Etymology

From พระ ‎(prá, “honorific for a god, priest, royal person, etc”, literally “divine; excellent; holy; etc”) +‎ พุทธ ‎(pút, “Buddha; Buddhism; etc”, literally “awakened; conscious; enlightened; learnt; understood; etc”) +‎ เจ้า ‎(jâao, “chief, lord, master; honorific added after a name or title; etc”). Compare Khmer ព្រះពុទ្ធចៅ ‎(preăhpŭtthôchau); Lao ພະພຸດທະເຈົາ ‎(pha phut tha chao).

Pronunciation