Pali and Sanskrit Prefixes and Suffixes

by Hugh Leong
(prefix, Pali)- difficult; bad; evil; small; void [, as in the English prefix] mal-; ill-

remote; distant; far away

disturbed; uneasy

weak; feeble; lean; thin; disheartened; frail

evil-looking

a place difficult to approach

evil conduct; immoral behaviour or conduct
(prefix, Pali) - "sub-",smaller

younger brother, junior

to look after small children

[Thai grammar] subordinate clause

by-product; spin-off; chaff

minor wife; secondary wife; mistress; concubine

minor wife; secondary wife; mistress; concubine

subcontract
1
(suffix, Pali, Sanskrit)- to care for; to look after

government

to administer medical treatment, nurse or care for

sanitation

kindergarten

public security officer

watchman

town hall

good governance

metropolis

nurse

guardian; one who looks after

first aid

local government

ambulance

pastor; minister

nursing home

to look after small children
2

take care of; guard; protect; look after
(Pali) -health, [is] in good health; well; not ill

[of a person] health condition

good health

physical health condition, hygienic conditions

health station; medical clinic

Ministry of Public Health

to take care of (one's) health; to stay healthy

public health
(Sanskrit prefix or suffix) - artistic, [or pertaining to] art crafts

a work of art

arts and sciences

liberal arts

modern art

martial arts

folk art

the place of fine arts, a Thai university
3

performing artist; artist; performer; artisan

solo recording artist

Fine Arts Department

artwork

a work of art

artisan

visual art

dancing, acting, or playing art

interior decoration

the science of healing; medical practice; therapeutics

recording artists, a rock or pop band

rhetoric; oratory

fine arts
(Pali and Sanskrit) national; of a nation; race; of a country

to liberate (the) country; to free (one's) country

national; of a nation

trans-national

foreigner
4

chauvinistic

man; nation; nationality; country; race; birth; family

ancestor; forebear; fore father

warrior family; warrior caste

national flag

flag of the United Nations

national bank

natural; occurring in nature; spontaneous

nature; creation; mother nature

person

international

designated as national; officially of the country

a nation

nation; country

natural

patriot; nationalist; loyalist

nationalist political party

national anthem

natural disaster
5

national language

humankind; human race; mankind

national level

to be patriotic

nation-state

The National Stadium

United Nations

citizenship; nationality

League of Nations

national library

of low birth; ill-born; low; base; degraded

national

to change one's nationality; to switch citizenship
(Sanskrit) king

monarchy

the history of kings

monarchy

king; emperor; monarch
6
(Sanskrit ) - company; firm; corporation
...
Company Limited; Co.; Ltd.
...
()
Public Company Limited

multinational corporation

transport company

credit rating agency

limited company

travel agency; tour company

public company

recruitment agency

a life insurance company

brokerage company

publishing company

Company Limited; Co.; Ltd.

president of the company

a companys shareholders

company officer; company official; employee
7
(Pali-Sanskrit prefix) - superior; eminent; great; extreme; over; beyond

abbot; abbot; chief monk

rector; head clergyperson

sovereign rights

abbot; director; headmaster

chancellor; president of a university

director-general; chief official

sovereignty

sovereignty
(Pali prefix) - brave

bravery; boldness

chivalry

Age of Chivalry

hero

heroine

[variant of] (brave)
8
(Pali prefix) - to; into; towards; above; upon; supreme; transcendent

a person of high birth; an aristocrat; a landed or high-class

a good child; a child from a good family name

magical power, knowledge

highest spiritual law or doctrine

the power to perform or manifest miracles

take care of; guard; protect; look after

mega-project [especially] large

privilege; monopoly; exclusive right

a privileged person

the privileged class
(Pali numeral) - one; [usually used as a prefix] first; single

highest grade or classification; first rank

masterpiece

actor or actress in a leading role

first rate boxer

female star; heroine; leading lady

Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy; academic degree)
9

a prime witness

male star; hero; leading actor; actor in a leading role

of one mind; thinking alike

private, individual, of a person

universe

document

ambassador

Sergeant Major 1st Class

Air Force Sergeant

Petty Officer 1st Class

Group Captain, Air Force

Admiral; highest-ranking naval officer

Air Force officer of the highest rank

Flight Sergeant First Class

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class

Police Colonel

Colonel, Army or Police

Police Captain

Flight Lieutenant
10

Navy Lieutenant

Police Sergeant

unanimity; one voice

(to do something) on one's own; alone

[grammar] singular number

principal wife; first wife; legitimate wife

unity; cohesiveness

(of a person) [is] independent-minded

[of a country] [is] independent

identity; trait; special characteristic

first year of the decade

Navy Captain (rank)

Police General; highest-ranking police officer

General, Army or Police; four star general

Captain, Army or Police

senior lieutenant

sergeant
11
(Pali) - royal, of or pertaining to king

"Long Live His Majesty the King."

royalists; royalist faction

king

assistance from the King

great king

government by monarchy; absolute monarchy

royal vocabulary; court language; royal language

His Majesty the King

the Crown Prince

royal; imperial; of the king; of the crown; regal

daughter; princess

a royal Act; Bill

Royal Palace
(Pali) - great; omnipotent; large; many; much; maximal; paramount; exalted

king; emperor; monarch

sixty-year cycle

public; public (Co., Ltd.); the public; people at large

12

Mahachat, the last incarnation of Buddha

[alternate spelling of ]

royal page; an officer of the prince's staff

Mahatma

Mahatma Gandhi

metropolis; great city

Master' s degree; holder of a Master's degree

Mahayana, a sect of Buddhism

[following the name of a sovereign] ... The Great

great king

university

the last incarnation of Buddha

immense; great

ocean

Pacific Ocean

Arctic Ocean

Indian Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

superpower; super power nation
13

immensely; enormously; tremendously
(Sanskrit) - city; town; municipality

metropolis

metropolitan

capital city

golden city

new city

most revered city; [namely] Bangkok

metropolis; great city

"metropolitan electric train", Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)
underground subway

[formal abbreviated way of writing or saying the name of Thailand's capital]
(Pali) - death; the act of dying; cessation

fatal risk, mortal danger, danger of death

[used with Buddhist monks and novices] to die

death; the act of dying; cessation

deadly; to die; pass away

estate; fortune; inheritance; legacy; heritage; heirloom

World Heritage Site [A UNESCO designation]

14

bequest

inheritor

[usually used in poetry] to die; to pass away

[usually used in poetry] to die; to perish;
(Pali, Sanskrit) - master, lord, ruler, owner

secretary of state; minister; commander in chief

[of an academic institution] a dean

[of a country] the president

vice-president of a country

intelligent; smart

chancellor; president of a university

director-general; chief official
(Pali) power; authority; command; order; jurisdiction; administrative authority

territory

kindgom; jurisdiction; realm; domain; dominion

colony
15
(Pali) - maternal; relating to mother

motherland

motherland

matricide
(Pali) father

patricide, a father-killing

fatherland; birthplace
(Sanskrit) Aryan race; civilized person; honorable person; honest person

civilization

civilized country

[alternate spelling of ]

Civil Disobedience
(Pali, Sanskrit) - direction or point of the compass

(magnetic) compass; a guide

weathervane

"Look before you leap."

ten directions; the compass; eight, plus up and down
16

the south (compass direction)

west (compass direction)

east (compass direction)

southeast (compass direction)

south (compass direction)

direction; points on a compass

north (compass direction)

in or from all directions or places, everywhere

the east

western; occidental

west (direction)

to change directions

all directions
(Sanskrit) [climate, weather] season

a season

the football season

a harvest time or busy farming season

animals' mating season
17

season or time for plowing/ploughing and rice-planting

farming or rice-growing season

the season; spring

autumn; fall (the season)

rainy season (July - October in Thailand)

summer; hot season (March - June in Thailand)

dry season

winter; cold season (November - February in Thailand)

(Sanskrit) - fee

revenue derived from fee

(i.e. court) fees; (i.e. membership) dues; charges
(Sanskrit) - medical doctor; physician

medicine

pediatrician

optician; optometrist

psychiatrist

dentist

medical
18

male medical doctor

written medical prescription

dental assistant

folk doctor; quack

ophthalmologist

obstetrician

surgeon

orthopedist

female medical doctor

surgeon

veterinarian

doctor's office
(Pali) - tooth; teeth

hygienist

dentist

Dental Council (of Thailand)

dental assistant

periodontitis
19
(Pali) - earthen land; soil; site; grounds; floor; place

geographer

fatherland; birthplace

royal site

climatic dynamics

landscape; scenery; geography; geographical

the provinces, provincial

scenery

domicile

hometown

[former word for] geology

geography

weather; climate

motherland

allergy medication

immune system

region

battlefield
20

provincial

Suvarnabhumi (Airport, literally: Golden Land)
(Pali, Sanskrit) angel; fairy; god; deity; divine being, god-like

heavenly host

a god; the God

fairy; goddess; angel

mythology; fairy tale; myth

child god

deity; god; divine being; angel

god

guardian spirit

beautiful queen who leads the agricultural festival

king; monarch

Krungthep (Bangkok, literally: City of Angels)
(Pali) - science; knowledge; learning; philosophy

Department of Meteorology

The Scientific Method

[the activity of] science

21

psychology

microbiology

biology

cell biology

(the study of) logic

penology

geology

psychologist

biologist

geologist

ornithologist

scientist

forensic science

ecology

ecology

neurology

neurophysiology


Bachelor of Science degree
22

pathobiology

pathology

immunology

[former word for] geology

pharmacology

university

anthropology

radiology

science

expert; lecturer

academia

campus

thesis

college

science

Bachelor of Science; B.Sc.

sage; scholar; wise one; guru; expert

the Scientific Method

methodology
23

arts and sciences

physiology

the social sciences; sociology

zoology


laboratory

[the study of] meteorology

hydrology
(Sanskrit, Pali) human; relating to human

humanity

[is] humane

anthropology

economic anthropology

[is] humane
(Sanskrit) - science; knowledge; precepts; treatise; principles

[the activity of] science

Agricultural Science; Agronomy

economic; pertaining to economics
24


microeconomic


macroeconomic

the Faculty of Arts

mathematics

pedagogy; methodology

psychiatry

the science of water; aquatic science

(of a plant) botanical scientific name

astronomy

(the study of) logic

fuzzy logic

Thammasart

science of law; science of morals and ethics

astronomer

geographer

scientist

economist
25

forensic science; scientific techniques

etymology

history


Bachelor of Science degree

Assistant Professor

plant science; botany; botanical science

[the science of] dynamics

genetics

medicine; medical science

traditional medicine

science of dancing and singing

linguistics

geography

pharmacy

dietics; food science

Faculty of Humanity

humanity
26

a (military, economic, etc.) strategy

Associate Professor


The Scientific Method

political and administrative science

political science

forestry

mathematics

history as a subject of study

science

(genetics)

Bachelor of Science; B.Sc.

the Scientific Method

medical science

[the science of] surgery

professor

Professor Emeritus

Honorary Professor

Emeritus Professor
27

Visiting Professor

Adjunct Professor

a nerdy professor

Chair Professor

liberal arts

economics

macroeconomics

history period

oceanography; oceanology

sociology; social science

Social Work (the study of)

[ (zoology)]

phonetics

cookery science; cooking science

the black arts; black magic

laboratory

astrology

Art of letters; Faculty of Arts
28

Master of Arts

aerodynamics

the science of internal medicine

thermodynamics
(Pali) - errand; duty; work; routine; affair; business

[alternate spelling of ]

activity

work (nonbusiness); activity; duty; business

consortium

individual proprietorship

consortium

[is] formal; businesslike; systematic; seriously; official;

routine

to stimulate the economy

deal (business)

economic

business partners

business class
29

economic stimulus; an economic stimulant

to deal (business)

to do business

economic

business; business deal; firm

economic policy

unofficial

business person

to run a business; manage a business

business consulting


Commander of the Special Unit

business person

economic stimulus plan

business plan

obligation; duty; burden; responsibility; charge

duty; obligation; assignment

economic anthropology

recession
30

government(-owned, -run) enterprise(s)

investment banking

economy

corporation

economy; economic issues, matters or affairs

business document
(Pali) - rate; rating; criteria; established scale; limit; standard; class; grade

speedometer

in full battle dress

with all one's strength or might

fully outfitted soldiers

rate of speed

interest rate

postage rates

tax rate; tariff

percentage

velocity; rate of speed

exchange rate
31

the exchange rate for money

ratio; rate; percentage
(Pali) - a measured amount; quantity, a count

measure

economical

defensive measure; preventive measure

standard; measure of quality; criterion

standard of living

accounting standards

measuring gauge

parking meter

unit; standard; protocol; system; measure; scale

(Pali) - base; foot; pedestal; position; ground; place; station; platform; cause; reason; basis;
[linguistics] origin of alphabet/consonants

base line; starting point

[political] power base

database

military base
32

army base

naval base

base

voting bloc; electoral base

status or situation relative to others

rank of nobility; aristocratic

rank of nobility; title

to become settled; to settle down

permanent abode; native place; hometown;

base line

in the position of

norm; standard; criterion; yardstick

testimony; proof

evidence

standard; measure of quality; criterion

standard of living

accounting standards
33
(Sanskrit, Pali) - characteristic; form; attribute; quality; pattern; style

characteristic; property; quality; nature; attribute

prominent characteristic

royal photograph

personality


to stand for; to represent

identity matrix

[grammar] a classifier, a numerative noun

[Thai grammar] characteristic modifier

paramilitary

particularities; specific characteristic(s)

genetics

characteristic (of one's personality); trait

extremism

luck; grace; equity; charm; beauty

writing; the written word; in writing

auspicious characteristics, features, and looks

[of a person] physical health condition
34

[of things] hygienic conditions

impermanence

identity; persona

ugly; bad; wicked; base; mean; low; inferior

identity; trait; special characteristic

unique and outstanding
(Pali suffix) - reflecting a nominative case, [linguistics] speech organs

[formal] computer

forecast

atomic reactor

speech organs; articulators; sound origins

reactor

atomic reactor

to forecast; to predict; to prophesize

war materiel; military equipment

grammar

a (social) cooperative

equipment; apparatus; instrument; appliance

35
(Pali) - mathematics; calculation; counting

arithmetical

[formal] computer

mathematics

algebra

linear algebra

geometry

pure geometry

Euclidian geometry

arithmetic

mathematics
(Pali) - numbers; arithmetic; figures; numerals; digits; writing; manuscript; epistle; drawing

arithmetical

calculator

pocket calculator

telegraph machine; telegram machine

shorthand (writing)

numerical
36

number; figure; digit; numeral

Thai digits; Thai numerals

Roman numeral(s)

to carry a number in addition

to miscarry a number

flight number

telegraph; wire; cable; cablegram; telegram

telegraphic money order
...
house number

personal letter written by the (scribes of the) king

royal writing

deputy secretary general

arithmetic

[math] odd number

[math] even number

number; digit

[numerical designation]

house number

passport number
37

identification number; ID number

National Identification Number

House Registration Number

Arabic numerals

Arabic numerals

graphics; writings; drawings

secretary general

secretary

personal secretary

arithmetic

wireless telegraph

telephone directory book

His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary

number

telephone number

bank account number

dial a phone number

hand-written
38

numerical digits or characters
(Sanskrit, Pali) - vocabulary; dictionary entry; terminology; word(s)

[the activity of] telephoning

phone conversation; speaking on the phone

to search for vocabulary words

[grammar] an adjective

Royal Words

vocabulary; term; word

telephone sign

to be able to connect or establish a phone call

telephone booth

phone booth; telephone booth

a (phonemically) transcribed word

telephone; telephone call; telephone switchboard

to call on the telephone; to place a call

collect call

long-distance telephone call
39

to place a telephone call

hand-held phone

cell phone; cellphone

mobile/wireless phone

public pay phone

call girl; "escort"


telephone directory assistance

to officially coin a new word

phonecard

phone number

phone number of a cellular telephone

telephone operator

telephone operator

to talk on the telephone

to answer the telephone

royal vocabulary; royal language

to hang up the phone

academic word or term; field word or term
40

a coiner of words; a wordsmith


The Royal Institute's official coinage

glossary

[grammar] euphemism

telephone directory

telephone directory book

telephone line

telephone number

dial a phone number

dial a phone number

telephone hand piece
(Sanskrit?) [a prefix meaning] remote, possibly related to tele as in telephone, television,
etc.

to place a phone call to...

telescope

telescope
41

closed-circuit teleision camera

[the activity of] telephoning

phone conversation; speaking on the phone

facsimile machine; fax machine

telegraph machine; telegram machine

telephone sign

will call; will telephone

to watch TV

to be able to connect or establish a phone call

telephone booth

phone booth; telephone booth

call back; return the telephone call

call back (telephone)

telecommunications

telescope

television; TV

long-distance telephone call

to make a telephone call (to someone)

to make a telephone call to look for someone

42

to call the wrong number

to be telephoning from

telegraph; wire; cable; cablegram; telegram

telegraphic money order

telephone; telephone call; telephone switchboard

to call on the telephone

collect call

long-distance telephone call

to place a telephone call

hand-held phone

cell phone; cellphone

mobile/wireless phone

public pay phone

"The telephone (line) is dead."

a fax; faxed document

to make a telephone call (to find someone)

to call again

call again; telephone again
43

call girl; "escort"


telephone directory assistance

phonecard

a faxed document

telephone number

phone number

phone number of a cellular telephone

(telephone) caller

telephone operator

telephone operator

to talk on the telephone

to answer the telephone

a TV program

to hang up the phone

wireless telegraph

to fax a document

television station

telephone directory
44

telephone directory book

telephone line

telephone number

dial a phone number

dial a phone number

telephone handpiece

the Telephone Organization
(Pali?) - to murder; kill; destroy; slay; execute;

[activity] killing

sterilization

suicide

ethnic cleansing

[writing, drawing] to cross out

[writing] to cross out

to slaughter; to murder or kill

to sterilize; disinfect; to render infertile

disinfect; sterilize

to gas (someone to death)
45

to kill so as not to have information revealed

slay; slaughter; kill

to kill time; spend time

strike out; mark out; cross out

to commit suicide

killer; slayer

antiseptic

antiseptic

disinfectant

insecticide

to go to war; fight (with weapons)

slaughterhouse

matricide

patricide
(Pali) - death; fate; end; to kill

to commit murder

to commit murder

[the activity of] killing

46

murder

massacre

vengeange; revenge

murderer; killer; slayer; assassin

serial killer

murder

massacre

patricide, a father-killing

to kill or destroy

a murdering a tyrant

an executioner; a hangman

executioner; killer

matricide

a checking move in the game of chess

destroyer (naval ship)

killing; slaughter; vengeange; revenge

feud

be vengeful; to intend evil

47
(Pali) - uppermost; highest; best; abundant; plentiful; superb; complete

ideal; philosophy; principle

ideals; principles

idealism

fertile; abundant; plentiful

(Sanskrit suffix) - deed; kamma; karma; sin; bad karma earned action; act [a suffix
reflecting] an enterprise; undertaking; [a formalizing Pali suffix that changes a verb or adj. into a
noun]

agriculture

farming

reciprocal deeds; karmic law; law of action;


nucleic acid

to commit murder

commit a sin; do evil; make trouble

to sabotage; undermine; wreck

gymnastics

[the act of] sabotage

murder
48

activity

philanthropic act or deed

agriculture

industrial estate; industrial zone

destiny; karma; fortune; fate; lot

murder

espionage

a painting

lot; destiny; fate

to modify genetically

to reach (one's) demise

penalty; sanction; punishment

to farm crops

to bequeath

[in abstract] the business (of...)

innovation; change; alteration; novelty; newness

gymnast

to sit and recite incantations

industrial settlement
49

a legal act; a juridical action

amnesty; absolution; pardon

[grammar] the object in predicate phrase

[grammar] predicate object modifier (adjective)

to recite incantations

sin; demerit

war indemnity; war reparation

sculpture

[the process of] invention

invention (the idea or process of inventing)

circulation; distribution

manufacture

a person who controls his own fate or the fate of others.

behavior; conduct (what one does)

genetics

genetic engineering

rite; worship; ceremony

last will and testament

genetically modified plants
50

the industrial sector (economics)

pharmaceuticals

fate; chance; random; destiny

genetics

Literature, piece of literature, literary work

discourse

sabotage; ruin

misery from bad deeds; unjust deed; misfortune

engineering

the architect of the gods in Hindu mythology

bravery; boldness; intrepiditude

medicine; medical treatment

karma, a consequence of an action; fate; misfortune

[the practice of] surgery

a work of art

the industrial economy

tragedy

[is] active

architecture
51

a religious rite, ceremony, or service

deed performed by Buddhist monks

childbirth; midwifery; obstretrics

cookery; cooking

genes

handicraft

death; demise; end; fate

death

to forgive; be at peace; be reconciled; come to terms

suicide; self-annihilation

crime

[general] industry

industrial enterprise; industry; industrial

(Pali or Sanskrit siffix) a person who does (work; job; task; business; duty; action)

committee; board member

government official

editor

referee; umpire
52

managing director

commissioner

semi-official

servant; slave

committee; council

jury

disabled person; handicapped person

a dictator; a conniving orchestrator

dictator

busybody; officious person; meddler

abbot; abbot; chief monk

deputy (minister or official)

ruffian; hooligan; law-breaker

ringleader; culprit; chief; proxy

person compelled to action

judge; justice

a retired officer

an active officer

an office boy, a dispatch carrier
53

disk jockey; DJ; dee jay; d.j.

academician; scholar; academic; technocrat

businessman; business person

chairman; chairperson

manager

radio program host; disc jockey

assistant manager

operator (in general)

inspector

government inspectors (in various bureaus)

instigator; manipulator

commander in chief; commanding officer

businessman; business person

pilgrim(s); person on a religious pligrimage

governor; director; leader; administrator

governor

director; managing director (of a business)r

management staff

waiter; waitress
54

rector; head clergyperson

cook; food-maker; chef

vice-manager; assistant manager

vice-president of a corporation

deputy secretary general

Deputy Minister

Minister

secretary general

secretary

bargirl; female prostitute

abbot; director; headmaster

rector; head clergyperson

arbitrator; umpire

prosecutor
55