ไหว้พระ
wâi-práMeaning
1VerbB1
[to] pay respects to the Buddha; worship at a temple
to show reverence to the Buddha or Buddha images by performing a wai, praying, or making offerings, typically during a temple visit.
Examples
วันหยุดwan-yùtวันหยุดwan-yùt1day off; rest day2public holiday3regular closing day (of a shop/business)นี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)ครอบครัวkrɔ̂ɔp-kruuaครอบครัวkrɔ̂ɔp-kruuafamily; householdของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnmy; mineจะjàจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3will; would (in conditional results)ไปไหว้bpai-wâiไปไหว้bpai-wâi[to] go pay respects; go make offeringsพระที่prá-tîiพระที่prá-tîimonks’ quarters; monks’ living areaวัดwátวัดwát1to measure2Buddhist temple3to gauge; assess
This holiday, my family will go to the temple to pay respect to the Buddha.
3 more examplesShow less
คนไทยkon-taiจำนวนมากjam-nuuan-mâakนิยมní-yomไปbpaiไหว้พระwâi-prá9วัดwátเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaความเป็นสิริมงคลkwaam-bpen-sì-rí-mong-kon
Many Thais like to visit nine temples to pay respect to the Buddha for good fortune.
พอpɔɔไปถึงbpai-tʉ̌ngเชียงใหม่chiiang-màiเราraoก็gɔ̂แวะwɛ́ไหว้พระwâi-práที่tîiวัดพระธาตุดอยสุเทพwát-prá-tâat-dɔɔi-sù-têepก่อนเลยgɔ̀ɔn-ləəi
As soon as we arrived in Chiang Mai, we first stopped to pay respect to the Buddha at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
การไหว้gaan wâiพระpráไม่ได้mâi dâaiเป็นเพียงbpen piiangการปฏิบัติgaan bpà-dtì-bàtทางศาสนาtaang sàat-sà-năaแต่ยังdtàe yangเป็นbpenการแสวงหาgaan sà-wăeng-hăaความสงบkwaam sà-ngòpทางใจtaang jaiสำหรับsăm-ràpหลายๆlăai lăaiคนkon
Paying respect to the Buddha is not only a religious practice but also a search for inner peace for many people.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh classLeading หA silent ห before ว puts this syllable in high class.
- Tone markMai tho
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Falling tone
wâi
Starts high, rises a little, then drops clearly.
High class + Mai tho → Falling
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 | — | — |
Word Breakdown
ไหว้wâiไหว้wâi1[to] wai; pay respect with palms together2wai (gesture)[to] wai; pay respect with palms togetherPart 1
+
พระpráพระprá1Buddhist monk2Buddha image; amulet3honorific prefix/title4divine; holy (as modifier)5male role; male character (traditional Thai theatre)Buddhist monkPart 2
ไหว้พระwâi-práไหว้พระwâi-prá[to] pay respects to the Buddha; worship at a temple[to] pay respects to the Buddha; worship at a templeWord