เหล้า
alcoholic drink
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 alcoholic drink、alcohol
- 2 liquor、spirits
This is an everyday word for alcoholic drinks. In contexts where it is contrasted with beer or wine, it often refers more specifically to liquor or spirits.
alcoholic drink、alcohol
Refers broadly to alcoholic drinks, especially when talking about drinking as an activity or habit.
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เขาไม่ดื่มเหล้า khǎw mây dʉ̀ʉm lâw He does not drink alcohol. เขาไม่ดื่มเหล้า details
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เลิกเหล้า lə̂ək lâw quit drinking เลิกเหล้า details
liquor、spirits
When distinguished from beer or wine, refers to distilled alcoholic drinks such as whisky or rum.
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เอาเบียร์หรือเหล้า? aw bia rʉ̌ʉ lâw Would you like beer or liquor? เอาเบียร์หรือเหล้า? details
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เขาชอบดื่มเหล้ากับโซดา khǎw chɔ̂ɔp dʉ̀ʉm lâw kàp soodaa He likes drinking liquor with soda. เขาชอบดื่มเหล้ากับโซดา details
Learning notes
Explanation
เหล้า is an ordinary everyday noun for alcohol or alcoholic drinks. ดื่มเหล้า (“drink เหล้า”) commonly means to drink alcohol in general, without specifying a particular beverage. In a choice or comparison involving เบียร์ (beer) or ไวน์ (wine), however, เหล้า usually narrows to distilled liquor such as whisky or rum. Use ขวด for bottles and แก้ว for glasses: เหล้าหนึ่งขวด means “one bottle of liquor,” while เหล้าหนึ่งแก้ว means “one glass of liquor.”
Usage
It is common when offering drinks at meals or parties and when discussing drinking habits, amounts, or experiences. It is also widely used in conversations about health, drunk driving, alcohol sales, and other alcohol-related issues.
Caution
ติดเหล้า is a strong expression meaning alcohol dependence, not merely enjoying a drink. Also, use แอลกอฮอล์ for alcohol as a chemical substance or rubbing alcohol; เหล้า refers to alcohol intended for drinking.
Differences from similar words
1 alcoholic drink synonyms
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สุรา also means alcoholic drink, but it is more formal and is common in legal, official, or written contexts. เหล้า is the usual everyday term.
2 liquor synonyms
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วิสกี้ refers specifically to whisky. เหล้า can cover whisky and other kinds of distilled liquor, depending on context.