Ardh

Ardh is a transliteration of the Sanskrit word ardha, meaning "half" or "partial." In Hindi, Marathi, and many other Indian languages, ardha functions as an adjective or noun and appears in compounds to denote a fractional portion of something or a state that is not whole. In classical Sanskrit, ardha serves as a productive base for terms describing partial quantities, durations, or states, and it can be used in calendrical or astronomical contexts to indicate half phases.

In modern usage, ardha remains common in everyday speech and in literary and scholarly contexts. It is also used as a title or thematic element in Indian media and as a component in various proper nouns, reflecting themes of duality, transition, or incompletion.

Spelling varies with transliteration, including ardha and ardh, and the term appears in many compound names and places across the region. The versatility of ardha as a linguistic root helps explain its wide adoption in both traditional and contemporary contexts.