บัว
buua/bua̯˧/
The English word "lotus" is translated into Thai as บัว (buua). Wiktionary also lists บัวหลวง (buua-lǔuang).
Meaning: plant of the genus Nelumbo (noun)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| บัว | buua | /bua̯˧/ |
| บัวหลวง | buua-lǔuang | /bua̯˧.lua̯ŋ˩˩˦/ |
บัว is a broad term used to refer to various aquatic plants in the Nelumbo and Nymphaea families, covering both lotuses and water lilies.
How do you pronounce it?
buua
When do people say it?
In Thai culture, the lotus is a central symbol in Buddhism, used primarily for making offerings to monks and Buddha images.
Did you know?
- When offering บัว at a temple, it is traditional to fold the petals of the bud into a decorative rose-like shape by hand.
- While บัวหลวง specifically refers to the sacred lotus, the simpler term บัว is often used in Thai poetry and literature to describe a beautiful woman, metaphorically comparing her elegance to a blooming flower.
- The phrase บัว can appear in Thai idioms regarding the stages of spiritual awakening, categorizing people by how close their 'lotus' is to breaking the surface of the water.
Examples in context
- ฉันชอบดอกบัวสีชมพู.chan chop dok bua si chom phu.I like pink lotus flowers.
- บัวอยู่ในอ่างน้ำหน้าบ้าน.bua yu nai ang nam na ban.The lotus is in the water basin in front of the house.
- เขากำลังเก็บดอกบัวไปไหว้พระ.khao kamlang kep dok bua pai wai phra.He is picking lotus flowers to offer to the Buddha.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are walking through a garden.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinดูดอกบัวในสระสิคะdu dok bua nai sa si kha.Look at the lotus in the pond.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatบัวสวยมากเลยครับbua suai mak loei khrap.The lotus is very beautiful.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinคุณอยากได้ดอกบัวไปบ้างไหมคะkhun yak dai dok bua pai bang mai kha.Do you want some lotus flowers too?
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatผมขอสักดอกก็พอครับphom kho sak dok ko pho khrap.Just one flower is enough for me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lotus” translations and entries บัว, บัวหลวง, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
