เล็ก
small
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 small、little、small-sized
- 2 young、younger、youngest
This word describes something as not large relative to a standard or comparison. It can refer to physical size, young age or junior status, and limited scale or importance.
small、little、small-sized
Describes a person, animal, or object as physically small compared with a standard, expectation, or alternative.
young、younger、youngest
Describes someone as young, younger, or the youngest within a family or other group.
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เด็กเล็ก dèk lék a young child เด็กเล็ก details
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ตอนเล็กๆ ฉันอยู่เชียงใหม่ tɔɔn lék lék chǎn yùu chiaŋmày When I was little, I lived in Chiang Mai. ตอนเล็กๆ ฉันอยู่เชียงใหม่ details
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ลูกคนเล็ก lûuk khon lék the youngest child ลูกคนเล็ก details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central idea of เล็ก is that something is not large relative to a standard or comparison. Its opposite is ใหญ่, “big” or “large.” When เล็ก modifies a noun, it normally follows that noun: บ้านเล็ก means “a small house.” It can also serve directly as the predicate, as in บ้านนี้เล็ก, “This house is small.” The repeated form เล็กๆ can give a softer sense such as “little,” “small and cozy,” or “minor.” เล็ก is also a common Thai nickname, but that is a name rather than an additional adjectival meaning.
Usage
เล็ก is extremely common in everyday Thai. It is used when choosing a size while shopping, describing the dimensions of houses, rooms, clothes, or writing, talking about young children or the youngest sibling, and describing a small business or organization. It also appears in expressions such as เรื่องเล็ก for a matter that is not serious.
Caution
เล็ก does not cover every idea associated with “small” in English. Use น้อย for a small quantity or few items, เตี้ย for a short person or low object, and แคบ for something narrow or cramped. Calling another person's concern เรื่องเล็ก can sound dismissive because it suggests that the issue is minor or no big deal.
Differences from similar words
1 small synonyms
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จิ๋ว emphasizes that something is tiny or miniature. เล็ก is the neutral, general word for “small.”
2 young synonyms
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อ่อน can mean young but may also suggest inexperience or immaturity. เล็ก focuses on being little, younger, or the youngest in a group.
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เยาว์ is a literary or formal word meaning young. เล็ก is natural in everyday speech when discussing childhood or relative age within a family.