หัว
hǔuaMeanings
1NounA1
head (body part)
The upper part of the body containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillปวดหัวbpùuat-hǔuaปวดหัวbpùuat-hǔua1[to] have a headache; one’s head aches2troublesome; mentally exhausting (figurative)เลยləəiเลยləəi1at all; whatsoever (often in negatives)2so; thus; then (immediate result)3completely; absolutely (emphasis)4[to] pass; go beyond; exceedขอkɔ̌ɔขอkɔ̌ɔ1[to] request; ask for [sth]2polite request marker3[to] beg; plead4[to] wish for; pray forนอนพักnɔɔn-pákนอนพักnɔɔn-pák[to] rest; [to] lie down to rest
He has a headache so he asked to lie down and rest.
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The children wear hats to protect their heads from the sun.
The doctor gently touched the head to examine the wound.
เวลาwee-laaขี่จักรยานkìi-jàk-grà-yaanควรkuuanใส่sàiหมวกกันน็อกmùuak-gan-nɔ́kเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaปกป้องbpòk-bpɔ̂ngหัวhǔua
When cycling, you should wear a helmet to protect your head.
2NounA2
top; end; tip
The upper, front, or terminal part of something (e.g., หัวเตียง head of a bed; หัวตะปูหัวตะปูhǔua-dtà-bpuunail head nail head).
Examples
หมอนmɔ̌ɔnหมอนmɔ̌ɔnpillowอยู่ที่yùu-tîiอยู่ที่yùu-tîi1[to] be at; be located at2[to] be at (a level/amount)3[to] depend on; be up toหัวhǔuaหัวhǔua1head (body part)2top; end; tip3leader; chief; head4mind; mentality; way of thinking5classifier: head-like items; bulbs; heads of nails/pins6header; title; headline7beginning; initial part8[to] laugh (Isan; archaic in standard Thai)เตียงdtiiangเตียงdtiiang1bed (furniture)2CLF: beds; bed-like platforms3hospital bed/capacity
The pillow is at the head of the bed.
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Be careful when hammering; getting hit by the nail head will hurt.
Water dripping at the top of the stairs makes the floor slippery.
เขาkǎoติดdtìtตะเกียบdtà-gìiapไว้wáiที่tîiหัวhǔuaเตียงdtiiangเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaหยิบใช้yìp-cháiสะดวกsà-dùuakเวลาwee-laaอ่านหนังสือàan-nǎng-sʉ̌ʉ
He kept chopsticks at the head of the bed for convenient use while reading.
3NounB1
leader; chief; head
A person in charge of a group, unit, or department.
Examples
เธอtəəเธอtəə1you (informal; familiar)2she; herเป็นbpenเป็นbpen1to be (identity/category/state)2to become3[to] know how; be able to (skill)4[to] have; suffer from; be in (a condition)หัวhǔuaหัวhǔua1head (body part)2top; end; tip3leader; chief; head4mind; mentality; way of thinking5classifier: head-like items; bulbs; heads of nails/pins6header; title; headline7beginning; initial part8[to] laugh (Isan; archaic in standard Thai)กลุ่มวิทยาศาสตร์glùm-wít-tá-yaa-sàatกลุ่มวิทยาศาสตร์glùm-wít-tá-yaa-sàatscience group/departmentของkɔ̌ɔngของkɔ̌ɔng1of; belonging to2thing; item; stuff3property; goodsห้องhɔ̂ngห้องhɔ̂ng1room2classifier: roomsเราraoเราrao1we; us2I; me (informal/regional)
She is the head of our class’s science group.
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The department head asked the team to submit the plan by Friday.
บริษัทbɔɔ-rí-sàtกำลังหาgam-lang-hǎaหัวhǔuaฝ่ายการตลาดfàai-gaan-dtà-làatที่tîiมีวิสัยทัศน์mii-wí-sǎi-tátเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaขับเคลื่อนkàp-klʉ̂ʉanกลยุทธ์gon-lá-yútใหม่mài
The company is seeking a head of marketing with vision to drive the new strategy.
4NounB1
mind; mentality; way of thinking
Refers to one’s thinking or intellect in set phrases (e.g., หัวดีหัวดีhǔua-diismart; clever smart; หัวแข็งหัวแข็งhǔua-kɛ̌ngstubborn; headstrong; obstinate stubborn).
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillเรียนriianเรียนriian1[to] study; learn2[to] take (a course/subject)3[to] respectfully inform; address (formal)เร็วreoเร็วreo1fast; quick (speed/time)2quickly; fast3early; soonมากmâakมากmâak1very; extremely2much; a lot; greatly3many; numerousคนkonคนkon1person; human2classifier: peopleบอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâaบอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâa1[to] say/tell that; report/declare that2[of text/sign] say/indicate thatเขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillหัวดีhǔua-diiหัวดีhǔua-diismart; clever
He learns very quickly; people say he’s smart.
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แม้mɛ́ɛข้อสอบkɔ̂ɔ-sɔ̀ɔpยากyâakเขาkǎoก็gɔ̂ยังyangทำได้tam-dâaiเพราะprɔ́หัวไวhǔua-waiและlɛ́คิดkítเป็นระบบbpen-rá-bòp
Even though the exam was hard, he could do it because he’s quick-witted and thinks systematically.
She’s stubborn and rarely accepts others’ opinions.
เขาkǎoไม่ใช่mâi-châiคนkonท่องจำtɔ̂ɔng-jamเก่งgèngแต่dtɛ̀ɛหัวดีhǔua-diiด้านdâanวิเคราะห์wí-krɔ́และlɛ́แก้ปัญหาเฉพาะหน้าgɛ̂ɛ-bpan-hǎa-chà-pɔ́-nâa
He isn’t good at rote memorization, but he’s smart at analysis and solving problems on the spot.
5ClassifierB1
classifier: head-like items; bulbs; heads of nails/pins
Classifier for items shaped like a head or bulb (e.g., garlic bulbs, heads of nails or pins); sometimes for people/animals in colloquial or regional use.
Examples
แม่mɛ̂ɛแม่mɛ̂ɛ1mother; mom2form of address for a woman (traditional/familiar)3prefix: female; main; baseซื้อsʉ́ʉซื้อsʉ́ʉ1[to] buy; purchase2[to] bribe; buy offตะปูdtà-bpuuตะปูdtà-bpuunail (metal fastener)มาmaaมาmaa1[to] come; arrive2[to] come to (a state or situation)3past/as of now aspect markerสิบsìpสิบsìp1ten2ten; unit of tenหัวhǔuaหัวhǔua1head (body part)2top; end; tip3leader; chief; head4mind; mentality; way of thinking5classifier: head-like items; bulbs; heads of nails/pins6header; title; headline7beginning; initial part8[to] laugh (Isan; archaic in standard Thai)ไว้wáiไว้wái1[to] keep; save; store2[to] set aside; reserve3for later; in reserve4[to] leave (something) as is5marks retention or maintenance of a state6[to] wear; sport (hair/moustache/etc.)ซ่อมsɔ̂mซ่อมsɔ̂m[to] repair; fixเก้าอี้gâo-îiเก้าอี้gâo-îichair
Mom bought ten nails to fix the chair.
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One head of garlic is enough for this stir-fry.
Uncle said there are twenty heads of chickens in the coop now.
6NounB1
header; title; headline
A heading or title in writing or documents (e.g., หัวข้อหัวข้อhǔua-kɔ̂ɔ1topic; subject2title; heading3item; list entry, หัวเรื่องหัวเรื่องhǔua-rʉ̂ʉangsubject; title; heading).
Examples
เขียนkǐianเขียนkǐian1[to] write2[to] draw; sketch3[to] fill out; write in4[to] compose; author5[to] write (data); burn (a disc)หัวเรื่องhǔua-rʉ̂ʉangหัวเรื่องhǔua-rʉ̂ʉangsubject; title; headingอีเมลii-meenอีเมลii-meen1email; e-mail2[to] email [sb/sth]ให้hâiให้hâi1[to] give; provide2[to] allow; let; permit3[to] have [sb] do; cause to4for (benefit of)5so that; in order to6until; to the point that (result)ชัดเจนchát-jeenชัดเจนchát-jeen1clear; distinct; obvious2explicit; definite; unambiguous; unequivocal3clearly; explicitly; unambiguouslyหน่อยnɔ̀iหน่อยnɔ̀i1a little; a bit2polite softener (request)
Write a clear email subject line.
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รายงานraai-ngaanนี้níiยังyangไม่มีmâi-miiหัวข้อhǔua-kɔ̂ɔของkɔ̌ɔngแต่ละส่วนdtɛ̀ɛ-lá-sùuanช่วยchûuaiเติมdtəəmให้hâiครบkrópด้วยdûuai
This report still lacks section headings; please add them all.
เวลาwee-laaอัปโหลดไฟล์àp-lòot-faiให้hâiใส่sàiหัวเรื่องhǔua-rʉ̂ʉangที่tîiตรงกับdtrong-gàpเนื้อหาnʉ́ʉa-hǎa
When uploading files, include a heading that matches the content.
บทความbòt-kwaamควรkuuanมีmiiหัวข้อhǔua-kɔ̂ɔที่tîiดึงดูดdʉng-dùutและlɛ́สอดคล้องกับsɔ̀ɔt-klɔ́ɔng-gàpประเด็นหลักbprà-den-làkของkɔ̌ɔngเรื่องrʉ̂ʉang
An article should have a compelling heading that aligns with the main point.
7NounB2
beginning; initial part
the beginning or early part of a period or sequence, as in หัวค่ำหัวค่ำhǔua-kâm1in the early evening2early-evening3early evening 'early evening' and หัวปีหัวปีhǔua-bpii1beginning of the year2firstborn 'beginning of the year'
Examples
ช่วยchûuaiช่วยchûuai1[to] help; assist [sb/sth]2please (request marker)3[to] save; rescue [sb]ใส่sàiใส่sài1[to] put in; [to] add2[to] wear; [to] put on3[to] include; [to] insert (data, settings)4[to] attack; [to] go at (colloq.)ชื่อเรื่องchʉ̂ʉ-rʉ̂ʉangชื่อเรื่องchʉ̂ʉ-rʉ̂ʉangtitleไว้wáiไว้wái1[to] keep; save; store2[to] set aside; reserve3for later; in reserve4[to] leave (something) as is5marks retention or maintenance of a state6[to] wear; sport (hair/moustache/etc.)ที่tîiที่tîi1place; spot; seat; space2at; in; to (a place)3classifier: places; seats; individual servings4that/which/who (relative marker)5when; the time that (time marker)6ordinal markerหัวhǔuaหัวhǔua1head (body part)2top; end; tip3leader; chief; head4mind; mentality; way of thinking5classifier: head-like items; bulbs; heads of nails/pins6header; title; headline7beginning; initial part8[to] laugh (Isan; archaic in standard Thai)เอกสารèek-gà-sǎanเอกสารèek-gà-sǎan1document2documentationด้วยdûuaiด้วยdûuai1with; together with2also; too; as well3by; by means of; using4because of; due to5because; since (formal/literary)6request particle; please; tooนะnáนะná1softener; friendly particle2persuasive/confirming particle
Please put the title at the top/start of the document.
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อีเมลii-meenฉบับchà-bàpนี้níiไม่มีmâi-miiหัวเรื่องhǔua-rʉ̂ʉangเลยləəiถูกtùukส่งไปsòng-bpaiอยู่ในyùu-naiสแปมsà-bpɛɛm
This email has no subject line, so it was sent to spam.
ในnaiการเขียนgaan kĭianรายงานraai-ngaanควรkuuanมีmeeหัวhŭuaบทbòtที่ชัดเจนtêe chát jaynเพื่อpêuuaบอกbòkโครงสร้างkrohng sâangของkŏngเนื้อหาnéuua hăa
When writing a report, there should be clear section headings to indicate the structure of the content.
หน้าแรกnâa-rɛ̂ɛkของkɔ̌ɔngข้อเสนองานkɔ̂ɔ-sà-nə̌ə-ngaanควรkuuanมีmiiหัวhǔuaกระดาษgrà-dàatและlɛ́หัวข้อhǔua-kɔ̂ɔที่tîiสะท้อนsà-tɔ́ɔnวัตถุประสงค์wát-tù-bprà-sǒngหลักlàk
The first page of the proposal should have a header and a heading that reflects the main objective.
8VerbB2
[to] laugh (Isan; archaic in standard Thai)
to laugh; used independently in Isan and preserved in standard Thai expressions such as เล่นหัว
Examples
พ่อpɔ̂ɔพ่อpɔ̂ɔ1father; dad2sir; mister (rural/archaic)3prefix: male person; leader; father figureชอบchɔ̂ɔpชอบchɔ̂ɔp1[to] like; be fond of2tend to; usually3be proper; be fitting (formal)เล่นlênเล่นlên1[to] play; have fun2[to] play (game/sport/instrument)3[to] act; perform (role)4casually; for fun (manner marker)5[to] tease; kid; mess with6[to] use; engage in; take up (colloq.)หัวhǔuaหัวhǔua1head (body part)2top; end; tip3leader; chief; head4mind; mentality; way of thinking5classifier: head-like items; bulbs; heads of nails/pins6header; title; headline7beginning; initial part8[to] laugh (Isan; archaic in standard Thai)กับgàpกับgàp1with; together with2and (informal)3side dish; accompaniment4against; versus5to; toward (recipient/target)6classifier: sets/pairs (spoon and fork)ลูกlûukลูกlûuk1child; son; daughter2offspring (of animals); young3ball; spherical object4fruit5classifier: fruits, balls, and certain other objectsหลังlǎngหลังlǎng1back (of body)2rear; back (part)3behind; at the back of4after; later than5CL: building; house; structureอาหารเย็นaa-hǎan-yenอาหารเย็นaa-hǎan-yendinner; supper; evening mealทำให้tam-hâiทำให้tam-hâi1[to] make; cause [sb/sth] to [do/be sth]; render2[to] do/make [sth] for [sb]บ้านbâanบ้านbâan1house; home2home (family unit)3village; hometown4classifier: หลังมีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoเสียงหัวเราะsǐiang-hǔua-rɔ́เสียงหัวเราะsǐiang-hǔua-rɔ́laughter; laughing soundทุกวันtúk-wanทุกวันtúk-wan1every day; daily2daily; occurring every day
Dad likes joking around with the children after dinner, filling the house with laughter every day.
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ตอนdtɔɔnพักpákเราraoเล่นlênหัวhǔuaกันganได้dâaiแต่dtɛ̀ɛตอนdtɔɔnทำงานtam-ngaanต้องdtɔ̂ngตั้งใจdtâng-jai
We can joke around during breaks, but we need to concentrate while working.
แม้mɛ́ɛเขาkǎoจะjàชอบchɔ̂ɔpเล่นlênหัวhǔuaกับgàpเพื่อนร่วมงานpʉ̂ʉan-rûuam-ngaanแต่dtɛ̀ɛเมื่อmʉ̂ʉaถึงเวลาtʉ̌ng-wee-laaประชุมbprà-chumเขาkǎoก็gɔ̂จริงจังjing-jangกับgàpทุกtúkประเด็นbprà-den
Although he likes joking around with his colleagues, he takes every issue seriously when it's time for a meeting.
การเล่นgaan-lênหัวhǔuaกับgàpคนkonที่tîiเพิ่งpə̂ngรู้จักrúu-jàkอาจàatทำให้tam-hâiอีกฝ่ายìik-fàaiอึดอัดʉ̀t-àtได้dâaiหากhàakยังyangไม่mâiรู้rúuว่าwâaเขาkǎoยอมรับyɔɔm-rápการหยอกล้อgaan-yɔ̀ɔk-lɔ́ɔได้dâaiแค่ไหนkɛ̂ɛ-nǎi
Joking around with someone you've just met can make them uncomfortable if you don't yet know how much teasing they are comfortable with.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableA long vowel with no final consonant, so it is live.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Rising tone
hǔua
Dips low first, then rises clearly.
High class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Rising
Tone chart
Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.
| Mid class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |