โง่
ngôo/ŋoː˥˩/
The English word "dumb" is translated into Thai as โง่ (ngôo).
The word โง่ is a direct and blunt way to call someone stupid and is considered quite rude in most social contexts.
Meaning: stupid (adj)
Which one should you use?
While โง่ is the standard term, you can use โง่มาก to mean "very dumb" or โง่จัง to mean "dumb" or "really dumb". For a more polite approach, use ไม่เฉลียวฉลาด, which means "not smart" or "not intelligent".
How does it change in a sentence?
To intensify the adjective, you can add มาก (mâak) after โง่ to create โง่มาก, meaning "very stupid".
How do you pronounce it?
/ŋoː˥˩/
When do people say it?
In Thai culture, the buffalo is a common metaphor for stupidity, often seen in the simile โง่เหมือนควาย (dumb as a buffalo).
Did you know?
- The word โง่ was borrowed from Old Chinese and is a cognate with the Lao word ໂງ່ and the Shan word ငိူဝ်ႈ.
- While calling someone โง่ is a personal insult, telling someone they are acting like a buffalo with the phrase โง่เหมือนควาย is considered even more deeply offensive in Thailand.
- Thai culture often associates stupidity with a lack of 'social grace' or 'wit' rather than just a lack of academic intelligence.
Examples in context
- โง่เหมือนควายDumb as a buffalo.This sentence uses the simile โง่ to describe someone as being as dumb as a buffalo.
- เขาทำตัวโง่มากkhao tham tua ngo makHe is acting very stupid.
Example conversation
Nicha and Thanakrit are talking about a mistake they made.
- ณิชา Nichaฉันทำผิดแบบโง่ๆ เลยchan tham phit baep ngo ngo loeiI made such a dumb mistake.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritไม่ต้องคิดมากหรอกณิชาmai tong khit mak rok NichaDon't think too much about it, Nicha.
- ณิชา Nichaแต่ฉันรู้สึกว่าตัวเองโง่มากtae chan ru-suek wa tua eng ngo makBut I feel so dumb.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritเธอไม่ได้โง่ แค่พลาดเฉยๆthoe mai dai ngo khae phlat choei choeiYou aren't dumb, you just made a mistake.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dumb” translations and entries โง่, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries โง่, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
