guna: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “guna” mean?
A quality, attribute, or virtue.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A quality, attribute, or virtue; in Hindu philosophy, one of the three fundamental operating principles or tendencies of nature (sattva, rajas, tamas).
In Sanskrit linguistics, a sound change where a simple vowel becomes a diphthong. In broader English usage, often refers specifically to the three philosophical qualities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in both contexts where it appears.
Connotations
Connotes academic, spiritual, or specialist knowledge.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties; slightly more likely in texts related to yoga, spirituality, or comparative religion.
Grammar
How to Use “guna” in a Sentence
N (guna) + of + N (e.g., guna of purity)the + ADJ + guna (e.g., the predominant guna)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “guna” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- guna-based analysis
- guna theory
American English
- guna-based analysis
- guna theory
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in philosophy, religious studies, and linguistics departments when discussing Indian thought or Sanskrit.
Everyday
Virtually unused except in communities focused on yoga or Eastern spirituality.
Technical
Specific term in Indology, Sanskrit grammar, and yoga philosophy.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “guna”
- Pronouncing it as /ˈɡʌn.ə/ (like 'gun').
- Using it as a general synonym for 'good quality' without the philosophical context.
- Treating it as a countable noun without the definite article in philosophical contexts (e.g., 'He studied guna' vs. 'He studied the gunas').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a loanword from Sanskrit, fully naturalised in English academic and spiritual vocabulary, and appears in major dictionaries.
It is pronounced GOO-nuh (/ˈɡuː.nə/), with a long 'u' sound. The common error is pronouncing it like 'gun'.
Only if you are speaking with someone familiar with Hindu philosophy or yoga. It is not a general synonym for 'quality' or 'virtue'.
Sattva (purity, harmony), Rajas (activity, passion), and Tamas (inertia, darkness). They are the three fundamental constituents of prakriti (nature).
A quality, attribute, or virtue.
Guna is usually formal / technical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A play of the gunas”
- “Under the influence of a guna”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'GOOD-NATURE' condensed: 'GUNA' are the fundamental qualities of nature.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUALITIES ARE THREADS (guna literally means 'strand' or 'thread' in Sanskrit).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'guna' also a technical term?