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Thai

หย่า

Pronunciation

yàa

หย่า

yàa

divorce

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  1. 1 divorce、get divorced
  2. 2 be weaned、wean (a child)

This word mainly means to end a marriage through divorce. In the common expression หย่านม, it refers to a child being weaned or to weaning a child.

1

divorce、get divorced

Verb⭐️3 Common

Describes formally ending the marital relationship between two people. It is used in both everyday conversation and legal or administrative contexts.

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2

be weaned、wean (a child)

Verb⭐️2 Not often used

In the fixed expression หย่านม, describes a child stopping breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, or an adult weaning the child.

Learning notes

Explanation

The central meaning of หย่า is “to divorce.” Common patterns include หย่ากัน for two people divorcing each other, หย่ากับ followed by the person someone divorces, and ขอหย่า for asking for a divorce. In legal and administrative contexts, expressions such as จดทะเบียนหย่า “officially register a divorce” and ฟ้องหย่า “file for divorce through the courts” are common. Some dictionaries also list an older sense meaning “stop” or “give up,” but learners are unlikely to encounter or use หย่า alone this way in ordinary modern Thai. The expression หย่านม, meaning “be weaned” or “wean a child,” remains common and is best learned as a set expression.

Usage

It is commonly used when discussing marriage, family relationships, divorce decisions, and legal or administrative divorce procedures. หย่านม is used in conversations about feeding, parenting, and a child’s development.

Caution

For an unmarried couple breaking up, เลิกกัน is normally used. หย่า generally applies only to married people. Also, แยกกันอยู่ means “live separately” and does not necessarily imply divorce. Do not confuse หย่า with อย่า, which means “don’t” and begins with a different consonant.

Differences from similar words

1 divorce synonyms

  • เลิกกัน is an everyday expression for a couple breaking up and can be used whether or not they are married. หย่า specifically means ending a marriage.

  • แยกทาง literally suggests going separate ways and can describe the end of a romantic or working relationship. หย่า refers specifically to divorce.

Component words

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