สลี
sà-lǐiMeaning
1NounB2
bodhi tree; sacred fig (Northern Thai)
A Northern Thai word for the bodhi tree or sacred fig (Ficus religiosa), the species of tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.
Examples
ยายyaaiยายyaai1grandmother (maternal)2old woman (informal; can be rude)บอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâaบอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâa1[to] say/tell that; report/declare that2[of text/sign] say/indicate thatคนเหนือkon-nʉ̌ʉaคนเหนือkon-nʉ̌ʉaNorthern Thai person; Northerner (Thailand)เรียกrîiakเรียกrîiak1[to] call [sb/sth] (by name); name2[to] call out; summon; hail3[to] ask for; charge; demand4[to] draw attention; bring out a reactionต้นโพธิ์dtôn-pooต้นโพธิ์dtôn-pooBodhi tree; sacred fig (Ficus religiosa)ว่าwâaว่าwâa1[to] say; tell2that (clause marker)3[to] think; consider; deem4[to] scold; reproach; criticizeสลีsà-lǐiสลีsà-lǐibodhi tree; sacred fig (Northern Thai)และlɛ́และlɛ́and (coordinating)ถือว่าtʉ̌ʉ-wâaถือว่าtʉ̌ʉ-wâa1[to] consider; regard; deem2it can be considered that; it's fair to sayเป็นต้นbpen-dtônเป็นต้นbpen-dtônetc.; and so onไม้máaiไม้máai1wood; timber2stick; rod; club; bat3classifier: skewers of food4tone/diacritic mark (Thai orthography)5tool; implementศักดิ์สิทธิ์sàk-sìtศักดิ์สิทธิ์sàk-sìt1sacred; holy2holy; miraculously powerful
Grandma said that Northern Thai people call the bodhi tree 'sali' and consider it sacred.
3 more examplesShow less
ชาวบ้านchaao-bâanมาmaaนั่งพักnâng-pákใต้dtâaiต้นdtônสลีsà-lǐiข้างkâangวิหารwí-hǎanเพราะprɔ́ตรงนั้นdtrong-nánมีmiiร่มเงาrôm-ngaoและlɛ́ลมเย็นlom-yen
The villagers sat resting under the bodhi tree beside the temple hall because it was shady and there was a cool breeze.
ในnaiวันสงกรานต์wan-sǒng-graanชาวบ้านchaao-bâanนำnamไม้ค้ำmáai-kámมาmaaค้ำkámกิ่งgìngต้นdtônสลีsà-lǐiที่tîiวัดwátตามประเพณีdtaam-bprà-pee-niiค้ำkámโพธิ์pooซึ่งsʉ̂ngสืบทอดกันมาsʉ̀ʉp-tɔ̂ɔt-gan-maaในnaiล้านนาláan-naa
During Songkran, villagers place wooden supports beneath the branches of the temple's bodhi tree, following the traditional Lanna practice of propping up bodhi trees.
เจ้าอาวาสjâao-aa-wâatขอให้kɔ̌ɔ-hâiรักษาrák-sǎaต้นdtônสลีsà-lǐiเก่าแก่gào-gɛ̀ɛไว้wáiแม้mɛ́ɛจะต้องjà-dtɔ̂ngปรับbpràpแบบก่อสร้างbɛ̀ɛp-gɔ̀ɔ-sâangศาลาsǎa-laaเพราะprɔ́ชาวบ้านchaao-bâanถือว่าtʉ̌ʉ-wâaเป็นต้นbpen-dtônไม้máaiศักดิ์สิทธิ์sàk-sìt
The abbot asked for the old bodhi tree to be preserved, even if the pavilion's construction plans had to be changed, because the villagers revere it as a sacred tree.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is สลี said สะ-หลี?
sà-lǐi
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingDead syllableA short vowel with no final consonant, so it is dead.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Low tone
sà
Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.
High class + No tone mark + Dead syllable → 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 | — | — |