ปีศาจ

Explanation

ปีศาจ is not limited to the Devil of Western religious tradition. It can refer broadly to malicious supernatural creatures and evil spirits in folktales, horror, and fantasy. When applied figuratively to a person, it expresses strong condemnation, suggesting extreme cruelty or a lack of humanity. In nicknames and fictional titles, it may instead emphasize extraordinary power or a frightening reputation. The traditional classifier for a supernatural being is ตน. ตัว is also used when the being is treated as a monster or fictional creature. The alternative spelling ปิศาจ exists, but ปีศาจ is the usual spelling.

Usage

It is common in folktales, ghost stories, horror films, fantasy fiction, comics, and games when referring to an evil creature or enemy. In conversation and news writing, it may be used figuratively to condemn an extremely cruel person.

Caution

Calling a real person ปีศาจ is much stronger than merely saying they are bad. It can imply that the person is monstrously cruel or inhuman, so it should not be used casually as a mild insult.

1 demon synonyms

• ผี

  phǐi ghost

  ผี is a broad term for ghosts and spirits, including the spirits of dead people. ปีศาจ more strongly suggests a malicious, frightening supernatural creature.

• มาร

  maan Mara; a demon

  มาร commonly refers, especially in Buddhism, to a tempter or force that obstructs spiritual progress. ปีศาจ is broader in ordinary storytelling and often denotes an evil creature in horror or fantasy.

• ยักษ์

  yák giant

  ยักษ์ is a giant or ogre and is not necessarily evil. ปีศาจ emphasizes an evil or frightening nature rather than great size.