Culture and festivalsStupa in Thai
“Stupa” in Thai is เจดีย์jee-dii; you'll also hear พระธาตุprá-tâat (with relics).
chedi, stupa noun
- jee mid
- dii mid
- Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.
relics of the Buddha; a stupa holding them noun with relics
- prá high
- tâat 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!”
How to use it
A เจดีย์jee-dii is the tall, pointed tower of a Thai temple, often holding relics or ashes. When it holds relics of the Buddha it's a พระธาตุprá-tâat, as at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep above Chiang Mai. Walk around a chedi clockwise, keeping it on your right. Our page on temple etiquette has the other customs.
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:
- chedi
- jedee
- phra that
- pra tat
Read more
More culture and festivals in Thai
All culture and festivals- เพลงชาติ pleeng-châat National anthem
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones