หมา
mǎa/maː˩˩˦/
The English word 'dog' is translated into Thai as หมา (mǎa) or สุนัข.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| หมา | mǎa | /maː˩˩˦/ |
| สุนัข | sù-nák | /su˨˩.nak̚˦˥/ |
Both terms refer to the animal, but they are used in different social and linguistic contexts.
Which one should you use?
หมา is the common, everyday word for dog used in casual conversation. In contrast, สุนัข is the formal or polite term often used in literature, news or official contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is mǎa. The IPA is /maː˩˩˦/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using หมา in formal writing or when speaking to superiors, as it can sound blunt or impolite.
Did you know?
- In Thai culture, calling someone a หมา is a severe insult that suggests the person lacks dignity or has behaved in a shameful way.
- The formal term สุนัข is not native to Thai but was borrowed from Pali to provide a refined way to refer to dogs in royal or religious settings.
- In Thai culture, the word หมา appears in several idioms about being a servant or underling. For example, the phrase for being a 'lapdog' describes someone who blindly follows a powerful person's orders.
Examples in context
- หมาเห่าThe dog barked.This sentence shows the use of หมา to describe a dog barking.Tatoeba #8743327 by pastelite, translation #2252571 by CK
- หมาตายแล้วThe dog is dead.This sentence shows the use of หมา to state that a dog is dead.Tatoeba #8679066 by pastelite, translation #508844 by kebukebu
- ฉันเคยเห็นสุนัขI saw a dog.This sentence shows the use of สุนัข in a sentence about seeing a dog.Tatoeba #7766159 by JipThaiTeacher, translation #378503 by CK
- เขามีสุนัขที่น่ารักมากHe has a very cute dog.
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
ธนกฤต and กนกวรรณ are walking in a park.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritนั่นหมาตัวอะไรน่ะnan ma tua arai naWhat kind of dog is that?
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanน่าจะเป็นหมาพันธุ์โกลเด้นค่ะna cha pen ma phan golden khaIt might be a Golden Retriever dog.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritมันดูเป็นหมาที่ใจดีนะman du pen ma thi chai di naIt looks like a kind dog.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanใช่ค่ะ หมาตัวนี้ดูน่ารักมากchai kha ma tua ni du na rak makYes, this dog looks very cute.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dog” translations and entries หมา, สุนัข, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
