รอยสัก
rɔɔi-sàk/rɔːj˧.sak̚˨˩/
The Thai word for tattoo is รอยสัก (rɔɔi-sàk).
รอยสัก refers to the image itself made in the skin with ink and a needle.
Meaning: an image made in the skin with ink and a needle (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The noun รอยสัก is composed of รอย, meaning mark or trace and สัก, meaning to tattoo.
Which one should you use?
Use the noun รอยสัก to refer to the tattoo itself, but use the verb สัก to describe the act of tattooing.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is rɔɔi-sàk. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- Traditional Thai tattoos, known as สักยันต์ (Sak Yant), are believed to provide the wearer with magical powers like protection, strength and invisibility.
- The word รอย (mark) is commonly used in Thai to describe physical tracks left by animals or vehicles, making a tattoo literally a 'track' or 'trace' left upon the skin.
- The act of สัก is often performed by monks or 'Ajarns' (masters) who are viewed as spiritual teachers rather than just artists.
Examples in context
- ฉันอยากสักลายเล็กๆค่ะI would like a small tattoo, please.
- ใครที่นี่รู้จักหมอสักดีWho here knows a good tattoo artist?
- เขาไปสักลายที่แขนHe went to get a tattoo on his arm.
- เขามีรอยสักที่แขนข้างซ้ายkhao mi roi sak thi khaen khang saiHe has a tattoo on his left arm.
- รอยสักนี้สวยมากเลยroi sak ni suai mak loeiThis tattoo is very beautiful.
- ฉันอยากได้รอยสักรูปดอกไม้chan yak dai roi sak rup dok maiI want a flower tattoo.
Example conversation
Sarin and Chonlasit are looking at a photo of a person's arm.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinรอยสักของเขาสวยจังเลยroi sak khong khao suai chang loeiHis tattoo is so beautiful.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitใช่ครับ รอยสักดูเท่มากchai khrap roi sak du the makYes, the tattoo looks very cool.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinคุณอยากทำรอยสักบ้างไหมkhun yak tham roi sak bang maiDo you want to get a tattoo too?
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitผมยังไม่ค่อยอยากทำครับphom yang mai khoi yak tham khrapI don't really want to do it yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tattoo” translations and entries รอยสัก, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.