ท้อง
tɔ́ɔng/tʰɔːŋ˦˥/
The English phrase 'pregnant' is translated into Thai using several forms, the most common being ท้อง (tɔ́ɔng). Wiktionary also lists มีครรภ์ (mii-kan) and ตั้งครรภ์ (dtâng-kan).
Meaning: carrying developing offspring within the body (adj)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ท้อง | tɔ́ɔng | /tʰɔːŋ˦˥/ |
| มีครรภ์ | mii-kan | /miː˧.kʰan˧/ |
| ตั้งครรภ์ | dtâng-kan | /taŋ˥˩.kʰan˧/ |
The term is used to describe carrying developing offspring within the body. In Thai, ท้อง can function as both an adjective to say someone 'is pregnant' and as a verb meaning 'to get pregnant'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ท้อง literally means 'belly' or 'stomach'.
Which one should you use?
ท้อง is the colloquial way to express pregnancy in everyday conversation. In contrast, ตั้งครรภ์ is a formal or medical term used in news, clinical settings or official documents, while มีครรภ์ is a formal way to describe the state of having a pregnancy.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is tɔ́ɔng.
What mistakes should you avoid?
While ท้อง refers to the body part 'belly', do not limit its use to only the anatomy. It is the standard way to express that someone is pregnant in casual Thai.
Did you know?
- In Thai, the word ท้อง can be used as a noun to refer to the 'sky' or 'expanse' when used in specific poetic contexts, such as ท้องฟ้า.
- The colloquial word ท้อง is also used in the phrase ท้องเสีย, which means 'to have diarrhea'.
- Thai speakers may use the phrase ท้องแก่ to describe being in the late stages of pregnancy, where แก่ literally means 'old'.
Examples in context
- เธอท้องหรือว่าแค่อ้วนกันแน่?Is she pregnant or just fat?This example shows how to ask if someone is pregnant using ท้อง.Tatoeba #4332356 by Spanger, translation #4332232 by Rosijupon
- เธอท้องShe's pregnant.This example shows a simple statement that someone is pregnant using ท้อง.Tatoeba #3609004 by rootEnginear, translation #1442058 by CK
- เธอดูเหมือนคนกำลังท้องนะthoe du muean khon kamlang thong naYou look like you are pregnant.
Example conversation
A husband talking to his wife at home.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitคุณท้องกี่เดือนแล้วครับkhun thong kii duean laeo khrapHow many months pregnant are you?
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanตอนนี้ท้องได้สามเดือนแล้วค่ะton-ni thong dai saam duean laeo khaI am three months pregnant now.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitดีใจด้วยนะที่เธอท้องdi-chai duai na thi thoe thongCongratulations on being pregnant.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanขอบคุณค่ะ เราต้องดูแลตัวเองดีๆkhop khun kha rao tong du-lae tua-eng di-diThank you, I need to take good care of myself.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pregnant” translations and entries ท้อง, มีครรภ์, ตั้งครรภ์, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
