Etymology

Borrowing from Persian دفتر ‎(daftar), ultimately from Ancient Greek διφθέρᾱ ‎(diphthérā, “parchment”). The spelling with གཏེར ‎(gter) is based on a folk etymology connecting it to the meaning "treasure".

Pronunciation

• Old Tibetan:
  • IPA^(key): /*dep.tʰer/ (reconstructed)
• Ü-Tsang
  • Tibetan Pinyin: teb^v-tee^f
  • (Lhasa) IPA^(key): /tʰep̚˩˧.tʰeː˥˥/