พญา

pá-yaa

Meanings

1NounB2

ruler; king; lord (historical)

A title for a high-ranking ruler, king, or lord, mainly used in historical Thai or regional speech (e.g., Lanna).

Examples

ในnaiในnai1in; inside; within2during; in (time)3of (formal/official)ประวัติศาสตร์bprà-wàt-sàatประวัติศาสตร์bprà-wàt-sàat1history (academic field)2history; past eventsล้านนาláan-naaล้านนาláan-naa1Lanna (historic kingdom/region)2Lanna (relating to Lanna culture/language/style)พญาpá-yaaพญาpá-yaa1ruler; king; lord (historical)2honorific prefix for great beings3chief; great one (for animals/plants)เป็นbpenเป็นbpen1to be (identity/category/state)2to become3[to] know how; be able to (skill)4[to] be + set expressionsตำแหน่งdtam-nàengตำแหน่งdtam-nàeng1position; location; spot2position; post; job title; role3rank; status4slot; placement; orderของkŏngของkŏng1of; belonging to2thing; item; stuff3property; goodsผู้ปกครองpôo bpòk-krongผู้ปกครองpôo bpòk-krong1parent/guardian2ruler; governorนครรัฐná-kon rátนครรัฐná-kon rátcity-stateต่างๆdtàang-dtàangต่างๆdtàang-dtàangvarious; different; diverse
In Lanna history, Phaya was the title for rulers of various city-states.
2NounB2

honorific prefix for great beings

An honorific prefix placed before the name of a person or a revered being (such as a deity or mythical creature) to denote high rank, power, or greatness (e.g., พญานาคพญานาคpá-yaa nâak1a naga; mythical serpent being2a naga statue/motif - the Naga King).

Examples

ชาวบ้านchaao bâanชาวบ้านchaao bâan1villagers; locals; rural residents2ordinary people; laypeople; the public3folksy; colloquial; plain (as a modifier)เชื่อว่าchêuua wâaเชื่อว่าchêuua wâa1[to] believe (that) ...2it is believed that ...ในnaiในnai1in; inside; within2during; in (time)3of (formal/official)แม่น้ำโขงmâe-nám kŏhngแม่น้ำโขงmâe-nám kŏhngthe Mekong Riverมีmeeมีmee1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoพญาpá-yaaพญาpá-yaa1ruler; king; lord (historical)2honorific prefix for great beings3chief; great one (for animals/plants)นาคอาศัยอยู่nâak aa-săi yòo
The villagers believe that a Phaya Naga (Great Naga) lives in the Mekong River.
3NounC1

chief; great one (for animals/plants)

A prefix used for animals, plants, or natural phenomena to denote greatness, magnificence, or being the chief of its kind (e.g., พญาอินทรีพญาอินทรีpá-yaa in-see1large eagle2bald eagle (esp. US symbol)3powerful leader or entity (figurative) for a great eagle, พญาเสือโคร่ง for the Wild Himalayan cherry tree).

Examples

ต้นพญาเสือโคร่งdtôn pá-yaa sĕuua krôhngต้นพญาเสือโคร่งdtôn pá-yaa sĕuua krôhngHimalayan cherry tree (Thai sakura)จะjàจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3then; would (result in conditionals)ออกดอกòk dòkออกดอกòk dòk[to] bloom; [to] flowerสีชมพูsĕe chom-pooสีชมพูsĕe chom-poo1pink; pink-colored2pink (color)3rosy; romantic (figurative)สวยงามsŭuay ngaamสวยงามsŭuay ngaam1beautiful; lovely2splendid; elegant (style/design)เต็มdtemเต็มdtem1full; filled2complete; entire; full (amount)3[to] be full4fully; completely; to the fullภูเขาpoo kăoภูเขาpoo kăo1mountain2range; mountain rangeในช่วงnai chûuangในช่วงnai chûuangduring; in the period ofฤดูหนาวrú-doo năaoฤดูหนาวrú-doo năao1winter; cold season2in winter
The Wild Himalayan cherry trees (Phaya Suea Khrong) will be covered in beautiful pink blossoms all over the mountain during the winter.

Related Words

Similar Meaning

ขุนkŭnขุนkŭn1noble title (historical)2[to] fatten; feed up (animals)3[to] nurture; cultivate; develop4Khun- (name element)
  • noble title (historical)
  • [to] fatten; feed up (animals)
  • [to] nurture; cultivate; develop
  • Khun- (name element)
จ่าฝูงjàa fŏongจ่าฝูงjàa fŏong1leader of the pack; alpha2league leader; top of the table
  • leader of the pack; alpha
  • league leader; top of the table
เจ้าเมืองjâo meuuangเจ้าเมืองjâo meuuanglocal ruler/governor of a mueang (historical)

local ruler/governor of a mueang (historical)

กษัตริย์gà-sàtกษัตริย์gà-sàt1sovereign; monarch (formal/lit.)2king; monarch (male)
  • sovereign; monarch (formal/lit.)
  • king; monarch (male)
ราชาraa chaaราชาraa chaaking; male monarch

king; male monarch