ปู่
bpùuMeanings
1NounA1
paternal grandfather
one’s father’s father.
Examples
ปู่bpùuปู่bpùu1paternal grandfather2grandfather (respect term)3ancestor spirit (folk belief)ของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnmy; mineอยู่yùuอยู่yùu1[to] live; reside; stay2to be (located); be at3progressive/continuative marker4to exist; remainบ้านbâanบ้านbâan1house; home2home (family unit)3village; hometown4classifier: หลังต่างจังหวัดdtàang-jang-wàtต่างจังหวัดdtàang-jang-wàt1upcountry; outside the capital2provincial; out-of-town
My grandfather (my father’s father) lives in another province.
3 more examplesShow less
Yesterday I went to visit my grandfather with my father.
Tomorrow my grandfather will come to our house.
2NounB1
grandfather (respect term)
used as a respectful or familiar term for an elderly man, not necessarily one’s relative (e.g., calling an old man ‘ปู่ปู่bpùu1paternal grandfather2grandfather (respect term)3ancestor spirit (folk belief)’).
Examples
เมื่อเช้าmʉ̂ʉa-cháoเมื่อเช้าmʉ̂ʉa-cháothis morning; earlier this morningฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)ช่วยchûuaiช่วยchûuai1[to] help; assist [sb/sth]2please (request marker)3[to] save; rescue [sb]ปู่bpùuปู่bpùu1paternal grandfather2grandfather (respect term)3ancestor spirit (folk belief)ข้ามถนนkâam-tà-nǒnข้ามถนนkâam-tà-nǒn[to] cross the roadปู่bpùuปู่bpùu1paternal grandfather2grandfather (respect term)3ancestor spirit (folk belief)ยิ้มyímยิ้มyím1[to] smile2smileและlɛ́และlɛ́and (coordinating)ขอบใจkɔ̀ɔp-jaiขอบใจkɔ̀ɔp-jaithanks (informal; to friends/younger people)
This morning I helped an elderly man cross the street; he smiled and thanked me.
3 more examplesShow less
เด็กๆdèk dèkในnaiหมู่บ้านmòo bâanเรียกrîakคุณลุงkun lungขายkăaiไอติมai dtimว่าwâaปู่bpòoเพราะpráwท่านtâanใจดีjai deeและláeพูดpôotเพราะpráw
The kids in the village call the ice cream vendor ‘puu’ because he is kind and speaks politely.
เวลาway-laaไปbpaiตลาดdtà-làatฉันchănชอบchôpทักทายták taaiปู่bpòoที่têeขายkăaiผักpàkหน้าปากซอยnâa bpàak soiเพราะpráwท่านtâanเล่าเรื่องlâo rêuuangสนุกๆsà-nùk sà-nùkให้hâiฟังfangเสมอsà-mĕr
When I go to the market, I like to greet the elderly man who sells vegetables at the alley entrance because he always tells fun stories.
แม้mɛ́ɛจะjàไม่ใช่mâi-châiญาติyâatแต่dtɛ̀ɛเราraoทุกคนtúk-konยังyangเรียกrîiakท่านtânว่าwâaปู่bpùuเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaแสดงsà-dɛɛngความเคารพkwaam-kao-rópและlɛ́ความคุ้นเคยkwaam-kún-kəəiตามdtaamวัฒนธรรมไทยwát-tá-ná-tam-tai
Even though he isn’t a relative, we all call him ‘puu’ to show respect and familiarity in Thai culture.
3NounB2
ancestor spirit (folk belief)
a revered male ancestral or tutelary spirit in local traditions (e.g., ปู่ตา).
Examples
ชาวบ้านchaao-bâanชาวบ้านchaao-bâan1villagers; locals; rural residents2ordinary people; laypeople; the public3folksy; colloquial; plain (as a modifier)ตั้งdtângตั้งdtâng1[to] place upright; stand; erect2as much as; as many as3[to] set up; establish; found4[to] appoint; nominate5[to] set; fix (value, rule, goal)6stack; pile; bundle7[to] aim; focus (eyes, mind)8[to] allocate; earmark (funds)9classifier: stacks; pilesศาลsǎanศาลsǎan1court (of law)2shrine; spirit houseให้hâiให้hâi1[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)ปู่bpùuปู่bpùu1paternal grandfather2grandfather (respect term)3ancestor spirit (folk belief)ตาdtaaตาdtaa1eye2grandfather (maternal)3grid square; mesh4turn (in a game)5eye (classifier for small holes/mesh openings)และlɛ́และlɛ́and (coordinating)มาmaaมาmaa1[to] come; arrive2[to] come to (a state or situation)3past/as of now aspect markerขอพรkɔ̌ɔ-pɔɔnขอพรkɔ̌ɔ-pɔɔn[to] ask for a blessing; make a wish; pray for blessingsทุกปีtúk-bpiiทุกปีtúk-bpiievery year; annually
Villagers set up a shrine for the ancestral spirits (Pu Ta) and come to seek blessings every year.
3 more examplesShow less
Before farming, they make offerings to the ancestral guardian spirit to protect the fields.
ผู้เฒ่าpûu-tâoเล่าlâoว่าwâaปู่bpùuประจำbprà-jamหมู่บ้านmùu-bâanคอยkɔɔiดูแลduu-lɛɛป่าbpàaและlɛ́น้ำnáamหากhàakล่วงเกินlûuang-gəənก็gɔ̂จะjàเกิดgə̀ətอาเพศaa-pêet
The elders say the village guardian spirit watches over the forest and water, and misfortune occurs if one offends him.
งานบุญประจำปีngaan-bun-bprà-jam-bpiiมีmiiพิธีpí-tiiเชิญchəənปู่bpùuมาประทับmaa-bprà-tápเพื่อให้pʉ̂ʉa-hâiลูกหลานlûuk-lǎanได้รับdâi-rápสิริมงคลsì-rí-mong-konและlɛ́อยู่เย็นเป็นสุขyùu-yen-bpen-sùk
At the annual merit-making, there is a ritual inviting the ancestral spirit to preside, so descendants may receive blessings and live in peace.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markMai ek
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Low tone
bpùu
Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.
Mid class + Mai ek → 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 | — | — |