ဆပ်ပြာ

Often considered to be borrowed from English soap, though this seems phonologically suspect, as well as soap likely being a known concept since the Middle Ages in Burma. However, not given etymology by STEDT (shɑʔ⁴ pjɑ²² "soap"), and Luce 1981 adduces no cognates. The first syllable does not appear to be equivalent to ဆပ် (hcap, “to repay; millet”) and looks to be etymologically opaque, though the semantic identity of the second syllable may be equivalent to ပြာ (pra, “ash”).

• IPA^(key): /sʰaʔpjà/
• Romanization: MLCTS: hcappra • ALA-LC: chapʻprā • BGN/PCGN: hsatpya • Okell: hsaʔpya

ဆပ်ပြာ • (hcappra)

1. soap

• → Shan: သပ်ႉပျႃႇ (sâ̰p pjàa)

• “ဆပ်ပြာ” in Myanmar–English Dictionary (Myanmar Language Commission 1993). Searchable online at SEAlang.net.