Service and Seva - Cousins from Disparate Languages

I have always thought the English word Service and the Indian word Seva have similar roots. I found one more clue to this mystery today as I was singing one of Guru Nanak's shabads - Andhe Jeevana Veechar: O blind one, think about life.  

Guru Nanak's usage of Sareho

ਨਾਨਕੁ ਬਿਨਵੈ ਤਿਸੈ ਸਰੇਵਹੁ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਜੀਅ ਪਰਾਣਾ ॥੧॥
नानकु बिनवै तिसै सरेवहु जा के जीअ पराणा ॥१॥
Nānak binvai ṯisai sarevhu jā ke jīa parāṇā. ||1||
Prays Nanak, serve the One, to whom our soul and breath of life belong. ||1||

SGGS Gurmukhi-Gurmukhi Dictionary

Sarev-hu. ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰੋ; ਪੂਜੋ। serve; adore, contemplate. ਉਦਾਹਰਨ: ਤਿਸੈ ਸਰੇਵਹੁ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀਹੋ ਜਿਸ ਦੈ ਨਾਉ ਪਲੈ ॥ Raga Gaurhee 5, Vaar 8:1 (P: 320).

Etymology for Service

From Middle English servise, from Old French servise (French service), from the verb servir, from Latin servitium (compare Portuguese serviço, Italian servizio, Norman sèrvice, Spanish servicio), from servus (“servant; serf; slave”). Displaced native Old English þeġnung. 

Sanskrit root of Seva 

From the root सेव् (sev).

Another similar word I found in an old dictionary with a similar meaning: 


Bate, J. D. (1875). A dictionary of the Hindee language. (n.p.): Lazarus.

Cousin Words

Similar words related to Service: Seva, Service, Sareho (to serve, Guru Nanak), Sarvar (pond of refuge), Sarev (shelter, see below). 




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