddha' originates from Sanskrit, specifically the word 'budh' (root) and the past participle 'buddha', where 'budh' meant 'to wake, to know' and 'buddha' meant 'awakened' or 'one who knows'.
'Buddha' entered English via Pali and Sanskrit through European scholarship and translations of Buddhist texts in the 18th–19th centuries; the Sanskrit and Pali term 'buddha' was adopted into English largely unchanged.
Initially it meant 'awakened' or 'one who is awake/aware' in Sanskrit and Pali; over time it became the specific title in English for Siddhartha Gautama and more generally for an enlightened being in Buddhism.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the historical founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, often referred to as 'the Buddha'.
Many pilgrims travel to the site associated with the Buddha's life.
Synonyms
Noun 2
any person who has attained perfect enlightenment and awakening in Buddhist belief (an enlightened being).
In Mahayana texts, a buddha is described as one who has fully awakened to the true nature of reality.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/20 10:24