ปู
bpuu/puː˧/
The English word "crab" is translated into Thai as ปู (bpuu).
ปู is a noun used to refer to the crustacean known as a crab.
Meaning: crustacean (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as bpuu. In the International Phonetic Alphabet, it is represented as /puː˧/.
Did you know?
- The word ปู is used in the term ปูเสื่อ ('to spread a mat'), which colloquially means to settle in and prepare to listen to some juicy gossip.
- In Thai, the word ปู can also be used as a verb meaning 'to spread' or 'to pave', such as spreading a cloth over a table.
- Thai cuisine distinguishes between ปูทะเล ('sea crab') and ปูนา ('rice field crab'), as the latter is a distinct cultural staple used in traditional fermented pastes.
Examples in context
- ปูตัวนี้ตัวใหญ่มากpū tuā nī tuā yai mākThis crab is very big.
- ฉันชอบกินเมนูปูchan chōp kin me-nu pūI like eating crab dishes.
- มีปูอยู่ในตะกร้าmi pū yū nai ta-krāThere are crabs in the basket.
Example conversation
At a seafood market.
- ณิชา Nichaปูพวกนี้สดไหมคะpū phuak nī sot mai khaAre these crabs fresh?
- วิทวัส Witthawatสดมากครับ เพิ่งมาส่งเมื่อเช้าsot māk khrap, pheung mā song muea chaoThey are very fresh, they were just delivered this morning.
- ณิชา Nichaงั้นขอซื้อปูสองตัวค่ะngan khō sue pū song tuā khaIn that case, I will buy two crabs.
- วิทวัส Witthawatได้ครับ เดี๋ยวผมเตรียมให้ครับdai khrap, diao phom triam hai khrapCertainly, I will prepare them for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crab” translations and entries ปู, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
