สิงโต
sǐng-dtoo/siŋ˩˩˦.toː˧/
The English word lion is translated into Thai as สิงโต (sǐng-dtoo). If unsure, use สิงโต. Wiktionary also lists ราชสีห์ (râat-chá-sǐi) and สีห์ (sǐi).
Meaning: big cat Panthera leo (noun)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| สิงโต | sǐng-dtoo | /siŋ˩˩˦.toː˧/ |
| ราชสีห์ | râat-chá-sǐi | /raːt̚˥˩.t͡ɕʰa˦˥.siː˩˩˦/ |
| สีห์ | sǐi | /siː˩˩˦/ |
The term refers to the big cat Panthera leo. You should use สิงโต when referring to the animal in a zoo, a documentary or during casual conversation.
Which one should you use?
สิงโต is the standard, everyday word used in general contexts. ราชสีห์ is a formal or literary term, while สีห์ is a shortened, poetic form often found in formal literature or compound words.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
สิงโต is the common word for daily use. For more formal or literary settings, you may see ราชสีห์ or the poetic สีห์. Additionally, สิงห์ is a formal word for lion.
How do you pronounce it?
sǐng-dtoo (/siŋ˩˩˦.toː˧/)
Did you know?
- In Thailand, you might see the word สิงห์ used in the names of many famous brands, such as the popular Singha beer, even though they are not selling lions.
- While the animal is a biological creature, the term ราชสีห์ carries a heavy connotation of royalty and divine power, often used to describe a mythical king of beasts in Thai folklore.
- The word สิงห์ traces its lineage back to the Sanskrit word 'simha', connecting the Thai language to ancient Indian linguistic traditions.
Examples in context
- สิงโตเป็นราชาแห่งป่าThe lion is the king of the jungle.This sentence demonstrates the use of สิงโต to describe a lion as the king of the jungle.Tatoeba #7878472 by pastelite, translation #29846 by CM
- สิงโตตัวใหญ่กำลังนอนอยู่sing-to tua yai kam-lang non yuA big lion is lying down.
- ฉันเห็นสิงโตในสวนสัตว์chan hen sing-to nai suan-satI saw a lion in the zoo.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a wildlife documentary on TV.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitดูสิงโตตัวนั้นสิdu sing-to tua nan siLook at that lion.
- ณิชา Nichaมันดูน่ากลัวมากเลยman du na-klua mak loeiIt looks very scary.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitแต่สิงโตตัวนี้ดูสง่ามากtae sing-to tua ni du sa-nga makBut this lion looks very majestic.
- ณิชา Nichaใช่ค่ะ ชลสิทธิ์chai kha chon-la-sitYes, Chonlasit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lion” translations and entries สิงโต, ราชสีห์, สีห์, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
