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Glite Dictionary
naga

naga

1 9.9
A legendary snake-like creature in South and Southeast Asian stories
  • noun
  • /ˈnɑːɡə/
  • Literature
translation icon : naga

Examples

  • The naga, or master dragon, planned to capture them with its magic power, so it assumed the form of a spider and wove a web over the mouth of the cave.

    Academic text (2003)

  • In Southeast Asian mythology, a naga is often depicted as a powerful serpent that guards treasures.

  • The villagers believed that the naga would protect them from evil spirits and bring them good fortune.

  • During the festival, the dancers portrayed a naga, captivating the audience with their elegant movements.

Synonyms

serpent
vsnaga
72 6.5

A large snake with scales that often appears in myths and stories

is specifically a South and Southeast Asian religious dragonlike being rather than a general snake
sea serpent
vsnaga
  • Literature
3 9.5

A large sea creature like a snake from old stories

is from South and Southeast Asian religious stories rather than ocean tales

Compounds

Naga language
9.9

Languages that the Naga people speak in northeastern India and western Myanmar

Surface Forms

naga singular
nagas plural

Etymology

Naga comes from the old Sanskrit word nāga, which means 'snake' or 'serpent'. In South and Southeast Asia the naga became a powerful water spirit or dragon that guards temples and rivers, so the word now names that mythical serpent.