หลวงตา

lŭuang dtaa

Meanings

1NounB2

elder monk (Isan/Northern usage)

A respectful term for an elderly or senior Buddhist monk, commonly used in Northeastern and Northern Thailand.

Examples

ชาวบ้านchaao bâanชาวบ้านchaao bâan1villagers; locals; rural residents2ordinary people; laypeople; the public3folksy; colloquial; plain (as a modifier)ขึ้นไปkêun bpaiขึ้นไปkêun bpai1[to] go up; ascend (away)2and up; or moreกราบgràapกราบgràap1[to] prostrate; bow deeply2[to] pay deep respect; humbly apologize (formal/figurative)หลวงตาlŭuang dtaaหลวงตาlŭuang dtaa1elder monk (Isan/Northern usage)2form of address for an elder monkบนbonบนbon1on; upon2upper; top3[to] vow (at a shrine)วัดwátวัดwát1to gauge; assess2Buddhist temple3to measureบนดอยbon doiบนดอยbon doion the mountain/hill (Northern Thai)ทุกเช้าtúk cháoทุกเช้าtúk cháoevery morning
Villagers go to pay respects to the venerable elderly monk at the mountain temple every morning.
2NounB2

form of address for an elder monk

Used to address or refer to a senior Buddhist monk (similar to “Venerable”), especially in Northeastern and Northern Thailand.

Examples

พรุ่งนี้prûng-néeพรุ่งนี้prûng-née1tomorrow (the day after today)2tomorrow; on the day after todayเราraoเราrao1we; us2I; me (informal/regional)จะjàจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3then; would (result in conditionals)ไปกราบbpai gràapไปกราบbpai gràap[to] go (and) pay deep respects [to sb/sth] (by prostrating)หลวงตาlŭuang dtaaหลวงตาlŭuang dtaa1elder monk (Isan/Northern usage)2form of address for an elder monkที่têeที่têe1place; spot; seat; space2that/which/who (relative marker)3at; in; to (before place/recipient)4when; the time that (time marker)5ordinal/degree marker6classifier: place/seat/slotวัดท้ายwát táaiวัดท้ายwát táaiWat Tai; temple at the downstream/end side (place-name element)หมู่บ้านmòo bâanหมู่บ้านmòo bâan1village; hamlet2housing estate; gated community
Tomorrow we will pay respects to Venerable (Luang Ta) at the temple at the end of the village.

Word Breakdown

หลวงlŭuangหลวงlŭuang1royal; of the king/state2state; public; official3honorific for monks/holy objects4venerable monk (colloq.)Part 1
+
ตาdtaaตาdtaa1eye2grandfather (maternal)3grid square; mesh4eye (classifier for small holes/mesh openings)5[to] stare; [to] gaze6turn (in a game)Part 2
หลวงตาlŭuang dtaaหลวงตาlŭuang dtaaelder monk (Isan/Northern usage)