How to Say "Headache" in Thai

ปวดหัว

bpùuat-hǔua/pua̯t̚˨˩.hua̯˩˩˦/

The Thai word for headache is ปวดหัว (bpùuat-hǔua).

ปวดหัว is used to describe a physical pain or ache in the head.

Meaning: pain or ache in the head (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of the verb ปวด, which means to ache or pain and the noun หัว, which means head.

ปวดหัว is the common way to say headache, whereas ปวดศีรษะ is the formal or medical term used in official contexts or news.

To express that a headache is severe, you can add the adverb มาก (meaning many or much) after the phrase to say ปวดหัวมาก.

The pronunciation is bpùuat-hǔua.

If you say you are ปวดหัว to a Thai person, they might think you are stressed about a complex problem rather than suffering from physical pain. In this context, it is used metaphorically to mean 'having a headache' over a difficult situation.
The word หัว (head) used in ปวดหัว is considered more colloquial and can even be slightly impolite in very high-register settings, whereas ศีรษะ is the respectful version.
The verb ปวด is specifically used to describe a continuous, dull, or aching type of pain, rather than a sharp or sudden sensation.

เขาปวดหัว
He had a headache.
Tatoeba #8675904 by pastelite, translation #1133262 by CK
ฉันปวดหัว
I've got a headache.
Tatoeba #8692081 by pastelite, translation #497934 by CM
ทอมบอกเราว่าเขาปวดหัว
Tom told us that he had a headache.
Tatoeba #8817800 by pastelite, translation #37051 by CK
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Teerapat and Sirin are talking in an office.

ธีรภัทร Theeraphat

คุณเป็นอะไรหรือเปล่า?
khun pen arai rue plao?
Are you okay?
สิรินทร์ Sirin

ฉันปวดหัวนิดหน่อยค่ะ
chan puat hua nit noi kha
I have a slight headache.
ธีรภัทร Theeraphat

กินยาหรือยังครับ?
kin ya rue yang khrap?
Have you taken any medicine?
สิรินทร์ Sirin

ยังเลยค่ะ
yang loei kha
Not yet.

Sources

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