manusya

Manusya, sometimes transliterated as manusya or manushya, is a term used in several South Asian languages to denote a human being or humanity. In Sanskrit, the word manusya (manuṣya) specifically means a human being, and it serves as the linguistic ancestor for modern terms in many languages, including Hindi (manushya), Bengali (manushya), and Nepali. In Indonesian and Malay, the closely related form manusia is the standard word for a human being.

Etymology and cognates: Manusya derives from the Sanskrit manusya (manuṣya), the historical root behind many Indo-Aryan terms for humans. Cognates appear across North Indian languages, often with phonetic variations such as -usha or -ushya. The Indonesian/Malay form manusia reflects Sanskrit influence on the region’s lexicon, where the same concept is expressed with a distinct local form.

Usage and context: In everyday language, manusya/manusia functions as the general term for a human being or humanity. In religious and philosophical contexts, it is used to discuss human nature, moral duties, and the distinction between humans and other beings. In Hindu cosmology, the term is linked to the concept of manu, legendary progenitors of mankind, as part of discussions about human existence within the cosmos. The word is typically a common noun rather than a proper name, though it can appear in titles or phrases that reference humanity as a collective.