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sutaṁ

suta

past participle (accusative singular neuter) of suṇāti or nominalized adjective

1. heard
2. learned
3. what has been heard (the teachings)

Built from

• su — root · hear
  The root *klew- is the same as English 'loud' (what is heard) and Greek klýō (to hear). In Pali Buddhism, sutas mark the learned, those who have 'heard' the Dhamma.

Analysis. In context, sutaṁ often functions as "what is heard" or "the heard doctrine"; in the phrase "sutaṁ ñātaṁ mutuñ ceva" (heard, known, and reflected upon), it refers to the canonical teachings received by ear.

Etymology. From √su (Proto-Indo-European *klew- "to hear"; cognate with English "loud", Latin clueō, Greek klýō), which in Pali becomes su through regular sound laws. The past participle marks what is perceived through hearing—the traditional first step of practice (suta-mayā paññā, "wisdom born of hearing").

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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