เถรวาท

těe-rá-wâat

Meanings

1NounB2

Theravada Buddhism

The Theravada school of Buddhism, considered the oldest surviving branch, prevalent in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.

Examples

3 more examples
2AdjectiveB2

Theravāda; Theravādin (relating to Theravāda)

Relating to the Theravāda school of Buddhism; characteristic of Theravāda teachings or practices.

Examples

3 more examples

Tones

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

Why is เถรวาท said เถ-ระ-วาท?

těe-rá-wâat

The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.

3 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

těe

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——

Word Breakdown

+
วาทwâatวาทwâatspeech; utterance; rhetoric; discourse (formal; mainly in compounds)speech; utterance; rhetoric; discourse (formal; mainly in compounds)Part 2
เถรวาทtěe-rá-wâatเถรวาทtěe-rá-wâatTheravada BuddhismTheravada BuddhismWord