Pali

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Pali is an ancient Indic language (written sources exist from roughly 300 BCE to 500 CE) native to the Indian subcontinent. It is the language of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. Pali is closely related to the Sanskrit family of languages.

Similarity in Sanskit and Pali

Pali's grammar is simplified as compared with Sanskit, and the vocabulary is similar, in many cases varying only by a set of common phonological transformations, such as:

Sanskrit Pali definition
arhat arahant one who sees the true nature of existence and has conquered their own negative tendencies so that they no longer take karmic actions (those with negative consequences for themselves or anyone else); similar to 'saint' in Christianity
Dharma Dhamma "to uphold": refers to the teachings of the Buddha about how the universe works and how a person can minimize or avoid suffering for themselves and others
karma kamma "action": a thought, speech or deed which results in immediate or future (negative) consequences; or, the part of one's fate which is a consequence of past karmic actions by oneself and/or others
nirvana nibbana "not bound": a state of peacefulness; a complete lack of suffering
shanti santi "peace"
sutra sutta "discourse": in Buddhist literature, a verse (or collection of verses on one topic)
sangha sangha a community of friends helping each other to practice the teachings of the Buddha