ພຣະ

Lao

Etymology

From Old Khmer bra or Angkorian Old Khmer braḥ, braḥh, brah (literally “distinguished; divine; excellent; holy; sacred; superior; etc”), likely from Sanskrit वर (vara, “best; excellent; foremost; holy; precious; top; valuable; etc”); see Khmer ព្រះ (prĕəh) for more.

Compare Old Khmer vraḥ, vraḥh, vrah, vrahh, vrāʼaḥ, brā; Angkorian Old Khmer vraḥ, vraḥha, vraḥh, vrah, vras, vrāḥ.

Cognate with Modern Khmer ព្រះ (prĕəh); พระ (prá). Compare also Burmese ဘုရား (bhu.ra:), Old Javanese phra, Javanese bra.

Pronunciation

• (Vientiane) IPA^(key): [pʰaʔ˧]
• (Luang Prabang) IPA^(key): [pʰaʔ˧˨]
• Hyphenation: ພະ
• Rhymes: -aʔ

Particle

ພຣະ • (pha ra)

1. (used before gods, kings, holy objects etc.; sometimes translated:) royal, holy, divine

Derived terms

• ພຣະເຈົ້າ (pha ra chao)
• ພຣະໂພທິສັດ (pha ra phō thi sat)
• ພຣະຫົວ (pha ra hūa), "Laughing Buddha"

Noun

ພຣະ • (pha ra)

1. Buddha, king, priest, prince, holy image