ซน
son/son˧/
The English word 'naughty' can be translated into Thai as either ซน (son) or ดื้อ.
Meaning: bad, tending to misbehave or act badly (adj)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ซน | son | /son˧/ |
| ดื้อ | dʉ̂ʉ | /dɯː˥˩/ |
Thai uses different words for 'naughty' depending on the type of misbehavior. Use ซน to describe someone who is restless, physically active or constantly moving. To say someone is 'very naughty' in this playful, restless sense, you can say ซนมาก. Use ดื้อ to describe someone who is disobedient, stubborn or refuses to listen. To say someone is 'very disobedient' or 'very stubborn', use ดื้อมาก.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two forms depends on the nuance of the behavior. ซน is used for children who are playful or restless. In contrast, ดื้อ is used for children who are being disobedient or refusing to follow instructions.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is son.
Did you know?
- Thai speakers may use ดื้อ to describe a piece of technology or a machine that is 'stubborn' and refuses to function properly.
- While 'naughty' can be a flirtatious term between English-speaking adults, using ซน or ดื้อ toward an adult in Thai often comes across as patronizing.
- In a Thai household, calling a child ซน can actually be a backhanded way of praising their high energy or natural curiosity.
Examples in context
- แมวตัวนี้ซนมากmaeo tua ni son makThis cat is very naughty.
- เด็กคนนั้นซนจริงๆdek khon nan son ching chingThat child is really naughty.
- อย่าซนนะya son naDon't be naughty.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are watching a puppy play in the living room.
- พิมล Pimonลูกหมาตัวนี้ซนจังเลยluk ma tua ni son chang loeiThis puppy is so naughty.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitใช่ครับ เขามีพลังเยอะมากchai khrap khao mi phalang yo makYes, he has a lot of energy.
- พิมล Pimonระวังเขาจะกัดของนะrawang khao cha kat khong naWatch out, he might bite things.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitผมจะดูแลเขาเองครับphom cha du lae khao eng khrapI will take care of him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “naughty” translations and entries ซน, ดื้อ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
