กระเพรา

grà-prao

Meanings

1NounA2

holy basil

Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), an aromatic herb widely used in Thai cooking. กระเพรากระเพราgrà-prao1holy basil2stir-fry with holy basil is a common nonstandard spelling of กะเพรากะเพราgà-prao1holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)2holy basil dish (pad krapao) [by ellipsis].

Examples

นี่nîiนี่nîi1this (colloq.)2this; this one (pronoun)3here4here is…; look/listen (attention-getter)5you see; after all (colloq.)คือkʉʉคือkʉʉ1to be (definition/identification)2namely; that is; i.e.ใบbaiใบbai1leaf2sheet; slip; card; ticket; bill; receipt3classifier for leaves, paper items, containers, and certain other objects4license; permit; certificate5bladeกระเพราgrà-praoกระเพราgrà-prao1holy basil2stir-fry with holy basil
This is a holy basil leaf.
3 more examples
แม่mɛ̂ɛไปbpaiเด็ดใบdèt-baiกระเพราgrà-praoที่tîiสวนหลังบ้านsǔuan-lǎng-bâanมาmaaทำอาหารtam-aa-hǎan
Mom went to pick holy basil leaves from the backyard garden to cook.
ในnaiตลาดสดdtà-làat sòtมีmeeกระเพราgrà-praoขายkăaiเป็นbpenกำๆgam gam
In the fresh market, holy basil is sold in bunches.
กลิ่นหอมglìn-hɔ̌ɔmฉุนchǔnอันanเป็นเอกลักษณ์bpen-èek-gà-lákของkɔ̌ɔngใบbaiกระเพราgrà-praoทำให้tam-hâiเมนูmee-nuuผัดกะเพราpàt-gà-praoเป็นที่นิยมbpen-tîi-ní-yom
The unique, pungent aroma of holy basil leaves makes the Pad Krapao dish popular.
2NounA2

stir-fry with holy basil

by metonymy, a Thai stir-fried dish using holy basil (e.g., ผัดกะเพราผัดกะเพราpàt-gà-praoThai stir-fry with holy basil), often with meat and served over rice

Examples

เที่ยงนี้tîiang-níiเที่ยงนี้tîiang-níiat noon todayกินginกินgin1[to] eat2[to] drink (colloquial/with some nouns)3[to] take medicine (colloquial)4[to] consume; use up5[to] corrode; erode; eat into6[to] take (a bribe); pocket7[to] capture; take (a piece in a board game)ผัดกะเพราpàt-gà-praoผัดกะเพราpàt-gà-praoThai stir-fry with holy basilไหมmǎiไหมmǎi1yes–no question particle; or not?2silk
Do you want to eat stir-fried kraprao for lunch?
3 more examples
เมื่อวานmʉ̂ʉa-waanผมpǒmสั่งsàngกระเพราgrà-praoหมูสับmǔu-sàpไข่ดาวkài-daao
Yesterday, I ordered stir-fried minced pork with holy basil and a fried egg.
ร้านráanป้าbpâaคนkonนั้นnánทำtamกระเพราgrà-praoอร่อยà-rɔ̀iที่สุดtîi-sùtในnaiซอยsɔɔiเลยləəi
That aunty's shop makes the most delicious kraprao in this alley.
ถึงแม้จะtʉ̌ng-mɛ́ɛ-jàมีmiiเมนูmee-nuuอื่นʉ̀ʉnให้เลือกhâi-lʉ̂ʉakแต่dtɛ̀ɛพอpɔɔหิวhǐuทีไรtii-raiก็gɔ̂นึกถึงnʉ́k-tʉ̌ngกระเพราgrà-praoเป็นbpenอย่างแรกyàang-rɛ̂ɛkเสมอsà-mə̌ə
Even though there are other menus to choose from, whenever I'm hungry, kraprao is always the first thing I think of.

Tones

See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.

2 syllables · pick one to see its rule

How the tone is decided

  1. Consonant classMid classConsonant clusterIn the cluster กร, the first consonant ก sets the class.
  2. Tone markNo tone mark
  3. Syllable endingDead syllableA short vowel with no final consonant, so it is dead.

Mid class consonants

กจฎฏดตบปอ

Result

Low tone

grà

Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.

Mid class + No tone mark + Dead syllable → Low

Tone chart

Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.

Mid classHigh classLow class
No mark + liveMidRisingMid
No mark + dead shortLowLowHigh
No mark + dead longLowLowFalling
Mai ekLowLowFalling
Mai thoFallingFallingHigh
Mai triHigh——
Mai chattawaRising——
Work out any syllable's tone in the tone calculator

Word Breakdown

กระgràกระgrà1freckle2speckled; mottled (pattern)3hawksbill turtlefrecklePart 1
+
เพpeeเพpeePhe (place name)Phe (place name)Part 2
+
ราraaราraa1mold; mildew2we two; both of us (archaic/literary)3[to] desist; stop; let upmold; mildewPart 3
กระเพราgrà-praoกระเพราgrà-praoholy basilholy basilWord