Grammar
What is Sandhi?
Why Sanskrit words seem to melt into each other — and the simplest rule.
6 min read
Sandhi: when sounds meet
सन्धि means 'joining'. When two sounds come together, Sanskrit often blends them for smoother speech.
The most common one
When अ/आ meets अ/आ, they merge into आ:
- विद्या + आलयः → विद्यालयः (school)
- हिम + आलयः → हिमालयः (abode of snow)
Spotting sandhi lets you 'unzip' long words back into their parts — a key reading skill, and a whole section of the Class 9 & 10 grammar paper.