Meaning and Etymology
The Sanskrit word citra conveys several related senses: “bright, clear, colored,” as well as “picture, sketch, drawing,” and “jewel or ornament.” These meanings are recorded in classical Hindu and Buddhist texts and are reflected in modern naming interpretations.[5][3][4][2]
Origin and Language Usage
Chitra originates from Sanskrit, the ancient liturgical language of India.[5] As a personal name it is documented as feminine in contemporary Indian usage. It appears in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Thai language contexts.[3][4]
Pronunciation
Pronunciation varies by language. Examples include:
- Hindi: /ˈtʃɪt̪.ɾɑː/
- Marathi & Telugu: /ˈtɕit̪.ɾa/
- Malayalam: /ˈtʃit̪.raː/
- Tamil: /ˈtɕɪt̪.ɾɑː/
- Thai: /tɕit̚˨˩.ˈtraː˧/
All render the initial consonant as a short “ch” sound.[3]
Spellings and Variants
Native script forms include:
- Hindi, Marathi: चित्रा
- Bengali: চিত্রা
- Assamese: চিত্ৰা
- Odia: ଚିତ୍ରା
- Malayalam: ചിത്രാ
- Tamil: சித்ரா
- Telugu: చిత్ర
- Kannada: ಚಿತ್ರಾ
- Thai: จิตรา
An alternative Roman spelling “citra” is also recorded.[3]
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Frequently asked questions
What does the name Chitra mean?
In Sanskrit, Chitra means “bright, clear, colored,” as well as “picture, drawing, jewel or ornament.”[5][3][4][2]
Is Chitra a male or female name?
Contemporary Indian usage records Chitra as a feminine (girl) name.[2][3]
How is Chitra pronounced?
Pronunciation varies by language; in Hindi it is /ˈtʃɪt̪.ɾɑː/, in Marathi and Telugu /ˈtɕit̪.ɾa/, in Malayalam /ˈtʃit̪.raː/, in Tamil /ˈtɕɪt̪.ɾɑː/, and in Thai /tɕit̚˨˩.ˈtraː˧/.[3]
Related terms
References
Follow the sources to explore the evidence and context behind this article.
- chitra - Wiktionary, the free dictionary; https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chitra
- Chitra first name popularity, history and meaning; https://namecensus.com/first-names/chitra-meaning-and-history/
- User-submitted name Chitra - Behind the Name; https://www.behindthename.com/name/chitra/submitted
- Chitra (Ketra variant) - Girls' Name, #7,838 Overall; https://nameplay.org/name/Chitra
- Chitra (art); https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitra_(art)