The word Tattva (tat-tva) has some of the following translations:
– True or real state, truth, reality (tat, mn. that, quality; and tvam, mn. thou or individual).
– The five elements, usually referred to as mahābhūtas which are in their order of creation: Ākāśa (ether), Vāyu (wind), Agni (fire), Jala (water) and Pṛthvī (earth/solid).
– Tattva is also a reference to the number five (5).