เหยี่ยว
yìao/jia̯w˨˩/
The English word "hawk" is translated into Thai as เหยี่ยว (yìao).
เหยี่ยว refers to the biological predatory bird of the Accipitridae family. It is also used metaphorically to describe a person who possesses a keen gaze or sharp, predatory eyes.
Meaning: predatory bird of Accipitridae (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is yìao.
Did you know?
- Thai folklore and traditional beliefs sometimes view the sighting of a เหยี่ยว as an omen, depending on the direction of its flight and the context of the encounter.
- The Thai word เหยี่ยว is cognate with the Middle Chinese word 鷂, suggesting that the term for this bird was borrowed or shared during ancient linguistic exchanges.
- While เหยี่ยว refers to the bird, the phrase ตาเหยี่ยว (hawk eyes) is used as a common compliment for someone with exceptional attention to detail or a sharp eye for spotting errors.
Examples in context
- ฉันเห็นเหยี่ยวบินอยู่บนฟ้าchan hen hiaw bin yu bon faI saw a hawk flying in the sky.
- เหยี่ยวตัวนั้นกำลังล่าเหยื่อhiaw tua nan kamlang la yueaThat hawk is hunting prey.
- เหยี่ยวมีสายตาที่คมกริบhiaw mi sai ta thi khom kripA hawk has very sharp eyesight.
Example conversation
Pimon and Chonlasit are walking in a park.
- พิมล Pimonดูนั่นสิ ชลสิทธิ์ เห็นนกตัวนั้นไหมdu nan si chonlasit hen nok tua nan maiLook at that, Chonlasit. Do you see that bird?
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitเห็นครับ มันคือเหยี่ยวใช่ไหมhen khrap man khue yiao chai maiI see it. Is it a hawk?
- พิมล Pimonใช่แล้ว เป็นเหยี่ยวที่สวยมากchai laeo pen yiao thi suay makYes, it is a very beautiful hawk.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitมันกำลังมองหาเหยื่ออยู่man kam lang mong ha yuea yuIt is looking for prey.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hawk” translations and entries เหยี่ยว, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries เหยี่ยว, CC BY-SA 4.0.
