โสเภณี
prostitute
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 prostitute
This word refers to someone who has sex for payment, usually a woman.
prostitute
A noun for a person who engages in sex for payment. It usually refers to a woman, but can also describe a man.
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โสเภณีมักถูกตีตราจากสังคม sǒopheenii mák thùuk tiitraa càak sǎŋkhom Prostitutes are often stigmatized by society. โสเภณีมักถูกตีตราจากสังคม details
Learning notes
Explanation
The word names a person. The activity of prostitution is การค้าประเวณี. เป็นโสเภณี means “to be a prostitute” or “to work as a prostitute.” โสเภณีชาย explicitly refers to a male prostitute. The classifier is คน, as in โสเภณีสองคน, “two prostitutes.”
Usage
You may encounter it in news about prostitution, discussions of social or legal issues, and descriptions of characters in fiction. In everyday conversation, it can also be used as an insult.
Caution
Using this word to address someone or criticize their sexual behavior can be deeply insulting. The word itself does not establish whether the person is working voluntarily or being coerced.
Differences from similar words
1 prostitute synonyms
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When used about a person, this is a vulgar term comparable to “whore” and is often an insult. โสเภณี is a standard term found in reporting and explanatory writing, though it can still be offensive when applied to someone.
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This means “sex worker” or “provider of sexual services” and is generally a more neutral, respectful term. It can cover a wider range of work, whereas โสเภณี specifically refers to a prostitute and may carry stigma.