โง่
ngôo/ŋoː˥˩/
The Thai word for stupid is โง่ (ngôo).
The word โง่ is an adjective used to describe someone or something as lacking in intelligence. For a more intense and derogatory way to describe someone as being foolish or stupid, you can use the form โง่เง่า. Additionally, the colloquial term บื้อ can be used to describe someone who is slow-witted or thick-headed.
Meaning: lacking in intelligence (adj)
Which one should you use?
While โง่ is the standard term, โง่เง่า is more emphatic and carries a stronger derogatory weight. The antonym of โง่ is ฉลาด, which means smart or intelligent.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term บ้า can be used informally to refer to someone as stupid in a less offensive way, as it generally means crazy or insane. The word บื้อ is a colloquial term for being dim-witted or slow.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Central Thailand, the informal term ไอ้โง่ is used to express that someone is stupid.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone is very stupid, you can add the word มาก (mâak) after โง่, creating the phrase โง่มาก.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ngôo. The IPA is /ŋoː˥˩/.
Did you know?
- The term โง่ is an ancient borrowing from Old Chinese, where the ancestor word 愚 (OC *ŋo) meant 'foolish'.
- The term โง่เง่า is an example of a Thai rhythmic pairing where a second word is added to intensify the original meaning and add a derogatory tone.
- In Thai, using the word บ้า (crazy) to call someone 'stupid' is often perceived as softer and less hurtful than using โง่.
Examples in context
- คุณดูโง่You look stupid.This sentence is useful for saying someone looks stupid using โง่.Tatoeba #7878809 by pastelite, translation #1644 by CK
- ทอมทำอะไรที่โง่มาก ๆTom did something very stupid.This sentence is useful for describing a stupid action using โง่.Tatoeba #8720073 by pastelite, translation #3228154 by CK
- ไม่มีใครคิดว่าคุณโง่No one thinks that you're stupid.This sentence is useful for stating that no one thinks a person is โง่.Tatoeba #10597695 by Somsak, translation #2711932 by CK
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a mistake one of them made.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinฉันทำเรื่องโง่ ลงไปอีกแล้วchan tham rueang ngo long pai ik laeoI did something stupid again.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritไม่เป็นไรหรอก ทุกคนพลาดได้mai pen rai rok thuk khon phlat daiIt's okay, everyone makes mistakes.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinแต่ฉันรู้สึกว่าตัวเองโง่มากtae chan ru suek wa tua eng ngo makBut I feel so stupid.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritอย่าคิดแบบนั้นเลย สิรินทร์ya khit baep nan loei SirinDon't think that way, Sirin.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stupid” translations and entries โง่, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries โง่, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
