ปลาร้า
bplaa-ráaMeaning
1NounB1
fermented fish (seasoning)
A pungent fermented freshwater fish paste or brine used as a seasoning in Isan, Lao, and Thai cuisine.
Examples
แม่mɛ̂ɛแม่mɛ̂ɛ1mother; mom2form of address for a woman (traditional/familiar)3prefix: female; main; baseใส่sàiใส่sài1[to] put in; [to] add2[to] wear; [to] put on3[to] include; [to] insert (data, settings)4[to] attack; [to] go at (colloq.)ปลาร้าbplaa-ráaปลาร้าbplaa-ráafermented fish (seasoning)ในnaiในnai1in; inside; within2during; in (time)3of; belonging to (formal)ส้มตำอีสานsôm-dtam-ii-sǎanส้มตำอีสานsôm-dtam-ii-sǎanIsan-style papaya saladให้hâiให้hâi1[to] give; provide2[to] allow; let; permit3to; for [sb] (recipient)4[to] have [sb] do; cause to5for (benefit of)6so that; in order to7until; to the point that (result)หอมแรงhɔ̌ɔm-rɛɛngหอมแรงhɔ̌ɔm-rɛɛngstrongly fragrantและlɛ́และlɛ́and (coordinating)เค็มนัวkem-nuuaเค็มนัวkem-nuuaumami-salty; rounded salty
Mom adds pla ra to Isan papaya salad to make it pungent and savory.
3 more examplesShow less
เมื่อวานmʉ̂ʉa-waanฉันchǎnลองชิมlɔɔng-chimแกงหน่อไม้gɛɛng-nɔ̀ɔ-máaiใส่sàiปลาร้าbplaa-ráaรสชาติกลมกล่อมrót-châat-glom-glɔ̀ɔmและlɛ́หอมแรงhɔ̌ɔm-rɛɛngมากmâak
Yesterday I tried bamboo shoot curry with pla ra; the flavor was balanced and very pungent.
ร้านráanลาบlâapแถวบ้านtɛ̌ɛo-bâanใช้cháiปลาร้าbplaa-ráaหมักmàkดีdiiทำให้tam-hâiรสชาติrót-châatเค็มนัวkem-nuuaและlɛ́มีกลิ่นmii-glìnเฉพาะchà-pɔ́แบบbɛ̀ɛpอีสานii-sǎan
The larb shop near my house uses well-fermented pla ra, giving a savory saltiness and a distinct Isan aroma.
เชฟchéepอธิบายà-tí-baaiว่าwâaเคล็ดลับklét-lápของkɔ̌ɔngต้มdtômผ้าขี้ริ้วpâa-kîi-ríuให้hâiอร่อยà-rɔ̀iคือkʉʉการใส่gaan-sàiปลาร้าbplaa-ráaเล็กน้อยlék-nɔ́ɔiเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaเพิ่มpə̂əmชั้นchánกลิ่นglìnและlɛ́รสอูมามิrót-uu-maa-mí
The chef explained that the secret to a delicious beef tripe soup is adding a bit of pla ra to enhance layers of aroma and umami.
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 classConsonant clusterIn the cluster ปล, the first consonant ป sets the class.
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableA long vowel with no final consonant, so it is live.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Mid tone
bplaa
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Mid 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 | — | — |