Etymology

The name India (pronounced /ˈɪndiə/) is derived from Indus, which is derived from the Old Persian word Hindu, from Sanskrit Sindhu, the historic local appellation for the Indus River.[20] The ancient Greeks referred to the Indians as Indoi (Ινδοί), the people of the Indus.[21] The Constitution of India and common usage in various Indian languages also recognise Bharat (pronounced [bʱaːrət] ( listen)) as an official name of equal status.[22] The name Bharat is derived from the name of the legendary king Bharata in Hindu Mythology. Hindustan ( /hin̪d̪ust̪ɑːn/ ), which is the Persian word for “Land of the Hindus” and historically referred to northern India, is also occasionally used as a synonym for all of India.[23]