Dream

Origin: The word 'सपना' (sapna) originates from the Sanskrit word 'स्वप्न' (svapna), which means 'dream'. The transition from 'स्वप्न' to 'सपना' involved phonetic simplification typical of Prakrit languages that influenced modern Hindi.
Historical and Cultural Context: The concept of dreams has been present in Indian literature and philosophy for millennia. In ancient texts like the Upanishads, dreams were often seen as a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms.
Evolution: As the word transitioned from Sanskrit to Hindi, it underwent a simplification in pronunciation, a common linguistic evolution in the Indian subcontinent. Cognates can be found in other Indo-Aryan languages, such as Bengali 'স্বপ্ন' (swapna) and Marathi 'स्वप्न' (swapna).
Modern Relevance: Today, 'सपना' is used in everyday Hindi to refer to both literal dreams during sleep and metaphorical dreams or aspirations. It's a common term in Bollywood song lyrics and poetry, symbolizing hopes and desires.

In Indian culture, dreams are often thought to hold significant meaning and are sometimes interpreted as messages or premonitions.