ราตรี
night [literary or elegant]
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 night [literary or elegant]、nighttime [literary or elegant]
- 2 night-blooming jasmine、lady of the night (Cestrum nocturnum)
This word mainly refers to “night” in an elegant, literary style. It is also the Thai name for night-blooming jasmine, a shrub whose flowers become strongly fragrant at night.
night [literary or elegant]、nighttime [literary or elegant]
Nighttime expressed in an elegant or literary way, especially in descriptive writing and established expressions.
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ราตรีสวัสดิ์ raatriisawàt Good night. ราตรีสวัสดิ์ details
night-blooming jasmine、lady of the night (Cestrum nocturnum)
The name of night-blooming jasmine, a shrub with small flowers that release a strong fragrance at night.
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ต้นราตรี tôn raatrii a night-blooming jasmine shrub ต้นราตรี details
Learning notes
Explanation
In the sense of “night,” ราตรี is an elegant, literary word rather than the usual conversational choice. It appears in fiction, poetry, lyrics, atmospheric descriptions, and established expressions such as ยามราตรี (“in the nighttime”), ราตรีสวัสดิ์ (“good night”), and ชุดราตรี (“evening gown”). As a plant name, it refers to Cestrum nocturnum. ต้นราตรี clearly refers to the shrub, while ดอกราตรี refers to its flowers. The word is of Sanskrit/Pali origin. Because of its graceful association with night, ราตรี is also used as a feminine given name, usually transliterated as Ratree or Ratri.
Usage
It is used for elegant descriptions of nighttime in literature, songs, formal language, and fixed expressions. In gardening contexts, it names night-blooming jasmine. In references to a person, it may instead be a feminine given name.
Caution
For ordinary conversation, use คืน or กลางคืน for “night.” Common expressions such as คืนนี้ (“tonight”) and เมื่อคืน (“last night”) should not normally be replaced with ราตรี, which would sound poetic or theatrical. Also, despite its English common name, night-blooming jasmine is not a true jasmine.
Differences from similar words
1 night [literary or elegant] synonyms
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กลางคืน is the neutral, everyday word for nighttime. ราตรี sounds more elegant and literary and is common in atmospheric descriptions and fixed expressions.