Buddha in Thai

“Buddha” in Thai is พระพุทธเจ้าprá-pút-tá-jâo; you'll also hear พระพุทธรูปprá-pút-tá-rûup (Buddha image).

พระพุทธเจ้า prá-pút-tá-jâo

the Buddha noun

prá high
pút high
tá high
jâo falling

High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”

พระพุทธรูป prá-pút-tá-rûup

Buddha image, Buddha statue noun

prá high
pút high
tá high
rûup falling

High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”

Classifier: องค์ong · counting word for Buddha images, royalty and gods

How to use it

พระพุทธเจ้าprá-pút-tá-jâo is the Buddha himself, and a statue of him is a พระพุทธรูปprá-pút-tá-rûup, "Buddha image", counted with องค์ong, the classifier for sacred and royal things. In conversation both are often just พระprá, the same word as "monk". Thais treat every Buddha image as sacred, even a small souvenir: keep it on a high shelf, never on the floor, and don't climb on one or pose for joke photos with it. Our page on temple etiquette explains how to pay respect.