บุหรี่
bù-rìi/bu˨˩.riː˨˩/
The Thai word for cigarette is บุหรี่ (bù-rìi). Wiktionary also lists ยาสูบ (yaa-sùup).
Meaning: thin roll of tobacco made for smoking (noun)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| บุหรี่ | bù-rìi | /bu˨˩.riː˨˩/ |
| ยาสูบ | yaa-sùup | /jaː˧.suːp̚˨˩/ |
บุหรี่ refers to a finished cigarette. To express the action of smoking a cigarette, you combine the verb สูบ (to smoke/pump) with the noun to form สูบบุหรี่.
Which one should you use?
While บุหรี่ refers to the finished cigarette, ยาสูบ refers to the tobacco plant or the raw tobacco itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting cigarettes, use the classifier มวน instead of general counters.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced bù-rìi.
Did you know?
- Persia was the first nation to export tobacco to Thailand, which is why the Thai word for cigarette has Persian roots rather than Chinese or Indian ones.
- The verb สูบ used in สูบบุหรี่ also means 'to pump', as in pumping water from a well.
- Because the word ยา can mean 'medicine', the word for tobacco ยาสูบ literally translates to 'medicinal smoke' or 'smoking medicine'.
Examples in context
- ทอมนั่งในความมืด สูบบุหรี่Tom was sitting in the dark, smoking a cigarette.This sentence shows how to use the word บุหรี่ in the context of smoking.Tatoeba #7784204 by pastelite, translation #4879857 by zvzuibqx
- เช้าๆ มาสูบยากันไหม? (Chao chao, maa sup yaa kan mai?)How about smoking a cigarette together in the morning?
- เขาทิ้งบุหรี่ลงในถังขยะkhao thing bu-ri long nai thang kha-yaHe threw the cigarette into the trash can.
- ฉันไม่ชอบกลิ่นบุหรี่chan mai chop klin bu-riI don't like the smell of cigarettes.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are talking outside a cafe.
- ณิชา Nichaคุณจะสูบบุหรี่ตรงนี้เหรอคะkhun cha sup bu-ri trong ni ro khaAre you going to smoke a cigarette here?
- วิทวัส Witthawatใช่ครับ ขอโทษด้วยนะครับchai khrap kho thot duai na khrapYes, I am. I am sorry.
- ณิชา Nichaช่วยไปสูบที่อื่นได้ไหมคะchuai pai sup thi uen dai mai khaCould you please smoke somewhere else?
- วิทวัส Witthawatได้ครับ ผมจะไปเดี๋ยวนี้dai khrap phom cha pai diao niOkay, I will go right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cigarette” translations and entries บุหรี่, ยาสูบ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries บุหรี่, ยาสูบ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
