แมว
mɛɛo/mɛːw˧/
The English word "cat" is translated into Thai as แมว (mɛɛo). Wiktionary also lists วิฬาร์ (wí-laa).
Meaning: domestic species (noun)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| แมว | mɛɛo | /mɛːw˧/ |
| วิฬาร์ | wí-laa | /wi˦˥.laː˧/ |
The term is used to refer to the domestic species of cat.
Which one should you use?
แมว is the standard, everyday word for cat, while วิฬาร์ is a formal or literary term. Additionally, แมวน้อย can be used to mean "little cat".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of แมว is mɛɛo.
Did you know?
- Thai uses a system of 'classifiers' when counting แมว, using the word ตัว (tua), which literally means 'body' or 'trunk'.
- The word แมว is a cognate with the English word 'meow', as both imitate the sound a cat makes.
- In Thai culture, cats are often associated with luck and prosperity, leading to a wide variety of specific 'auspicious' cat breeds in traditional lore.
Examples in context
- ฉันเคยมีแมวI had a cat.This sentence is useful for expressing past ownership of a แมว.Tatoeba #7766157 by JipThaiTeacher, translation #2399176 by amazighgirl
- ฉันมีแมวสีขาวI have a white cat.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a แมว.Tatoeba #8692208 by pastelite, translation #1523604 by CK
- แมวของฉันเปียกMy cat is wet.This sentence is useful for describing the state of a แมว.Tatoeba #8720080 by pastelite, translation #1107946 by Scott
- ฉันชอบเลี้ยงแมวเล็กๆI like raising small cats.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a photo on a phone.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitแมวตัวนี้ชื่ออะไรครับmaeo tua ni chue arai khrapWhat is the name of this cat?
- สิรินทร์ Sirinมันชื่อเจ้าถุงเงินค่ะman chue chao thung ngoen khaIts name is Chao Thung Ngoen.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitแมวตัวนี้ดูน่ารักมากmaeo tua ni du na rak makThis cat looks very cute.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinขอบคุณค่ะ เขาขี้อ้อนมากkhop khun kha khao khi on makThank you, he is very cuddly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cat” translations and entries แมว, วิฬาร์, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries วิฬาร์, แมว, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
