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chedi – see stupa

chow – folk; people

chow lair – (chow nám) sea gypsies

chow nah – farmer

CPT – Communist Party of Thailand

doy – mountain in the Northern Thai dialect; spelt ‘Doi’ in proper names

à·làht – market

à·làht nám – water market

am·bon – (tambol) precinct, next governmental subdivision under amphoe

ròrk – (trok) alley, smaller than a soi

fa·ràng –a Westerner (person of European origin); also guava

gà·teu·i – (kàthoey) Thailand’s ‘third gender’, usually cross-dressing or transsexual males; also called ladyboys

gopura (S) – entrance pavilion in traditional Hindu temple architecture, often seen in Angkor-period temple complexes

góo·ay hâang – Chinese-style work shirt

grà·bèe grà·borng – a traditional Thai martial art employing short swords and staves

gù·ì – monk’s dwelling

hàht – beach; spelt ‘Hat’ in proper names

h-n – stone

hr rai – a Tripitaka (Buddhist scripture) hall

hr glorng – drum tower

hr rá·kang – bell tower

hôrng – (hong) room; in southern Thailand this refers to semi-submerged island caves

hôrng ta·ou – rowhouse or shophouses

Isan – (ee·shn) general term used for northeastern Thailand

jataka (P) – (chah·dòk) stories of the Buddha’s previous lives

jeen – Chinese

jeen hor – literally ‘galloping Chinese’, referring to horse-riding Yunnanese traders

jôw meu·ang – principality chief; jôw means lord, prince or holy being

kaan – reed instrument common in northeastern Thailand

kàthoey – see gà·teu·i

klorng – canal; spelt ‘Khlong’ in proper nouns

khn – masked dance-drama based on stories from the Ramakian

kon ee·shn – the people of northeastern Thailand; kon means person

kw – hill or mountain; spelt ‘Khao’ in proper names

kôw – rice

KMT – Kuomintang

KNU – Karen National Union

kràbìi-kràbawng – see grà·bèe grà·borng

ku – small chedi that is partially hollow and open

kúay hâeng – see góo·ay hâang

kùtì – see gù·ì

lam – cape; spelt ‘Laem’ in proper names

làk meu·ang – city pillar

lá·kon – classical Thai dance-drama

lék – little, small (in size); see also noi

lí·gair – Thai folk dance-drama

longyi – Burmese sarong

lôok tûng – Thai country music

lôw kw – white whisky, often homemade rice brew

lôw tèu·an – illegal (homemade) whisky

mâa chee – Thai Buddhist nun

mâa nám – river

Mahanikai – the larger of the two sects of Theravada Buddhism in Thailand

mahathat – (má·hh tâht) common name for temples containing Buddha relics; from the Sanskrit-Pali term mahadhatu

má·noh·rah – Southern Thailand’s most popular traditional dance-drama

masjid – (mát·sà·yít) mosque

mát·mèe – technique of tie-dyeing silk or cotton threads and then weaving them into complex patterns, similar to Indonesian ikat; the term also refers to the patterns themselves

metta (P) – (mêt-ah) Buddhist practice of loving-kindness

meu·ang – city or principality

mon·dòp – small square, spired building in a wát; from Sanskrit mandapa

moo·ay tai – (muay thai) Thai boxing

mr lam – an Isan musical tradition akin to lôok tûng

mrn kwhn – wedge-shaped pillow popular in northern and northeastern Thailand

MRTA – Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority, Bangkok’s subway system; Thai: rót fai fáh âi din

naga (P/S) – (nâhk) a mythical serpent-like being with magical powers

ná·kon – city; from the Sanskrit-Pali nagara; spelt ‘Nakhon’ in proper nouns

nám – water

nám òk – waterfall; spelt ‘Nam Tok’ in proper nouns

nng à·lung – Thai shadow play

neun – hill; spelt ‘Noen’ in proper names

ngahn têt·sà·gahn – festival

nibbana (P/S) – nirvana; in Buddhist teachings, the state of enlightenment; escape from the realm of rebirth; Thai: níp·pahn

noi – (nóy) little, small (amount); see also lék

nôrk – outside, outer; spelt ‘Nok’ in proper names

ow – bay or gulf; spelt ‘Ao’ in proper nouns

pâh ka·máh – cotton sarong worn by men

pâh mát·mèe – mát·mèe fabric

pâh sîn – cotton sarong worn by women

pâhk glahng – central Thailand

pâhk nua – northern Thailand

pâhk tâi – see àk âi

pe – ghost, spirit

pin – small, three-stringed lute played with a large plectrum

pìi-phâat