Thai edit

Etymology edit

From Sanskrit भूधर (bhūdhara, literally earth bearing), from भू (bhū, earth) + धर (dhara, bearing; carrying; supporting; holding; upholding; maintaining; etc); equivalent to Thai ภู (puu) +‎ ธร (tɔɔn).

Cognate with Lao ພູທອນ (phū thǭn), Khmer ភូធរ (phuthrô).

Pronunciation edit

Orthographicภูธร
bʰ ū dʰ r
Phonemic
พู-ทอน
b ū – d ɒ n
RomanizationPaiboonpuu-tɔɔn
Royal Institutephu-thon
(standard) IPA(key)/pʰuː˧.tʰɔːn˧/(R)

Noun edit

ภูธร (puu-tɔɔn)

  1. (elegant, figurative) one who bears or supports the earth, as mountain, monarch, etc.
  2. (Thailand government) provincial police, as opposed to นครบาล (metropolitan police).

Adjective edit

ภูธร (puu-tɔɔn) (abstract noun ความภูธร)

  1. (slang, derogatory) provincial, rural, rustic; uncivilised, countrified; unfashionable; lacking social graces.