ประมุข
head of state
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- 1 head of state、supreme head
A formal word for the person who holds the highest or representative position in a country, religion, or major institution, especially a head of state.
head of state、supreme head
The person who occupies the highest institutional or symbolic position in a country, religion, or other major organization.
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พระมหากษัตริย์ทรงเป็นประมุขของประเทศ phrá mahǎa kasàt soŋ pen pramúk khɔ̌ɔŋ prathêet The king is the country's head of state. พระมหากษัตริย์ทรงเป็นประมุขของประเทศ details
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ประธานาธิบดีเป็นประมุขแห่งรัฐ prathaanaathípbɔɔdii pen pramúk hɛ̀ŋ rát The president is the head of state. ประธานาธิบดีเป็นประมุขแห่งรัฐ details
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ประมุขทางศาสนา pramúk thaaŋ sàatsanǎa the supreme religious leader ประมุขทางศาสนา details
Learning notes
Explanation
ประมุข is a formal noun for someone who stands at the top of a country, religion, or other major institution and represents it as a whole. It conveys more than simply leading a group. Common expressions include ประมุขของประเทศ (“head of the country”) and ประมุขแห่งรัฐ (“head of state”). The word can describe a constitutional or symbolic position, so the ประมุข is not necessarily the person who runs the government day to day. In a constitutional monarchy, for example, the monarch may be the head of state while the prime minister leads the government. Classifiers vary with the person being discussed: คน is possible generally, ท่าน shows respect, and องค์ is used for monarchs or certain high-ranking religious figures.
Usage
This word is common in constitutions, political reporting, historical writing, official documents, and discussions of monarchies or religious institutions. It can also appear in conversation when explaining such formal systems.
Caution
Do not automatically translate ประมุข as “prime minister.” A head of state and a head of government may be different people. For an ordinary workplace boss or group leader, หัวหน้า or ผู้นำ is usually more natural.
Differences from similar words
1 head of state synonyms
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ผู้นำ is a general word for a leader and can apply to groups of many sizes. ประมุข more strongly suggests the formal or symbolic head of a country, religion, or major institution.
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หัวหน้า commonly means a boss, supervisor, or team leader in everyday settings. ประมุข is more formal and normally refers to the highest-ranking person in a country or major institution.