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ETYMOLOGY OF THAI ROYAL HYMN

 

 

Kha Woraphuttachao Ao Manoh Lae Sira Krahn Nop Phra Phumibahn Boonya Direk Ek Boromajakrin Phra Sayaamin Phra Yotsa Ying Yong Yen Sira Phro Phra Boribahn Phon Phra Khun Ta Raksah Puang Pracha Pen Sooksahn Kho Bandahn Ta Prasong Dai Jong Sarit Dang Huang Worahareuthai Dut[ta] Thawai Chai Chaiyo! (ข้าวรพุทธเจ้า เอามโนและศิระกราน นบพระภูมิบาล บุญญดิเรก เอกบรมะจักริน พระสยามินทร์ พระยศะยิ่งยง เย็นศิระเพราะพระบริบาล ผลพระคุณ ธ รักษา ปวงประชาเป็นสุขศานต์ ขอบันดาล ธ ประสงค์ใด จงสฤษดิ์ดัง หวังวรหฤทัย ดุจถวายชัยชโย) LISTEN

Kha (ข้า, rajasap) = ‘I’ (first person pronoun), ‘me’, ‘servant’, ‘slave’

Wora (วร) = ‘excellent’

Phuttachao (พุทธเจ้า) = ‘lord’, ‘Buddha’

Ao (เอา) = ‘take’, ‘want’

Manoh (มโน) = ‘mind’, ‘heart’

Lae (และ) = ‘and’

Sira (ศิระ) = ‘head’

Krahn (กราน) = ‘prostrate’ (synonym of krahb)

Nop (นบ) = ‘pay respect’, ‘bow’

Phra (พระ, rajasap) = ‘he’ (third person pronoun, prefix title of respect)

Phumibahn (ภูมิบาล) = ‘lord’, ‘king’, ‘majesty’,

Boonya (บุญญ) > boon (บุญ) + interfix (ญ[]) =  ‘merit’

Direk (ดิเรก) = ‘to prosper’

Ek (เอก) = ‘first’, ‘only’, ‘arch’

Boroma (บรมะ)  > borom (บรม) + interfix (ะ) =  ‘utmost’, ‘supreme’

Jakrin (จักริน) = ‘sovereign’, ‘king’

Phra (พระ, rajasap) = ‘he’ (third person pronoun, prefix title of respect)

Sayaamin (สยามินทร์) > compound of Sayaam (สยาม) + In (อินทร์) = ‘ruler of Siam’

Phra (พระ, rajasap) = ‘he’ (third person pronoun, prefix title of respect)

Yotsa  (ยศะ) > yot (ยศ) + interfix ([]) =  ‘rank’, ‘status’

Ying Yong (ยิ่งยง) = ‘very brave’, ‘great’

Yen (เย็น) = ‘cool’

Sira (ศิระ) = ‘head’

Phro (เพราะ) = ‘because’

Phra (พระ, rajasap) = ‘he’ (third person pronoun, prefix title of respect)

Boribahn (บริบาล) = ‘keeper’, ‘protector’, ‘caregiver’

Phon (ผล) = ‘fruit’, ‘subject’

Phra (พระ, rajasap) = ‘he’ (third person pronoun, prefix title of respect)

Khun (คุณ) = ‘you’ (second person pronoun), ‘sir’

Ta () = ‘he’ (third person pronoun)

Raksah (รักษา) = ‘nurture’, ‘guard’, ‘retain’, ‘cure’

Puang (ปวง) = ‘entire’, ‘whole’

Pracha (ประชา) = ‘citizen’

Pen (เป็น) = ‘to be’

Sooksahn (สุขศานต์) = ‘happy’

Kho (ขอ) = ‘beg for’, ‘ask for’, ‘seek’

Bandahn (บันดาล) = ‘to occur by the power or power of something’, ‘inspire’

Ta () = ‘he’ (third person pronoun)

Prasong (ประสงค์) = ‘wish’, ‘desire’

Dai (ใด) = ‘any’

Jong (จง) = ‘until’

Sarit (สฤษดิ์) = ‘he’ (third person pronoun), ‘to make’

Dang (ดัง) = ‘like’, ‘as’

Huang (หวัง) = ‘hope’

Wora (วร) = ‘excellent’

Hareuthai (หฤทัย) = ‘heart’, ‘mind’

Dut[ta] > dut (ดุจ) + interfix (ta) =  ‘like’, ‘just’, ‘as if’ (used in poetry)

Thawai (ถวาย) = ‘dedicate’, ‘offer’

Chai (ชัย) = ‘victory’

Chaiyo (ชโย) = ‘hurrah

In full:

‘I, servant of your excellent lord, want to prostrate my mind, heart and head and pay respect to his majesty, whose merit prospers, first supreme sovereign, ruler of Siam, of great status and with a cool head, protector of his subjects, who guards all citizens to be happy, asking to destine any wish by use of his power until he made a such, hoping the excellent heart like yours may offer victory, hurrah!’.

Common translation:

‘I, a  servant of my Lord, humble my head and mind and pay respect to the virtuous guardian, the most supreme and mighty monarch, Siamese king of the gods, with principal exceeding honour and a cool head to look after your subjects, to wisely keep all people happy and peaceful, asking to wisely destine any wish until such is produced, expecting that the heart's desire of a glorious king like you, may prosper. Hurrah!’.