กะเพรา
gà-praoMeanings
1NounA2
holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
a strongly aromatic basil used in Thai cooking, with a peppery taste; holy basil
Examples
สวนหลังบ้านsǔuan-lǎng-bâanสวนหลังบ้านsǔuan-lǎng-bâanbackyard; back gardenปลูกbplùukปลูกbplùuk1[to] plant; grow (plants)2[to] build (a house); erect; set up (structure)3[to] instill; cultivate (values/habits)กะเพราgà-praoกะเพราgà-prao1holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)2holy basil dish (pad krapao) [by ellipsis]ไว้wáiไว้wái1[to] keep; save; store2[to] set aside; reserve3for later; in reserve4[to] leave (something) as is5marks retention or maintenance of a state6[to] wear; sport (hair/moustache/etc.)สองsɔ̌ɔngสองsɔ̌ɔng1two; 22secondกอgɔɔกอgɔɔ1clump; tuft (of plants)2classifier for clumps of plants
We grow two clumps of holy basil in the backyard.
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Holy basil leaves have a strong aroma and a slightly spicy taste.
Mom says using fresh holy basil is more fragrant than dried holy basil.
เชฟchéepเลือกlʉ̂ʉakกะเพราgà-praoสายพันธุ์sǎai-panไทยtaiเพราะprɔ́กลิ่นglìnชัดchátและlɛ́ทนtonความร้อนkwaam-rɔ́ɔnได้ดีdâai-dii
The chef chooses the Thai variety of holy basil because its aroma is distinct and it tolerates heat well.
2NounB1
holy basil dish (pad krapao) [by ellipsis]
by extension, a Thai stir-fry dish made with holy basil, usually with meat, garlic, and chilies (pad krapao); dish name from the herb
Examples
วันนี้wan-níiวันนี้wan-níi1today (time of speech)2today; this day3nowadays; at presentฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)สั่งsàngสั่งsàng1[to] order [sth]; place an order (food/goods)2[to] command; instruct; direct3[to] prescribe; order (medical/legal/official)กะเพราหมูสับgà-prao-mǔu-sàpกะเพราหมูสับgà-prao-mǔu-sàpstir-fried minced pork with holy basilไข่ดาวkài-daaoไข่ดาวkài-daao1fried egg2flat chest; very small breasts (slang, derogatory)จากjàakจากjàak1from; away from2[to] leave; depart; part from3nipa palmร้านráanร้านráan1shop; store2restaurant; eatery3booth; stallข้างkâangข้างkâang1side; flank2beside; next to; by3classifier: sides; paired parts4side; party (in a dispute or game)5side; lateral (modifier)ออฟฟิศɔ́ɔp-fítออฟฟิศɔ́ɔp-fítoffice; workplace (loanword)
Today I ordered pad krapao with minced pork and a fried egg from the shop next to the office.
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เวลาway-laaรีบๆrêep rêepผมpŏmมักmákกินginกะเพราgà-praoเพราะpráwทำtamเร็วreoและláeเผ็ดpètถูกใจtòok jai
When I’m in a hurry, I usually eat pad krapao because it’s quick to make and nicely spicy.
เธอtəəบอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâaกะเพราgà-praoที่tîiตลาดนัดdtà-làat-nátรสชาติrót-châatจัดจ้านjàt-jâanกว่าgwàaร้านประจำráan-bprà-jamของเราkɔ̌ɔng-rao
She said the pad krapao at the flea market is spicier than our regular place.
เชฟchéepเพิ่มpə̂əmถั่วฝักยาวtùua-fàk-yaaoลงในlong-naiกะเพราgà-praoทะเลtá-leeเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaเพิ่มpə̂əmสัมผัสsǎm-pàtกรุบกรอบgrùp-grɔ̀ɔpแต่dtɛ̀ɛยังคงyang-kongรสrótเผ็ดหอมpèt-hɔ̌ɔmแบบดั้งเดิมbɛ̀ɛp-dâng-dəəm
The chef added yardlong beans to the seafood pad krapao for a crunchy texture while keeping the traditional spicy aroma.
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
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingDead syllableA short vowel with no final consonant, so it is dead.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Low tone
gà
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 class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |
Word Breakdown
กะgàกะgà1work shift2with (informal)3[to] estimate; guess4[to] intend; plan (informal)5(dialectal) then; also; indeedwork shiftPart 1
+
+
ราraaราraa1mold; mildew2we two; both of us (archaic/literary)3[to] desist; stop; let upmold; mildewPart 3
กะเพราgà-praoกะเพราgà-praoholy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)Word