พลู
pluuMeaning
1NounB2
betel leaf
the leaf of the betel vine, commonly used for wrapping areca nut and lime for chewing
Examples
ยายyaaiยายyaai1grandmother (maternal)2old woman (informal; can be rude)บอกว่าbòk wâaบอกว่าbòk wâa1[to] say/tell that; report/declare that2[of text/sign] say/indicate thatต้องเลือกdtông lêuuakต้องเลือกdtông lêuuak[to] have to choose; must chooseใบพลูbai plooใบพลูbai ploobetel leafแก่ๆgàe gàeแก่ๆgàe gàe1old; elderly; rather old2quite mature (of crops/fruit); ready to harvestเพราะpráwเพราะpráw1because2because of; due to3melodious; pleasant-soundingห่อหมากhàw màakห่อหมากhàw màakbetel quid packetแล้วláeoแล้วláeo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)หอมhŏmหอมhŏm1fragrant; pleasantly scented2[to] smell nice; be fragrant3onion; shallot; spring onionและláeและláeand (coordinating)เหนียวnĭiaoเหนียวnĭiao1sticky; adhesive2chewy; tough (texture)3stingy; tightfisted4tough; enduring (colloq.)ไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)ขาดkàatขาดkàat1[to] lack; be without2[to] be short of; run short of; run out of3[to] be torn; tear; rip4lacking; deficient5[to] be absent; miss (an occurrence)6[to] be cut off; be severedง่ายngâaiง่ายngâai1easy; simple2easily; readily
Grandma says to choose mature betel leaves, because when wrapping areca nut they’re fragrant and sturdy, not easily torn.
3 more examplesShow less
ตลาดเช้าdtà-làat cháoขายkăaiใบพลูbai plooเป็นbpenมัดmátๆ-สำหรับsăm-ràpคนkonที่têeเคี้ยวหมากkéeo màakหรือrĕuใช้cháiไหว้เจ้าwâi jâo
The morning market sells bundles of betel leaves for people who chew areca nut or use them for offerings.
บางบ้านbaang-bâanยังyangใช้cháiใบพลูbai-pluuทาtaaปูนขาวbpuun-kǎaoแล้วlɛ́ɛoห่อหมากhɔ̀ɔ-màakตามdtaamวิถีwí-tǐiเดิมdəəmแม้mɛ́ɛคนรุ่นใหม่kon-rûn-màiจะjàพบเห็นpóp-hěnได้dâaiน้อยลงnɔ́ɔi-long
Some households still smear lime on betel leaves and wrap areca nut in the traditional way, even though it’s less common among the younger generation.
พ่อค้าpô káaแนะนำให้náe-nam hâiเก็บgèpใบพลูbai plooไว้wáiในnaiผ้าpâaชุบchúpน้ำหมาดๆnáam màat-màatเพื่อpêuuaคงkongความชื้นkwaam chéunและláeกลิ่นglìnเฉพาะตัวchà-pór dtuuaของkŏngใบbai
The vendor recommends storing betel leaves in a damp cloth to retain their moisture and distinctive fragrance.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow classConsonant clusterIn the cluster พล, the first consonant พ sets the 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
pluu
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 | — | — |