<p>From AccessToInsight's <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/glossary.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Glossary of Pali and Buddhist Terms</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>samaṇera (samaṇerī):<br>
  Literally, a small samaṇa; a novice monk
  (nun) who observes ten precepts and who is a candidate for admission
  to the order of bhikkhus (bhikkhunīs).</p>
  
  <p>bhikkhu:<br>
  A Buddhist monk; a man who has given up the householder's
  life to live a life of heightened virtue (see sīla) in accordance with
  the Vinaya in general, and the Pātimokkha rules in particular. </p>
  
  <p>thera:<br>
  "Elder." An honorific title automatically conferred upon a
  bhikkhu of at least ten years' standing.</p>
  
  <p>mahāthera:<br>
  "Great elder." An honorific title automatically
  conferred upon a bhikkhu of at least twenty years' standing.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The female equivalents are samaṇerī, bhikkhuni, theri and mahātheri.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-31T17:21:50.970Z
2020-05-31T17:31:17.177Z
2020-05-31T17:31:17.177Z
ruben2020
<p>"Venerable" is the English-language translation of <em>Bhadanta</em> (or <em>Bhante</em>).</p>

<p>As well as <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/8441/254">What is the appropriate use for the term bhante?</a> see also <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thero" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Thero</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The word literally means "elder". These terms, appearing at the end of a monastic's given name, are used to distinguish those who have at least 10 years since their upasampada (higher ordination).</p>
</blockquote>

<p>See also <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajahn" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ajahn</a> which appears to mean the same thing ("for Buddhist monks who have passed ten vassa") but in Thai language</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-01T01:13:48.043Z
No, Bhante is elder of Aavuso in Vijaya, but Aacariya is a person who has the quality of Aacariya, numbers of memorizing, understanding, and experience more than 10 years. **Thero may not be qualified as Aacariya**.  1 younger vassa calls 1 elder vassa "Bhante".  Qualifications https://unmixedtheravada.blogspot.com/2017/09/how-to-find-right-dhamma-teacher.html
Bonn
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-01T09:19:28.057Z
I think you're saying that -- 1) a younger monk would say "Bhante" to an older monk -- 2) But an older monk would call a younger monk "Avuso" (meaning "friend"), not "Bhante" -- 3)  "Ācariya" (meaning "teacher") depends on whether a monk has memorised and understood etc., not only on seniority -- 4) "Ajahn" is the the Thai word/equivalent for the Pali "Ācariya".
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-01T09:47:42.597Z
It's also true, isn't it, that "Bhante" is an appropriate way for any layperson to address any monk?
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-01T11:47:42.277Z
1-4 yes. The last one is yes as well such as in nakulapitasutta https://4sacca.com/?rm.r.14.1...bhante,nakulapit#hl
Bonn
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-31T15:12:59.277Z
2020-05-31T15:12:59.277Z
ChrisW
<p><strong>Thero, Bhadanta, and Venerable..</strong> are words for addressing the old monks, abbots in pagodas and/or temples. I really do not know how they are ranked in Buddhist Sangha. Which title is the highest... and what else?  </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-30T22:37:54.540Z
Related topic: [What is the appropriate use for the term bhante?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/8441/254)
ChrisW
<vipassana><buddha><bodhisattva><early-buddhism><religion>
Bhadanta or Thero
# Bhadanta or Thero

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-05-30)

**Thero, Bhadanta, and Venerable..** are words for addressing the old monks, abbots in pagodas and/or temples. I really do not know how they are ranked in Buddhist Sangha. Which title is the highest... and what else?

**Tags:** vipassana, buddha, bodhisattva, early-buddhism, religion

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Related topic: [What is the appropriate use for the term bhante?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/8441/254)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-05-31. Score: 1

From AccessToInsight's [Glossary of Pali and Buddhist Terms](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/glossary.html):

> samaṇera (samaṇerī):  
> Literally, a small samaṇa; a novice monk
> (nun) who observes ten precepts and who is a candidate for admission
> to the order of bhikkhus (bhikkhunīs).
>
> bhikkhu:  
> A Buddhist monk; a man who has given up the householder's
> life to live a life of heightened virtue (see sīla) in accordance with
> the Vinaya in general, and the Pātimokkha rules in particular.
>
> thera:  
> "Elder." An honorific title automatically conferred upon a
> bhikkhu of at least ten years' standing.
>
> mahāthera:  
> "Great elder." An honorific title automatically
> conferred upon a bhikkhu of at least twenty years' standing.

The female equivalents are samaṇerī, bhikkhuni, theri and mahātheri.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-05-31. Score: 0

"Venerable" is the English-language translation of *Bhadanta* (or *Bhante*).

As well as [What is the appropriate use for the term bhante?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/8441/254) see also [Thero](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thero):

> The word literally means "elder". These terms, appearing at the end of a monastic's given name, are used to distinguish those who have at least 10 years since their upasampada (higher ordination).

See also [Ajahn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajahn) which appears to mean the same thing ("for Buddhist monks who have passed ten vassa") but in Thai language

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: No, Bhante is elder of Aavuso in Vijaya, but Aacariya is a person who has the quality of Aacariya, numbers of memorizing, understanding, and experience more than 10 years. **Thero may not be qualified as Aacariya**.  1 younger vassa calls 1 elder vassa "Bhante".  Qualifications https://unmixedtheravada.blogspot.com/2017/09/how-to-find-right-dhamma-teacher.html  
> **username_1**: I think you're saying that -- 1) a younger monk would say "Bhante" to an older monk -- 2) But an older monk would call a younger monk "Avuso" (meaning "friend"), not "Bhante" -- 3)  "Ācariya" (meaning "teacher") depends on whether a monk has memorised and understood etc., not only on seniority -- 4) "Ajahn" is the the Thai word/equivalent for the Pali "Ācariya".  
> **username_1**: It's also true, isn't it, that "Bhante" is an appropriate way for any layperson to address any monk?  
> **username_3**: 1-4 yes. The last one is yes as well such as in nakulapitasutta https://4sacca.com/?rm.r.14.1...bhante,nakulapit#hl  

---

