dvandva

Dvandva is a term from Sanskrit grammar that denotes a type of compound in which two or more words are joined to express a coordinated relationship, roughly meaning “A and B.” The word itself comes from Sanskrit dvandva, associated with duality or pairing. In traditional grammar, dvandva is one of the main samasa (compound) types, alongside others such as tatpuruṣa, bahuvrīhi, and avadhāna.

Structurally, a dvandva binds its elements in a way that treats them as equally important. There is no governing relationship where one member determines the other; instead, the compound conveys a set or pair through its coordinated components. The number of members can be two or more, and the resulting word behaves as a single lexical unit within a sentence or clause. Morphology generally follows the normal rules for noun phrases, with endings reflecting the grammatical role of the whole compound.

Uses of dvandva include enumerating items, naming pairs or groups, and adding stylistic emphasis in poetry and prose. For example, a dvandva compound can convey “A and B” as a compact, unified expression rather than listing the words separately.

Dvandva is distinguished from tatpuruṣa, where a dependent relationship exists between elements (such as a possessive or descriptive link). The dvandva construction is found primarily in Sanskrit but has also influenced Pali, Prakrit, and other Indian languages, and it is treated in traditional and modern grammars as a standard method of forming coordinated compounds.