หนูท่อ
nu-tho
The Thai word for rat is หนูท่อ (nu-tho).
The term หนูท่อ is used to refer specifically to a sewer rat.
Meaning: rodent (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
This is a compound word where หนู means rat or mouse and ท่อ means pipe or sewer, so the phrase literally translates to sewer rat.
Which one should you use?
While หนูท่อ specifically describes a large sewer rat, the general word for any small rodent, such as a mouse or a rat, is simply หนู.
How do you pronounce it?
nu-tho
Did you know?
- The word หนู is commonly used by females as a first-person pronoun when speaking to elders, effectively acting as 'I' in a polite, diminutive way.
- In Thai culture, calling someone a หนู is not always an insult. Depending on the context, it can be a term of endearment for a small child or a younger person.
- Thai speakers may use the word หนู to describe a person who is shy or timid. This usage mirrors the English 'mousey' but uses the same general word for rat.
Examples in context
- ระวังหนูท่อด้วยนะra-wang nu-tho duai naWatch out for the sewer rats.
- ฉันเห็นหนูท่อตัวใหญ่มากchan hen nu-tho tua yai makI saw a very big sewer rat.
- หนูท่อวิ่งไปในท่อระบายน้ำnu-tho wing pai nai tho ra-bai namThe sewer rat ran into the drain.
Example conversation
A woman and a man are walking in an alleyway.
- พิมล Pimonธนกฤต เห็นหนูท่อไหม?Thanakit hen nu-tho mai?Thanakrit, do you see a sewer rat?
- ธนกฤต Thanakritใช่ ผมเห็นมันวิ่งอยู่ตรงนั้นchai, phom hen man wing yu trong nanYes, I see it running over there.
- พิมล Pimonมันน่ากลัวมากเลยนะman na klua mak loei naIt is very scary.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritเราต้องรีบเดินออกจากที่นี่กันrao tong rip doen ok chak thi ni kanWe need to hurry and leave this place.
