เกาะ
island
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 island
- 2 hold on to、cling to、perch on
- 3 adhere to、stick to
As a noun, เกาะ means an island. As a verb, it describes holding on to something or remaining attached to a surface—the shared image is staying in contact without coming away.
island
An area of land entirely surrounded by water. It is also placed before the proper name of an island.
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ไปเที่ยวเกาะ pay thîaw kɔ̀ go on a trip to an island ไปเที่ยวเกาะ details
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เกาะสมุย kɔ̀ samǔy Koh Samui เกาะสมุย details
hold on to、cling to、perch on
To hold on to something for support or to avoid falling or becoming separated. It can also describe a bird perching on something.
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เกาะราวไว้ kɔ̀ raaw wáy Hold on to the railing. เกาะราวไว้ details
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เด็กเกาะแขนแม่ dèk kɔ̀ khɛ̌ɛn mɛ̂ɛ The child is clinging to their mother's arm. เด็กเกาะแขนแม่ details
adhere to、stick to
To be attached to or remain stuck on a surface, as with dust, dirt, food, or similar substances.
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ฝุ่นเกาะโต๊ะ fùn kɔ̀ tó Dust has settled on the table. ฝุ่นเกาะโต๊ะ details
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หิมะเกาะหลังคา hìmá kɔ̀ lǎŋkhaa Snow is clinging to the roof. หิมะเกาะหลังคา details
Learning notes
Explanation
As a noun, เกาะ means “island.” In island names, it normally comes before the proper name, as in เกาะสมุย (Koh Samui). When counting islands, เกาะ itself can serve as the classifier, as in เกาะสามเกาะ. แห่ง is also used when islands are treated as geographic places. The verb senses share the image of remaining in contact with something. A person can เกาะ a railing by holding on to it, a bird can เกาะ a branch by perching on it, and dust can เกาะ a table by adhering to its surface. This image also appears in common figurative expressions. เกาะติดสถานการณ์ means to follow a situation closely, while เกาะกระแส means to ride or capitalize on a trend. These expressions are best learned as complete units.
Usage
It is common in travel and geography when discussing island names, transportation to islands, and seaside tourism. In everyday situations, it is used when a child clings to a parent, someone holds on to a railing, or a bird perches on a branch. It also describes dust, snow, food, and similar material sticking to a surface. News and social media often use figurative expressions such as เกาะติด and เกาะกระแส.
Caution
Despite translations such as “hold” or “catch” in some dictionaries, เกาะ is not normally used for catching or arresting a person; จับ is the usual verb for that. It also generally describes something remaining attached rather than the deliberate act of installing or fastening an object. Expressions such as เกาะกิน can sound strongly critical because they portray someone as living parasitically off others.
Differences from similar words
2 hold on to synonyms
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จับ broadly means to take hold of or catch something. เกาะ emphasizes holding on and remaining attached, often for physical support.
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ยึด means to secure or hold something firmly and can also mean to seize or confiscate it. เกาะ is commonly used for a person or animal physically holding on to something.
3 adhere to synonyms
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ติด is a much broader verb meaning to be attached, install, be caught in traffic, or become hooked on something. เกาะ more specifically evokes something adhering to and remaining on a surface.