Meanings
nounprana (countable and uncountable, plural pranas)
plural pranas
- HinduismcountableuncountableyogaRespiration, breathing, seen as a life principle or life force.First known use 18th c.
He who knows Aditi, who rises with Prana (the Life Principle), existent in all the Devas.
1919, Swami Paramananda, transl., The Upanishads2 more examples
He it is who sends the (in-coming) Prana (life-breath) upward and throws the (out-going) breath downward.
1919, Swami Paramananda, transl., The UpanishadsMay my limbs, speech, Prana (life-force), sight, hearing, strength and all my senses, gain in vigor.
1919, Swami Paramananda, transl., The Upanishads
Origin
- Sanskritप्राण“breath; life”
- Englishprana
From Sanskrit प्राण (prāṇa, “breath; life”).
More words from Sanskrit
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with prana
MontanaBotswanaghanaanadanaGuyananirvanaAmericanamanananaTijuanaiguanacabanaTiranaarcanakanaohanayanaAfricanabrewerianaDisneyanakatakanalianahiragana
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
prana. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prana
MLA
“prana.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prana. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “prana,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prana.
Source: prana on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.