ทารก

Explanation

ทารก is a noun of Pali/Sanskrit origin meaning “infant” or “baby.” It can be used in ordinary conversation, but its tone is objective rather than affectionate. It is especially common in medical information, news reports, legal or administrative writing, childcare guidance, and product descriptions. By itself, it normally refers to a baby after birth. ทารกแรกเกิด means “newborn,” while ทารกในครรภ์ refers to a baby in the womb, or a fetus. Because it refers to a person, its usual classifier is คน, as in ทารกหนึ่งคน, “one infant.”

Usage

Common in discussions of infant health, nutrition, development, and childcare, as well as in hospitals, government materials, and news reports. In affectionate family conversation, speakers may use ลูก or เด็กอ่อน instead, depending on the context.

Caution

ทารก is not limited to the moment immediately after birth. Use ทารกแรกเกิด specifically for a newborn and ทารกในครรภ์ for a fetus. It is also not normally used as an affectionate form of address to a baby.

1 infant synonyms

• ลูก

  lûuk child

  ลูก means someone’s child and is often used affectionately for a baby in family conversation. ทารก does not express a family relationship; it objectively identifies the child as an infant.

• เด็กอ่อน

  เด็กอ่อน also means a young baby and sounds relatively everyday and descriptive. ทารก is more objective and is especially common in medical, administrative, and childcare contexts.