เผ่า
tribe
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 tribe、ethnic group
- 2 [classifier for tribes or ethnic groups]
This word refers to a tribe or a culturally distinct people connected by shared ancestry, traditions, or identity. It also serves as a classifier for such groups.
tribe、ethnic group
A community whose members share ancestry, culture, traditions, or a distinct group identity.
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หัวหน้าเผ่า hǔanâa phàw tribal chief หัวหน้าเผ่า details
[classifier for tribes or ethnic groups]
A classifier used when counting tribes or distinct ethnic communities.
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ชนกลุ่มน้อย 20 เผ่า chon klùm nɔ́ɔy yîisìp phàw twenty ethnic minority groups ชนกลุ่มน้อย 20 เผ่า details
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หลายเผ่า lǎay phàw several tribes หลายเผ่า details
Learning notes
Explanation
เผ่า refers to a group within a larger population whose members share ancestry, culture, language, traditions, or a distinct identity. It can stand alone, but ชนเผ่า is also a common form in contemporary usage. It also functions as a classifier, as in สามเผ่า, “three tribes.”
Usage
It commonly appears in discussions of minority or Indigenous communities, especially their culture, history, language, clothing, and traditions. It is also used for tribes in historical accounts and fantasy settings, and as a classifier when counting such groups.
Caution
Calling a community a เผ่า can sometimes sound like an outside classification emphasizing a “tribal” identity. In neutral or official contexts, กลุ่มชาติพันธุ์ (“ethnic group”) may be more appropriate. Also, do not confuse เผ่า (“tribe”) with เผา (“to burn”), which is a different word.
Differences from similar words
1 tribe synonyms
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กลุ่มชาติพันธุ์ is a neutral, often official term for an ethnic group. เผ่า more strongly suggests a tribe or a community organized around shared traditional identity.