Word Finder

PRANA

p-r-a-n-a

Sanskrit
Noun
Intermediate Level
5 Letters

Quick Definition

PRANA is the Sanskrit word for "life force" or "vital energy" in Hindu philosophy, yoga, and Ayurveda. In word games, it's a valuable 5-letter word worth 7 points in Scrabble, perfect for strategic plays when you need to clear common tiles.

Scrabble Points

7

Points in Scrabble

Base tile values • No multipliers applied

Definition & Meaning

PRANA (pronounced "prah-nah") is a Sanskrit term that refers to the universal life force or vital energy that flows through all living beings. In Hindu and yogic philosophy, prana is considered the subtle energy that sustains life and consciousness.

Primary Meanings:

  • Life force: The vital energy that animates all living beings
  • Breath: The physical manifestation of prana through breathing
  • Energy: The subtle energy that flows through energy channels (nadis)
  • Vitality: The force that maintains health and consciousness

Etymology & Origin

PRANA comes from Sanskrit प्राण (prāṇa), derived from the root "pra" (before/forward) + "an" (to breathe/live). The word has been used in Indian philosophy for over 3,000 years.

Historical Timeline

1500 BCEFirst mentioned in the Vedic texts of ancient India
800 BCEDetailed in the Upanishads as vital breath
400 CESystematized in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras
1893Introduced to the West by Swami Vivekananda
1960sEntered English dictionaries through yoga popularity

Prana in Yoga & Wellness

Pranayama (Breath Control)

The yogic practice of controlling prana through breathing exercises.

Anulom Vilom
Alternate nostril breathing
Kapalbhati
Skull-shining breath
Bhastrika
Bellows breath

Five Types of Prana

According to yoga philosophy, prana manifests in five forms:

Prana: Inward moving energy
Apana: Downward moving energy
Vyana: Circulating energy
Udana: Upward moving energy
Samana: Balancing energy

Did You Know?

PRANA is one of many Sanskrit words accepted in English Scrabble dictionaries, including YOGA, KARMA, and MANTRA

The word PRANA is particularly valuable because it uses common letters (P, R, A, N) that are often difficult to play together

In many yoga studios worldwide, "prana" is used daily - making it both culturally significant and game-valuable

Usage Examples

""I played PRANA on a triple word score and earned a huge number of points.""

""PRANA is one of those words that can really boost your score in word games.""

In context: "The instructor reminded us to focus on our prana as we moved through the sun salutations."

Word game tip: "PRANA cleared my rack of that troublesome P and gave me 7 points!"

Similar Words

Words by Point Value

Similar length and difficulty words

PUZZLE
26 pts
QUARTZ
24 pts
WIZARD
19 pts
FROZEN
18 pts
SPHINX
18 pts
GALAXY
17 pts
JUMPER
17 pts
EXOTIC
15 pts

Letter Analysis

Letter Distribution

P (3 pts)
1x
R (1 pts)
1x
A (1 pts)
2x
N (1 pts)
1x

Total base points: 7 (Scrabble)

Vowels: 2 | Consonants: 3

Letter Patterns

Pattern:C-C-V-C-V
High-value tile:P (3pts)
Double letter:A appears twice

Strategic Value

P-clearing
Double A

PRANA helps clear difficult P tiles while managing duplicate A's. Perfect for mid-game rack balance.

Word Game Strategy

Maximizing PRANA Points

1

P Placement Priority

Place the P (3pts) on double/triple letter scores when possible. This modest boost helps PRANA compete with higher-scoring plays.

2

Rack Balance Champion

PRANA uses 2 A's, 1 P, and common consonants - perfect for clearing problematic duplicates and high-point consonants.

3

Sanskrit Word Synergy

Familiarize yourself with other Sanskrit words: YOGA, KARMA, MANTRA, ASHRAM. They often share letters!

Anagrams of PRANA

PRANA has no valid full anagrams in standard Scrabble dictionaries. However, you can make these shorter words from its letters:

PARA (6pts)
NAPA (6pts)
PAN (5pts)
PAR (5pts)
NAP (5pts)
RAN (3pts)
RAP (5pts)
ANA (3pts)

Master This Word

Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like PRANA