*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of Kali

From Sanskrit काली (kālī) or कालिका (kālikā).

3 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 3 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗
name

A goddess in Hinduism, one of the most significant figures within that religion, who destroys evil forces and bestows liberation. · A female given name from Sanskrit used especially in India.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Sanskrit काली (kālī) or कालिका (kālikā).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "bor",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "sa",
        "3": "काली"
      },
      "expansion": "Sanskrit काली (kālī)"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "काली",
      "काली#Sanskrit"
    ],
    [
      "कालिका",
      "कालिका#Sanskrit"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "name",
      "glosses": [
        "A goddess in Hinduism, one of the most significant figures within that religion, who destroys evil forces and bestows liberation.",
        "A female given name from Sanskrit used especially in India."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Hinduism"
      ],
      "recordId": "cbd696c48a8051725f205b9753d62ad7764523565380bfea8a1e98ceaff3bdcc",
      "rawRecordSha256": "63e7681488abb68c0f5669a9c393e39ce6f5dc56504787ee697d8f3f9a8189a1",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 328034
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
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    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗
name

A male demon, lord of Kali Yuga and the nemesis of Kalki, tenth avatar of Vishnu.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Borrowed from Sanskrit कलि (kali).

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "sa:कलि",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Sanskrit\", \"term\" : \"कलि\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"sa\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"Kali\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"Kali\">\nBorrowed from Sanskrit कलि (kali)."
    },
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "sa:कलि",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Borrowed from Sanskrit कलि (kali)."
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "कलि",
      "कलि#Sanskrit"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "name",
      "glosses": [
        "A male demon, lord of Kali Yuga and the nemesis of Kalki, tenth avatar of Vishnu."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Hinduism"
      ],
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      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 328035
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗
name

A potassium salt.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

A shortening of German Kalium.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "bor",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "de",
        "3": "Kalium"
      },
      "expansion": "German Kalium"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "Kalium",
      "Kalium#German"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "name",
      "glosses": [
        "A potassium salt."
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "recordId": "216d66f958570b24bd9460f726360f9e18bafd3c36c9500aa10713b8582d22fe",
      "rawRecordSha256": "96dc4e7695d8468324df974ee09a1ccb2e5e2795aeace9fc07279486b96d61b3",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 328036
    }
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    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for Kali →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run
73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID
w-S2FsaQ