winter
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 winter、cold season
An everyday word for the coldest part of the year. It corresponds to “winter,” though in Thailand it often means a relatively cool or cold season rather than a severely cold winter.
winter、cold season
The season when temperatures are at their lowest, commonly referred to as winter or the cold season.
-
หน้าหนาวนี้อยากไปเชียงใหม่ nâa nǎaw níi yàak pay chiaŋ mày I want to go to Chiang Mai this winter. หน้าหนาวนี้อยากไปเชียงใหม่ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The word is formed from หน้า, meaning “season” in this compound, and หนาว, meaning “cold.” Similar seasonal terms include หน้าร้อน, “the hot season,” and หน้าฝน, “the rainy season.” In Thailand, หน้าหนาว is the part of the year with the lowest temperatures. Depending on the region, it may be pleasantly cool rather than truly cold. Common patterns include หน้าหนาวนี้ (“this winter”), ช่วงหน้าหนาว (“during the cold season”), and เข้าหน้าหนาว (“enter the cold season”).
Usage
It is common in everyday conversations about favorite seasons, temperatures, clothing, and travel plans. It is especially frequent when discussing cool-season trips to northern Thailand or comparing winter weather across regions.
Caution
หนาว by itself describes being or feeling cold, while หน้าหนาว is a noun naming a season. To say “It is cold today,” use วันนี้หนาว or วันนี้อากาศหนาว, not วันนี้หน้าหนาว. Also, Thailand’s หน้าหนาว does not necessarily match the timing or severity of winter in four-season climates.