คาถา
kaa-tǎaMeanings
1NounB2
incantation; spell
A set of sacred or magical words chanted or recited for protection, power, or desired effects.
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillพึมพำpʉm-pamพึมพำpʉm-pam1[to] mumble; murmur2in a low mutter; indistinctlyคาถาkaa-tǎaคาถาkaa-tǎa1incantation; spell2mantra; sacred verseเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaเพื่อpʉ̂ʉa1for; in order to2for the sake of; on behalf ofขอkɔ̌ɔขอkɔ̌ɔ1[to] request; ask for [sth]2polite request marker3[to] beg; plead4[to] wish for; pray forให้การhâi-gaanให้การhâi-gaan[to] testify; give a statementเดินทางปลอดภัยdəən-taang-bplɔ̀ɔt-paiเดินทางปลอดภัยdəən-taang-bplɔ̀ɔt-paisafe travels
He murmured a spell to ask for a safe journey.
3 more examplesShow less
แม่mâeให้hâiฉันchănท่องคาถาtông kaa-tăaสั้นๆsân sânก่อนgònออกจากบ้านòk jàak bâanเพื่อpêuuaความสบายใจkwaam sà-baai jai
Mom had me recite a short charm before leaving home for peace of mind.
หมอผีmɔ̌ɔ-pǐiสวดsùuatคาถาkaa-tǎaเหนือnʉ̌ʉaเครื่องรางkrʉ̂ʉang-raangโดยdooiหวังwǎngจะjàเสริมพลังsə̌əm-pá-langคุ้มครองkúm-krɔɔngเจ้าของjâao-kɔ̌ɔng
The shaman chanted a spell over the amulet, hoping to strengthen its protective power for the owner.
แม้mɛ́ɛจะjàไม่mâiเชื่อchʉ̂ʉaเต็มร้อยdtem-rɔ́ɔiเขาkǎoก็gɔ̂ยังyangพกpókกระดาษgrà-dàatที่tîiเขียนkǐianคาถาkaa-tǎaไว้wáiเผื่อpʉ̀ʉaช่วยให้chûuai-hâiการเจรจาgaan-jee-rá-jaaราบรื่นrâap-rʉ̂ʉn
Even though he wasn't fully convinced, he still carried a paper inscribed with a spell in case it helped the negotiation go smoothly.
2NounB2
mantra; sacred verse
A holy formula or verse repeated in religious practice, especially in Buddhist and Brahmanic traditions.
Examples
หลวงพ่อlǔuang-pɔ̂ɔหลวงพ่อlǔuang-pɔ̂ɔ1Venerable monk (form of address)2revered Buddha image/statueสอนsɔ̌ɔnสอนsɔ̌ɔn1[to] teach [sb] [sth]2[to] instruct; train [sb]3[to] admonish; give moral guidanceคาถาkaa-tǎaคาถาkaa-tǎa1incantation; spell2mantra; sacred verseบทbòtบทbòt1chapter; section2lesson (unit of study)3role; part (acting)4script/text; lyrics5clause; provision (law/regulation)6role; duty; functionสั้นsânสั้นsân1short (length)2short (time; brief)3conciseให้hâiให้hâi1[to] give; provide2[to] allow; let; permit3[to] have [sb] do; cause to4for (benefit of)5so that; in order to6until; to the point that (result)ญาติโยมyâat-yoomญาติโยมyâat-yoomlaypeople; lay devotees (Buddhist)สวดsùuatสวดsùuat1[to] chant; recite prayers2[to] scold; nagทุกเช้าtúk-cháaoทุกเช้าtúk-cháaoevery morningเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaเพื่อpʉ̂ʉa1for; in order to2for the sake of; on behalf ofฝึกสติfʉ̀k-sà-dtìฝึกสติfʉ̀k-sà-dtì[to] practice mindfulness
The abbot taught a short sacred verse for laypeople to recite every morning to cultivate mindfulness.
3 more examplesShow less
เวลาwee-laaเริ่มrə̂əmพิธีpí-tiiพ่อหมอpɔ̂ɔ-mɔ̌ɔจะjàนำสวดnam-sùuatคาถาkaa-tǎaตามdtaamแบบbɛ̀ɛpพราหมณ์praamก่อนgɔ̀ɔn
At the beginning of the ceremony, the Brahman priest leads the chanting of a sacred formula first.
เธอtəəเรียนท่องriian-tɔ̂ɔngคาถาบาลีkaa-tǎa-baa-liiจากjàakครูบาอาจารย์kruu-baa-aa-jaanเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaใช้cháiประกอบbprà-gɔ̀ɔpการเจริญภาวนาgaan-jà-rəən-paa-wá-naa
She memorizes Pali verses from her spiritual teachers to use in meditation practice.
ในnaiสายธรรมยุตsăai tam-má-yútคาถาkaa-tăaบางbaangบทbòtถูกtòokสืบทอดsèup tâwtอย่างเคร่งครัดyàang krêng-krátและláeสวดซ้ำsùuat sámเป็นbpenวัตรปฏิบัติwát bpà-dtì-bàt
In the Dhammayut order, certain verses are strictly transmitted and repeatedly chanted as a regular practice.
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 classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableA long vowel with no final consonant, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
kaa
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Low class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Mid
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 | — | — |