Temples and etiquette: all words and phrases
Thai script, pronunciation and meaning. Show it to someone and they can read it straight away. + khráp / khâ = add khráp (man) or khâ (woman) at the end.
วัด
wát
Meaning: temple
💡 Temple names start with wát: Wat Pho, Wat Arun.
เจดีย์
jee-dii
Meaning: chedi / stupa
ปรางค์
praang
Meaning: prang (Khmer-style tower)
โบสถ์
bòot
Meaning: ordination hall (ubosot)
วิหาร
wí-hǎan
Meaning: assembly hall (viharn)
พระพุทธรูป
phrá-phút-thá-rûup
Meaning: Buddha image
พระนอน
phrá-nawn
Meaning: reclining Buddha
พระสงฆ์
phrá-sǒng
Meaning: monk
💡 In speech people simply say phrá.
เณร
neen
Meaning: novice monk
- + khráp / khâ
วัดเปิดกี่โมง
wát pòet kìi moong
Meaning: What time does the temple open?
- + khráp / khâ
นี่คือทางเข้าใช่ไหม
nîi khue thaang khâo châi mǎi
Meaning: Is this the entrance?
- + khráp / khâ
ถอดรองเท้า
thàwt rawng-tháao
Meaning: Please take off your shoes
💡 Take them off before you enter any hall with a Buddha image.
แต่งกายสุภาพ
tàeng-kaai sù-phâap
Meaning: dress modestly
💡 Cover shoulders and knees; many big temples rent or lend sarongs.
ห้ามใส่กางเกงขาสั้น
hâam sài kaang-keeng khǎa-sân
Meaning: No shorts
- + khráp / khâ
ถ่ายรูปที่นี่ได้ไหม
thàai-rûup thîi-nîi dâi mǎi
Meaning: May I take photos here?
ห้ามถ่ายรูป
hâam thàai-rûup
Meaning: No photography
- + khráp / khâ
ผู้หญิงห้ามแตะพระ
phûu-yǐng hâam tàe phrá
Meaning: Women may not touch monks
💡 To give something to a monk, women place it on a cloth or hand it via a man.
อย่าชี้เท้า
yàa chíi tháao
Meaning: Don't point your feet
💡 When you sit, tuck your feet behind you, away from the Buddha.
ทำบุญ
tham-bun
Meaning: make merit
ใส่บาตร
sài-bàat
Meaning: give alms to monks
💡 Done at dawn; buy a ready-made alms set at a morning market and kneel or stand barefoot.
ธูป
thûup
Meaning: incense
- + khráp / khâ
ถวายของได้ไหม
thà-waai khǎwng dâi mǎi
Meaning: May I make an offering?
บริจาค
baw-rí-jàak
Meaning: donate
ศาลพระภูมิ
sǎan phrá-phuum
Meaning: spirit house