เปรต

Etymology

From Sanskrit प्रेत (preta, “dead body; dead person; ghost; etc”). Cognate with English preta; Lao ເຜດ (phēt); Old Khmer preta; Modern Khmer ប្រេត (preet).

Pronunciation

Noun

เปรต • (bprèet) (classifier ตน)

1. (Buddhism, Hinduism) preta, a type of supernatural creature born to be punished or undergo great suffering as a result of sinful deeds committed in previous lives.
2. preta, a type of ghost in Thai folklore, believed to have a very tall and thin body, the mouth as small as the hole of a needle, the hands as large as palm leaves, and to consume blood and pus as food, as well as to scream at night.
3. (slang, sometimes vulgar) very annoying or disturbing person, just like a preta that keeps bothering someone to beg for food or for the dedication of merit to it, or that keeps screaming at night.