आकाश
ākāś
/aːkaːʃ/
Definition
The sky; the open space above the earth that appears blue during the day. Also used poetically to mean a vast, limitless expanse.
Example
आकाश में आज बहुत तारे दिख रहे हैं।
Show translation
Many stars are visible in the sky today.
Etymology
From Sanskrit आकाश (ākāśa), meaning "shining" or "open space," derived from the root कश् (kāś) meaning "to shine." In classical Indian philosophy, ākāśa is one of the five *panchamahabhuta* (great elements), representing ether or space — the most subtle and all-pervading of all elements.
Cultural note
आकाश carries deep philosophical weight in Indian culture beyond its everyday meaning of "sky." In Vedic and Hindu thought, it is the first and most fundamental element (*tattva*) — pure space, the medium through which sound travels. It also appears constantly in Hindi poetry, song, and idiom: "आकाश छूना" (to touch the sky) is a common expression meaning to achieve great heights, much like the English "reach for the stars."