Beyond sawadee ka, there are plenty of Thai words you might be confidently throwing around completely unaware that they have a whole different meaning than you intended.
We’ve rounded up some of the funniest Thai words with double meanings, plus a few slightly embarrassing stories of how we learned them the hard way. Read on, have a laugh, and hopefully avoid accidentally saying something you definitely didn’t mean to.
Normal definition: Buffalo, specifically a water buffalo if you’re being picky
Slang definition: Dumbass
How I found out: I was riding on a Grab bike and the driver suddenly yelled ‘kwai’. I started looking for an actual buffalo in Bangkok only to then realise they were most likely talking about that other driver who just cut us off.
Normal definition: A younger sibling
Thai definition: Private parts
How I found out: TMI warning. I went to a laser clinic in Siam to get my legs done and the worker asked, ‘How about your little sister?’ Without skipping a beat I replied with, ‘Oh, I’m an only child so it’s just me. Thank you.’ She definitely must’ve thought I was a kwai…
Normal definition: Mother, aka the woman in charge
Slang definition: An icon, a queen, someone with major main character energy
How I found out: Not having kids or even furry ones made me quite surprised when a work colleague called me mom at the ripe age of 27. The term comes from LGBTQ+ slang, where calling someone ‘the mom’ is a way of saying they’re that girl: confident, fabulous, respected and basically the GOAT. Who knew I didn’t even need kids to be a ‘mae’ – I’ll take it.
Normal definition: To travel back to the place you live
Slang definition: Takeaway
How (my British boss living in Bangkok) found out: During his lunch break, while ordering at a street food stall, he was asked if he was going home. He kindly informed the aunty that, actually, he would be returning to the office because he had already used up all his PTO. An answer that provided absolutely no useful information to the aunty cooking his lunch or the line of office workers waiting behind him.
Normal definition: Monitor lizard, the second largest lizard species in the world
Slang definition: Basically the f-word
How I found out: (Important note: ‘hia’ is pronounced really closely to the English word ‘here’) When playing hide-and-seek, my cousin suddenly yelled ‘hia’. Thinking he found a good hiding spot, I quickly answered, ‘Yes! Let’s hide here.’ Only to be greeted by a slithering tongue poking through the bushes in our backyard in Kanchanaburi.
For those that want to see hias here in Bangkok, stop by Lumpini Park. Just maybe don’t say their name in public. If you’re really savvy, you can call them like the Thais do ‘Tua Nguen Tua Tong’ – basically the silver and gold ones, said for good luck.
Normal definition: Longan, a small, sweet tropical fruit
Slang definition: Annoying
How I found out: No entertaining story. It’s my favourite type of juice so I would get excited anytime my mom said it thinking she boiled it fresh for me only to realise she was simply describing me, the light of her life. No actual longan fruit juice in sight.
Normal definition: A bird, of any kind really
Slang definition: Missing an opportunity, getting rejected
How I found out: When someone tells you you’re ‘nok’ unfortunately, they don’t mean you’re free as a bird. It means you missed out, usually when it comes to dating or romantic opportunities. No personal related story for this one. What can I say?
Normal definition: Taro, a starchy tropical root vegetable
Slang definition: Being nosy
How I found out: The Thai pronunciation of taro, ‘puek’ sounds similar to the word ‘suek’, the actual word for being nosy or sticking your nose into someone else’s business. Because of that, this version can be used in a light, joking way. Basically the Thai equivalent of ‘mind your own beeswax.’
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