Shakya

S1H4A1K5Y4A1

proper noun

An ancient tribe of Iron Age India to which the Buddha belonged.

OriginNepali शाक्य ← Sanskrit शाक्य →
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Meanings

proper nounShakya (plural Shakyas)

plural Shakyas

  1. An ancient tribe of Iron Age India to which the Buddha belonged.
  2. A surname from Nepali.

Origin

  1. Sanskritशाखा“branch, teak”
  2. Sanskritशक्“to be able”
  3. Sanskritशाक्य
  4. Nepaliशाक्य
  5. EnglishShakya

Borrowed from Nepali शाक्य (śākya), from Sanskrit शाक्य (śākya), which is most likely from Sanskrit शक् (śak, “to be able”). Alternatively, from Sanskrit शाखा (śākhā, “branch, teak”); see Shakya for more.

More words from Nepali, Sanskrit

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Akshayyakshashayak
Cite this entry
APA

Shakya. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Shakya

MLA

“Shakya.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Shakya. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Shakya,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Shakya.

Source: Shakya on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.