ศีรษะ

sǐi-sà

Meanings

1NounA2

head (body part; formal)

The head; the part of the body above the neck containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. More formal/polite than หัวหัวhǔua1head (body part)2top; end; tip3leader; chief; head4mind; mentality; way of thinking5classifier: head-like items; bulbs; heads of nails/pins6header; title; headline7beginning; initial part8[to] laugh (Isan; archaic in standard Thai).

Examples

เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillปวดศีรษะbpùuat-sǐi-sàปวดศีรษะbpùuat-sǐi-sà1headache2[to] have a headacheตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛตั้งแต่dtâng-dtɛ̀ɛfrom; since (starting point)เช้าcháoเช้าcháo1morning2morning; early-morning3in the morning
He has had a headache since the morning.
3 more examples
แพทย์pɛ̂ɛtตรวจdtrùuatศีรษะsǐi-sàและlɛ́ดวงตาduuang-dtaaอย่างละเอียดyàang-lá-ìiat
The doctor examined the head and eyes carefully.
เวลาwee-laaขี่จักรยานkìi-jàk-grà-yaanควรkuuanสวมsǔuamหมวกนิรภัยmùuak-ní-rá-paiเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaปกป้องbpòk-bpɔ̂ngศีรษะsǐi-sà
You should wear a helmet when cycling to protect your head.
อาการบาดเจ็บaa-gaan-bàat-jèpที่tîiศีรษะsǐi-sàต้องdtɔ̂ngได้รับdâi-rápการเฝ้าระวังgaan-fâo-rá-wangเพราะprɔ́อาจàatกระทบgrà-tópสมองsà-mɔ̌ɔng
Head injuries must be monitored because they may affect the brain.
2NounB1

top; tip; end (literary)

The top, tip, or end of something, as in ศีรษะไม้ (the tip of a piece of wood) or ศีรษะสะพาน (the end of a bridge).

Examples

แขกkɛ̀ɛkแขกkɛ̀ɛk1guest; visitor2patron (hotel/venue/restaurant)ผู้ใหญ่pûu-yàiผู้ใหญ่pûu-yài1adult; grown-up2elder; respected senior3adult (modifier)4authority; person in charge5senior; high-ranking (modifier)ควรkuuanควรkuuan1should; ought to2appropriate; proper; suitable3[to] deserve; be worthy ofนั่งnângนั่งnâng1[to] sit; sit down2[to] take; ride [sth] (vehicle)ที่tîiที่tîi1place; spot; seat; space2at; in; to (a place)3classifier: places; seats; individual servings4that/which/who (relative marker)5when; the time that (time marker)6ordinal markerศีรษะsǐi-sàศีรษะsǐi-sà1head (body part; formal)2top; tip; end (literary)โต๊ะdtóโต๊ะdtó1table2desk
The honored guest should sit at the head of the table.
3 more examples
ธงชาติtong-châatถูกtùukยกขึ้นyók-kʉ̂nไปbpaiปักbpàkไว้wáiที่tîiศีรษะsǐi-sàแถวtɛ̌ɛoอย่างyàangสง่างามsà-ngàa-ngaam
The national flag was raised and placed at the head of the line with dignity.
เขาkǎoยืนรอyʉʉn-rɔɔเจ้านายjâo-naaiอยู่yùuตรงdtrongศีรษะsǐi-sàบันไดban-daiเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaกล่าวglàaoต้อนรับdtɔ̂ɔn-ráp
He waited for his boss at the top of the stairs to offer a greeting.
พิธีpí-tiiเริ่มrə̂əmที่tîiศีรษะsǐi-sàขบวนkà-buuanจากนั้นjàak-nánจึงjʉngเคลื่อนผ่านklʉ̂ʉan-pàanตามลำดับdtaam-lam-dàpไปยังbpai-yangลานlaanหน้าnâaศาลาsǎa-laa
The ceremony began at the head of the procession, then moved in order to the courtyard in front of the pavilion.

Tones

See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.

Why is ศีรษะ said สี-สะ?

sǐi-sà

The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.

2 syllables · pick one to see its rule

How the tone is decided

  1. Consonant classHigh class
  2. Tone markNo tone mark
  3. Syllable endingLive syllableA long vowel with no final consonant, so it is live.

High class consonants

ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห

Result

Rising tone

sǐi

Dips low first, then rises clearly.

High class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Rising

Tone chart

Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.

Mid classHigh classLow class
No mark + liveMidRisingMid
No mark + dead shortLowLowHigh
No mark + dead longLowLowFalling
Mai ekLowLowFalling
Mai thoFallingFallingHigh
Mai triHigh——
Mai chattawaRising——

Related Words

1head (body part; formal)

2top; tip; end (literary)