ผี
pǐi
ghost
Meanings
every sense kept, sourced — never invented1n.
(classifier ตน) deity; god(archaic)wiktionary
2n.
dead body; corpse; remains(especially)wiktionary
3n.
ghost; spirit; soulwiktionary
Built from
From Proto-Tai *priːᴬ (“spirit”). Cognate with Northern Thai ᨹᩦ, Lao ຜີ (phī), Lü ᦕᦲ (ṗhii), Tai Dam ꪠꪲ, Tai Nüa ᥚᥤᥴ (phí), Shan ၽီ (phǐi), Ahom 𑜇𑜣 (phī). Note also similarities to White Hmong plig (“ghost, spirit”), though the borrowing relationship, if it exists, is unclear.