ปู
crab
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 crab
- 2 lay out、spread over (a surface)、pave or tile
- 3 pave the way、lay a foundation
As a noun, ปู means “crab.” As a verb, it describes laying or spreading something across a surface and can figuratively mean preparing a path or foundation for what comes next.
crab
It refers to a crab, including crab used as food.
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ปูผัดผงกะหรี่ puu phàt phǒŋ karìi stir-fried crab with curry powder ปูผัดผงกะหรี่ details
lay out、spread over (a surface)、pave or tile
It means to lay, spread, or arrange a flat material so that it covers a surface.
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ปูเสื่อบนพื้น puu sʉ̀a bon phʉ́ʉn Lay a mat on the floor. ปูเสื่อบนพื้น details
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ปูกระเบื้อง puu krabʉ̂aŋ Lay tiles. ปูกระเบื้อง details
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ห้องนี้ปูพรม hɔ̂ŋ níi puu phrom This room is carpeted. ห้องนี้ปูพรม details
pave the way、lay a foundation
Figuratively, it means creating a path or foundation that makes later progress possible.
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ปูทางไปสู่ความสำเร็จ puu thaaŋ pay sùu khwaam sǎmrèt Pave the way for success. ปูทางไปสู่ความสำเร็จ details
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ปูพื้นฐานภาษาไทย puu phʉ́ʉn thǎan phaasǎa thay Build a foundation in Thai. ปูพื้นฐานภาษาไทย details
Learning notes
Explanation
ปู has two distinct core meanings: “crab” and “to lay or spread something over a surface.” As a verb, it is used with flat materials such as เสื่อ (mats), พรม (carpets), and กระเบื้อง (tiles). A common pattern is ปู + material + place, as in ปูเสื่อบนพื้น, “lay a mat on the floor.” The image of preparing or covering a surface also produces figurative expressions such as ปูทาง, “pave the way,” and ปูพื้นฐาน, “lay a foundation.” Crabs are normally counted with the classifier ตัว. ปู is also a common Thai nickname; in that context, it is treated as the name “Puu,” not translated as “crab.”
Usage
It is used to mean “crab” when discussing food, markets, seafood, or marine animals. As a verb, it appears in everyday contexts such as laying out a mat or bedding and in construction or interior work involving carpets and tiles. In education, work, and planning, ปูพื้นฐาน and ปูทาง describe building foundations or preparing the way for a future result.
Caution
Do not confuse ปู, “crab” or “lay,” with ปู่, “paternal grandfather”; they differ in both spelling and tone. As a verb, ปู is used for laying a relatively flat material across a surface, not for simply placing or installing any object. Its figurative meaning occurs most naturally in established combinations such as ปูทาง and ปูพื้นฐาน.