There's a lot of "Thong"s in "Khun Phra", so I got curious and started looking up names, as one does.
This wouldn't be possible if Thai PBS didn't give us excellent Thai and English subtitles (so I can look up the correct spelling) and it definitely wouldn't be possible without the invaluable dictionary at thai-language.com -- Thank you!
I'm still learning Thai and Thai culture, so any help, comments, discussion etc. are extremely welcome.
After episode 4, I was so caught up in the story, I didn't really pay attention to the names anymore. If you find an interesting name that's not on here, let me know, and I'll look up the meaning.
In a lot of Thai dramas I've watched the writers use names as part of their story telling, which is something I love about Thai dramas.
Places:
- Suvanthani: สูวรรณธานี /sŭvanthaanii/; สูวรรณ "gold", ธานี "city", so "golden city"
- the market: ตลาดแผ่นดินทอง /tàlàat pàendinthong/; ตลาด "market" แผ่นดิน "land" ทอง "gold"; so "Golden Land Market" There is also a company "Golden Land Property Development" in Thailand, which seems to be THE major player in the country, it might be a bit far fetched to assume a connection here -- but there is definitely a lot of gold in this drama.
Characters:
Main characters:
- Sangthong: สังข์ทอง /săngthoong/ "golden conch shell"
- Thongbai: ทองใบ /thoongbai/ "goldleaf"
- Maiphlong: ไม้พลอง /máaiphloong/ "stick", "club"
- Gratai: กระตาย /gràtaai/ "rabbit", "bunny"
Actually, I wonder if Maiphlong's name shouldn't have been ไม้ทอง too, and it's just that his parents (or he himself?) spelled it wrong? To point out that his family aren't the brightest?
When Thais say his name in the Central dialect, the "l" sound is not audible, so the name is actually only one sound off from "Maithong". Maiphlong also spelled a word completely wrong several times in ep. 2.
Nobles:
- Khun Phra Bamroekrung: คุณพระบำเรอกรุง =
คุณพระ /khŭnphrá/: a title of ancient Thai nobility between พระยา and หลวง;
บำเรอกรุง /bam-roe-grung/: the name, บำเรอ "to lavish attention to, to pamper or spoil", กรุง "city, town" or " country, nation, kingdom". - Khun Bamrungnakhon: ขุนบำรุงนคร /khŭn bamrungnákhon/ =
ขุน /khŭn/ a very low title of Thai nobility; บำรุง "to care for, maintain, nurture, support" and นคร "city". - Ramphueng รำพึง /ramphueng/ "to ponder, consider, comtemplate" or " to groan, lament, bemoan, complain". Given what we hear from hear in later episodes, the second meaning is probably the one the writer intended us to hear.
- Nuanla-oor มวลละออ /nuan-lá-oh/ นวล " cream-coloured, pale, white ivory" and ละออ "handsome, lovely, good looking"; so "handsomely light-coloured".
- Muen Int: หมื่นอินทร์ /mùen in/; Muen is the Title (cf. ep. 2, right after the murder), อินทร์ is the name for the God Indra. I don't know enough about gods in this region of the world to say more, but if anyone can add something, I'd be happy to hear it. His last name was on the nameplate in his office, but I couldn't see how it's spelled, any hints are welcome.
- Thongphiphop: ทองพิภพ /thoongphíphóp/, ทอง "gold", พิภพ "the world" is a Thai given name, so "golden world". Another Thong, yay!
- Phraya Mahapradit พระยามหาประดิษฐ์ /phráyaa máhăapràdìt/:
พระยา is the title,
มหาประดิษฐ์ probably the name and not part of the title? -- มหา "great, omnipotent, large, exalted", ประดิษฐ์ "invent, conceive, think up" and also "fabricate, feign, forge" and also a Thai given name.
Other servants and commoners:
- Jambi จำปี /jampii/ is the name of the flower "Michelia Alba"
- Phigun พิกุล /phígun/ is the name of the plant "bullet wood" or "Mimusops", also a Thai given name.
- Jom จอม /johm/ "chief, leader, head person"
About titles:
Thai noble titles are not hereditary, they are given to individuals and, if I understood correctly, usually associated with position in the government.
So, "Khun Phra" is the title, which was given to him; before he was just ขุน /khŭn/. Note that the Khun in Khun Phra is คุณ, spoken with a mid tone, while ขุน has a rising tone.
The previous governor's title พระยา /práyaa/ is one step higher.
Both Ramphueng and Nuanla-oor are addressed with คุณ.
The foreign missionary/teacher Ma'am Jolie is also usually addressed by her title.
Elisheva:
