ลิง
ling/liŋ˧/
The Thai word for monkey is ลิง (ling).
ลิง is the general term for a monkey. More specific terms exist for certain types, such as ลิงแสม, which refers specifically to a Macaque monkey.
Meaning: primate (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ลิง is the standard term, เจ้าลิง is used to refer to a monkey with affection and ลิงโง่ is a colloquial way to say silly monkey.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ling and the IPA is /liŋ˧/.
Did you know?
- At the Lopburi Monkey Banquet, the city provides huge feasts of fruits and vegetables for thousands of ลิง to thank them for attracting tourists.
- Be careful when pronouncing ลิง in certain clothing contexts, as it can be a clipped form of the English word 'lingerie'.
- Thai folklore and the national epic Ramakien feature a monkey army, led by the powerful general Hanuman, who is a central figure in Thai art and dance.
Examples in context
- คุณดูเหมือนลิงYou look like a monkey.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use ลิง in a comparison.Tatoeba #8720188 by pastelite, translation #3348067 by CK
- มีลิงตัวใหญ่บนต้นไม้mi ling tua yai bon ton maiThere is a big monkey on the tree.
- ลิงชอบกินกล้วยมากling chop kin kluai makMonkeys love eating bananas very much.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are walking through a park.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatระวังนะ มีลิงอยู่แถวนี้rawang na mi ling yu thaeo niBe careful, there are monkeys around here.
- ณิชา Nichaน่ารักดีนะ ตัวเล็กๆ ทั้งนั้นเลยna rak di na tua lek lek thang nan loeiThey are cute, they are all so small.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatอย่าไปใกล้พวกมันมากเกินไปya pai klai phuak man mak koen paiDon't get too close to them.
- ณิชา Nichaเข้าใจแล้วค่ะ ฉันจะระวังkhao chai laeo kha chan cha rawangI understand, I will be careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “monkey” translations and entries ลิง, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ลิง, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
