anatta

A1N1A1T1T1A1

noun

The idea that there is no separate self or soul; egolessness. One of the three marks of existence.

Similar
egolessness
OriginPali anattan ← Sanskrit अनात्मन् →
RareScrabble 6
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Meanings

anatta1

nounanatta (countable and uncountable, plural anattas)

plural anattas

  1. countableuncountableBuddhismThe idea that there is no separate self or soul; egolessness. One of the three marks of existence.

    The texts indicate that when the Buddha's first disciples heard about anatta, their hearts were filled with joy and they immediately experienced Nirvana.

    2009, Karen Armstrong, The Case for God, Vintage, published 2010, page 33

    Synonyms: egolessness

anatta2

nounanatta (countable and uncountable, plural anattas)

plural anattas

  1. archaiccountableuncountableArchaic form of annatto.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe idea that there is no separate self or soul; egolessness. One of the three marks of existence.

Similar
egolessness

Origin

  1. Sanskritअनात्मन्“no soul”
  2. Palianattan
  3. Englishanatta

From Pali anattan, from Sanskrit अनात्मन् (anātman, “no soul”), from अन्- (an-, “non-, un-, a-”) + आत्मन् (ātman, “soul”).

More words from Pali, Sanskrit

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 無我 /无我
  • 無我 /无我 (wúwǒ)idea that there is no separate self or soul
Finnish minuuttomuus, anatta
  • minuuttomuusidea that there is no separate self or soul
  • anattaidea that there is no separate self or soul
French anâtman, anātman
  • anâtmanidea that there is no separate self or soul
  • anātmanidea that there is no separate self or soul
Hindi अनत्त
  • अनत्त (anatt)idea that there is no separate self or soul
Japanese 無我
  • 無我 (muga)idea that there is no separate self or soul
Korean 무아
  • 무아 (mua)idea that there is no separate self or soul
Russian ана́тман, ана́тта
  • ана́тман (anátman)idea that there is no separate self or soul
  • ана́тта (anátta)idea that there is no separate self or soul
Thai อนัตตา
  • อนัตตา (à-nát-dtaa)idea that there is no separate self or soul
Vietnamese vô ngã
  • vô ngãidea that there is no separate self or soul

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with anatta

dataSATAstrataregattakata
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

anatta. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anatta

MLA

“anatta.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anatta. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “anatta,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anatta.

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