rig-veda: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Specialized Religious/Historical
Quick answer
What does “rig-veda” mean?
The oldest and most foundational collection of sacred Sanskrit hymns and texts in Hinduism.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The oldest and most foundational collection of sacred Sanskrit hymns and texts in Hinduism.
The first and most ancient of the four Vedas, forming the primary scriptural authority for the Vedic religion and a key text for understanding ancient Indian history, culture, and religious thought.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences; potential minor variation in pronunciation.
Connotations
Identical academic, historical, and religious connotations in both regions.
Frequency
Exclusively used in academic, historical, religious, or cultural contexts. No discernible frequency difference between regions.
Grammar
How to Use “rig-veda” in a Sentence
The Rigveda (subject) + verb (dates from, contains, comprises)Verb (study, cite, translate) + the Rigveda (object)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rig-veda” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The priest will rigveda-chant during the ceremony.
- (Note: Extremely rare/neologistic; standard usage is as a noun only)
American English
- Scholars rigveda-focused their research on the earliest mantras.
- (Note: Extremely rare/neologistic; standard usage is as a noun only)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form derived from Rigveda)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form derived from Rigveda)
adjective
British English
- The Rigvedic period precedes the later Vedic age.
- He is an expert in Rigveda studies.
American English
- Rigvedic hymns are composed in an archaic form of Sanskrit.
- The professor offered a Rigveda seminar.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Central term in Indology, religious studies, history of religions, and Sanskrit philology.
Everyday
Rare, except in discussions of Indian culture, religion, or history.
Technical
Specific referent in the taxonomy of Vedic literature (Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka, Upanishad).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rig-veda”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rig-veda”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rig-veda”
- Misspelling as 'Rig Veda' (though sometimes acceptable), 'Rig-Veda', 'Rigved'.
- Using it as a common noun without 'the' (e.g., 'He studies Rigveda' vs. 'He studies the Rigveda').
- Mispronunciation with a hard 'g' (as in 'rig') instead of the velar/soft g.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Rigveda is the first and most important of the four Vedas (Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda). 'Vedas' refers to the entire corpus.
Its composition is dated between c. 1500–1200 BCE, making it one of the world's oldest known religious texts still in use.
Almost never. It is a highly specialized term used almost exclusively in academic, historical, or religious discussions about India.
The standard scholarly transliteration is 'Rigveda' (one word). Other acceptable forms include 'Ṛgveda' (with diacritics) or the spaced 'Rig Veda'.
The oldest and most foundational collection of sacred Sanskrit hymns and texts in Hinduism.
Rig-veda is usually formal, academic, specialized religious/historical in register.
Rig-veda: in British English it is pronounced /ˌrɪɡˈveɪdə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌrɪɡˈveɪdə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As old as the Rigveda (used to describe something extremely ancient)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'RIG' for 'rhythmic hymns' and 'VEDA' for 'knowledge'. The Rigveda is the foundational knowledge book of rhythmic hymns.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOUNDATION / ROOT (e.g., 'The Rigveda is the bedrock of Hindu thought.')
Practice
Quiz
What is the Rigveda primarily?