งู
nguu/ŋuː˧/
The English word "snake" is งู (nguu) in Thai.
งู is the noun used to refer to the legless reptile. While งู names the animal itself, you might also use the related verb เลื้อย to describe how a snake moves.
Meaning: legless reptile (noun)
Which one should you use?
งู is the noun for the animal, whereas เลื้อย is the specific verb used to describe the winding movement of a snake.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
nguu (/ŋuː˧/)
Did you know?
- Thai people often use the phrase งูเห่า (cobra) to describe a traitor, referring to someone who pretends to be a friend but eventually bites you.
- In Thai culture, the พญานาค (Phaya Naga) is a mythical great serpent that is revered as a protector of the Mekong River and a symbol of royalty and spirituality.
- The idiom งูกินหาง literally describes a 'snake eating its tail' and is used to refer to a circular problem with no clear beginning or end.
Examples in context
- งูกลืนกบThe snake swallowed a frog.This sentence is useful for seeing งู used as the subject of an action.Tatoeba #8695452 by pastelite, translation #265649 by CK
- มีงูอยู่ในสวนThere's a snake in the garden.This sentence is useful for seeing งู used to indicate existence in a location.Tatoeba #8670555 by Mediabat, translation #8670552 by Mediabat
- ผมเห็นงูในสวน (Phom hen ngoo nai suan)I saw a snake in the garden.
- ฉันเห็นงูตัวเล็กอยู่บนต้นไม้chan hen ngu tua lek yu bon ton maiI saw a small snake on the tree.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are walking in a park.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanธนกฤต ดูนั่นสิ มีงูอยู่ตรงนั้นด้วยthanakit du nan si mi ngu yu trong nan duaiThanakrit, look! There is a snake over there too.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritกนกวรรณ อย่าเดินเข้าไปใกล้ตัวมันนะkanokwan ya doen khao pai klai tua man naKanokwan, don't walk close to it.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanมันดูน่ากลัวมากเลยman du na klua mak loeiIt looks very scary.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritเราเดินไปทางอื่นกันเถอะrao doen pai thang uen kan thoeLet's walk another way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snake” translations and entries งู, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
