Where does “รถไฟ” come from?

รถไฟ (Thai) comes from Thai รถ, from Pali ratha, from Sanskrit रथ, from Proto-Indo-Iranian Hrátʰas, from Proto-Indo-European Hrót-h₂-os, from Proto-Indo-European Hret- — to roll; wheel; to run, roll.

รถไฟ (Thai): train: connected group of rolling stock

Definitions

  1. train: connected group of rolling stock

Ancestry of “รถไฟ”, step by step

รถไฟ traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Thai รถ

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Thaiรถchariot, carriage, cart, wagon, or the like;...
2Palirathaa chariot, a car; delight, pleasure
3Sanskritरथchariot, car, especially a two-wheeled...
4Proto-Indo-IranianHrátʰaschariot
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrót-h₂-os
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanHret-to roll; wheel; to run, roll

via Thai ไฟ

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Thaiไฟfire; flame; light; light source; electricity
2Proto-Taiwɤjᴬfire

Words derived from “รถไฟ

Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hret-Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrót-h₂-osEvery word from Proto-Indo-Iranian Hrátʰas