Culture and festivalsOrdain in Thai
“Ordain” in Thai is บวชbùat; you'll also hear เณรneen (novice).
to be ordained, to become a monk verb
- bùat low
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
novice monk noun
- neen mid
- Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.
How to use it
บวชbùat is to be ordained. Many young Thai men become monks for a short time, from a week or two to a whole rainy season, to make merit for their parents, especially their mother; the ordination is a big family celebration with a procession to the temple. Boys under twenty can become novices, เณรneen, and women can become white-robed nuns, แม่ชีmâe-chii. Monks are counted with รูปrûup, not คนkon.
Other spellings you'll see
There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:
- buad
- bouat
- nen
Read more
More culture and festivals in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones