แมลง
insect
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 insect、bug
This is the general word for insects, including ants, mosquitoes, and butterflies.
insect、bug
It refers to insects in general, whether they are household bugs or insects observed in nature.
Learning notes
Explanation
This is a neutral noun used in both everyday conversation and science. It covers harmless insects as well as pests; the word itself does not imply that an insect is harmful. Use the classifier ตัว when counting: แมลงหนึ่งตัว means “one insect,” and แมลงตัวนี้ means “this insect.” แมลง has the same form in the singular and plural.
Usage
Use it when spotting bugs indoors or outdoors, discussing a fear of insects, or observing insects in nature. It also appears in conversations about pest control, farming, and edible insects.
Caution
The English word “bug” can be broader than แมลง. In biological usage, spiders, scorpions, and earthworms are not แมลง. Insects do not necessarily have wings.
Differences from similar words
1 insect synonyms
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แมง occurs in animal names such as แมงมุม (spider), and can also mean an insect in some regional or informal speech. แมลง is the standard general word for insects. The two forms are not freely interchangeable in animal names.