เม่นแคระ
men khrae
The English word hedgehog is translated into Thai as เม่นแคระ (men khrae).
The term is used to refer specifically to the animal known as a hedgehog.
Meaning: animal (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of เม่น, which means porcupine or hedgehog and แคระ, which means dwarf or small, literally meaning 'dwarf porcupine'.
Which one should you use?
While เม่น (men) is used to refer to larger porcupines, เม่นแคระ (men khrae) specifically refers to the smaller hedgehog.
How do you pronounce it?
men khrae
Did you know?
- Thai speakers may refer to the spines of both เม่น and เม่นแคระ using the word ขน, which normally means 'hair' or 'fur'.
- In traditional Thai contexts, the larger เม่น (porcupine) is more culturally recognized than the เม่นแคระ (hedgehog), as hedgehogs are not native to Thailand.
- In Thai, the word แคระ is used for a variety of 'pygmy' or 'dwarf' species, and it carries a more descriptive biological meaning than the English word 'small'.
Examples in context
- ฉันอยากเลี้ยงเม่นแคระchan yak liang men khraeI want to raise a hedgehog.
- เม่นแคระตัวนี้ขี้อ้อนมากmen khrae tua ni khi on makThis hedgehog is very affectionate.
Example conversation
Nicha and Witthawat are at a pet store.
- ณิชา Nichaดูเม่นแคระตัวนั้นสิdu men khrae tua nan siLook at that hedgehog!
- วิทวัส Witthawatมันกำลังนอนหลับอยู่man kamlang non lap yuIt is sleeping.
- ณิชา Nichaเม่นแคระเลี้ยงยากไหมmen khrae liang yak maiAre hedgehogs hard to raise?
- วิทวัส Witthawatไม่ยากเท่าไหร่ครับmai yak thao rai khrapNot too hard.
