แพง
pɛɛng/pʰɛːŋ˧/
The Thai word for "expensive" is แพง (pɛɛng).
แพง is an adjective used to describe something that has a high price or cost.
Meaning: having a high price or cost (adj)
Which one should you use?
The antonym of แพง is ถูก, which means cheap.
How does it change in a sentence?
To modify the level of cost, you can add words after แพง. To say something is "very expensive", add มาก (mâak) after the word to get แพงมาก.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /pʰɛːŋ˧/ (pɛɛng).
What mistakes should you avoid?
While this literally translates to "expensive price", which is redundant, it is a common and accepted way to say something "is expensive" in Thai.
Did you know?
- While แพง describes a high price, the word ถูก (thùuk), which means 'cheap', is also used to mean 'correct' or 'right' in a completely different context.
- While แพง means expensive, the word หรู (hru) is used when something is 'expensive' in a luxurious or fancy way, emphasizing status over cost.
- In Thai markets, calling an item แพง (expensive) is often the opening move in a social negotiation rather than a statement of fact.
Examples in context
- มันแพงจริงๆ ใช่ไหมIt's really expensive, isn't it?This sentence uses แพง to confirm if something is truly expensive.Tatoeba #11082849 by Somsak, translation #3071083 by CK
- งานแต่งงานมีราคาแพงWeddings are expensive.This sentence uses แพง to describe the cost of weddings.Tatoeba #10162118 by Somsak, translation #3087509 by Hybrid
- เมื่อใดก็ตามที่ฉันพบบางสิ่งที่ฉันชอบมันจะแพงเกินไปWhenever I find something I like, it's too expensive.This sentence uses แพง to express that something is too expensive.Tatoeba #7878395 by pastelite, translation #1372 by brauliobezerra
- ร้านนี้มีของขายแพงมากThis shop sells very expensive items
- ร้านนี้ขายกางเกงแพงสุดเลยThis shop sells pants that are extremely expensive
- อุปกรณ์ไอทีคุณซื้อแพงจังThe IT equipment you bought is indeed expensive
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sirin and Witthawat are looking at clothes in a department store.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinวิทวัส เสื้อตัวนี้แพงไหมWitthawat, suea tua ni phaeng maiWitthawat, is this shirt expensive?
- วิทวัส Witthawatสำหรับผม มันไม่แพงครับsam-rap phom, man mai phaeng khrapFor me, it is not expensive.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinแต่ฉันว่ามันแพงเกินไปtae chan wa man phaeng koen paiBut I think it is too expensive.
- วิทวัส Witthawatถ้าอย่างนั้น เราไปดูร้านอื่นกันtha yang nan, rao pai du ran uen kanIn that case, let's go look at another shop.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “expensive” translations and entries แพง, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
