พญามกร
pá-yaa-má-gonMeaning
1NounC2
mythical aquatic creature (Great Makara)
A legendary aquatic creature in Thai and South/Southeast Asian mythology, a 'Great Makara' or 'King Makara', often depicted with features of a crocodile, fish, and an elephant's trunk. It is commonly used as a decorative motif in religious architecture, such as on temple gables or as a gargoyle-like figure.
Examples
ในnaiในnai1in; inside; within2during; in (time)3of; belonging to (formal)งานสถาปัตยกรรมngaan-sà-tǎa-bpàt-dtà-yá-gamงานสถาปัตยกรรมngaan-sà-tǎa-bpàt-dtà-yá-gamarchitectural workไทยtaiไทยtai1Thai (language)2Thai; of Thailand3Thai personโบราณboo-raanโบราณboo-raan1ancient; antique2traditional; old-fashioned3ancient times; the old daysเราraoเราrao1we; us2I; me (informal/regional)มักจะmák-jàมักจะmák-jà1often; usually (habit/frequency)2tend to; be apt/prone to (general tendency)เห็นhěnเห็นhěn1[to] see2[to] notice; [to] realize; [to] find (that)3[to] think; [to] be of the opinion4[to] consider; [to] regard asรูปปั้นrûup-bpânรูปปั้นrûup-bpânstatue; sculpted figureพญาpá-yaaพญาpá-yaa1ruler; king; lord (historical)2honorific prefix for great beings3chief; great one (for animals/plants)มกรคายนาคmá-gon-kaai-nâakมกรคายนาคmá-gon-kaai-nâakMakara spitting out a Naga (motif)ประดับbprà-dàpประดับbprà-dàp1[to] decorate; adorn; embellish2ornamental; decorative; for show3[to] wear (as adornment)อยู่yùuอยู่yùu1[to] live; reside; stay2to be (located); be at3progressive/continuative marker4to exist; remainบริเวณbɔɔ-rí-weenบริเวณbɔɔ-rí-ween1area; vicinity2around; in the vicinity ofหน้าบันnâa-banหน้าบันnâa-bangable; gable pediment (Thai architecture)ของkɔ̌ɔngของkɔ̌ɔng1of; belonging to2thing; item; stuff3property; goodsโบสถ์วิหารbòot-wí-hǎanโบสถ์วิหารbòot-wí-hǎantemple halls; ubosot and viharn
In ancient Thai architecture, we often see sculptures of the Great Makara disgorging a Naga decorating the gables of temples and chapels.
3 more examplesShow less
พญามกรpá-yaa má-gonเป็นbpenสัตว์หิมพานต์sàt hĭm-má-paanที่têeผสมผสานpà-sŏm pà-săanลักษณะlák-sà-nàของkŏngจระเข้jor-rá-kâeช้างcháangและláeปลาbplaaซึ่งsêungสะท้อนถึงsà-tón tĕungการสังเคราะห์gaan săng-krórความเชื่อkwaam chêuuaและláeศิลปะsĭn-lá-bpàจากjàakหลากหลายlàak lăaiวัฒนธรรมwát-tá-ná-tamในnaiเอเชียay-chia
The Great Makara is a Himavanta creature that combines the features of a crocodile, elephant, and fish, reflecting the synthesis of beliefs and art from various cultures in Asia.
ช่างฝีมือchâng-fǐi-mʉʉบรรจงแกะสลักban-jong-gɛ̀-sà-làkลวดลายlûuat-laaiพญามกรpá-yaa-má-gonบนbonราวบันไดraao-ban-daiทางขึ้นtaang-kʉ̂nพระอุโบสถprá-ù-boo-sòtอย่างyàangวิจิตรพิสดารwí-jìt-pít-sà-daanโดยdooiเชื่อว่าchʉ̂ʉa-wâaเป็นbpenสัญลักษณ์sǎn-yá-lákแห่งhɛ̀ngความอุดมสมบูรณ์kwaam-ù-dom-sǒm-buunและlɛ́เป็นbpenผู้พิทักษ์pûu-pí-tákศาสนสถานsàat-sà-ná-sà-tǎan
The artisan meticulously carved the intricate pattern of the Great Makara on the balustrade leading up to the main chapel, believing it to be a symbol of fertility and a guardian of the holy site.
คติká-dtìการสร้างgaan-sâangรูปrûupพญามกรpá-yaa-má-gonในฐานะnai-tǎa-náทวารบาลtá-waan-baanเชิงสัญลักษณ์chəəng-sǎn-yá-lákนั้นnánสืบทอดมาsʉ̀ʉp-tɔ̂ɔt-maaยาวนานyaao-naanในnaiภูมิภาคpuu-mí-pâakอุษาคเนย์ù-sǎa-ká-neeซึ่งsʉ̂ngเป็นbpenภาพสะท้อนpâap-sà-tɔ́ɔnของkɔ̌ɔngจักรวาลทัศน์jàk-grà-waan-tátในnaiศาสนาฮินดูsàat-sà-nǎa-hin-duuพุทธpútที่tîiปรับเปลี่ยนbpràp-bplìianให้hâiเข้ากับkâo-gàpบริบทbɔɔ-rí-bòtความเชื่อkwaam-chʉ̂ʉaท้องถิ่นtɔ́ɔng-tìn
The tenet of creating the Great Makara figure as a symbolic gatekeeper has been passed down for a long time in Southeast Asia, which is a reflection of the Hindu-Buddhist cosmology adapted to the context of local beliefs.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is พญามกร said พะ-ยา-มะ-กน?
pá-yaa-má-gon
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
4 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingDead syllableShort vowelA short vowel with no final consonant, so it is dead.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
High tone
pá
Starts high and keeps climbing.
Low class + No tone mark + Dead syllable · Short vowel → High
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
พญาpá-yaaพญาpá-yaa1ruler; king; lord (historical)2honorific prefix for great beings3chief; great one (for animals/plants)ruler; king; lord (historical)Part 1
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มกรmá-gonมกรmá-gon1makara (mythical sea creature)2Capricorn (zodiac sign)3crocodile (poetic)makara (mythical sea creature)Part 2
พญามกรpá-yaa-má-gonพญามกรpá-yaa-má-gonmythical aquatic creature (Great Makara)mythical aquatic creature (Great Makara)Word