นก
bird
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 bird
- 2 miss out [slang]、fail to get what one wanted [slang]、be rejected [slang]
This word primarily means “bird.” In casual conversation and on social media, it can also mean failing to get something you wanted or being unsuccessful.
bird
A general, everyday noun for a bird of any kind.
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นกบินอยู่บนท้องฟ้า nók bin yùu bon thɔ́ɔŋ fáa A bird is flying in the sky. นกบินอยู่บนท้องฟ้า details
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ฉันเห็นนกสองตัว chǎn hěn nók sɔ̌ɔŋ tua I saw two birds. ฉันเห็นนกสองตัว details
miss out [slang]、fail to get what one wanted [slang]、be rejected [slang]
Casually describes missing out on something, being rejected, or otherwise failing to get the result you hoped for.
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นกตั๋วคอนเสิร์ต nók tǔa khɔɔnsə̀ət Fail to get a concert ticket. นกตั๋วคอนเสิร์ต details
Learning notes
Explanation
The basic meaning is “bird.” It also appears at the beginning of many bird names, such as นกแก้ว (“parrot” or “parakeet”). Birds are normally counted with ตัว, the common classifier for animals. For example, นกสองตัว means “two birds.” A flock of birds can be called ฝูงนก. In modern casual speech, นก can function like a verb meaning to miss out, be rejected, or fail to get something one hoped for. It often carries a playful or self-deprecating tone, especially when talking about tickets, prize drawings, shopping, or romance.
Usage
The basic noun is used in everyday situations involving wild birds, pets, bird species, and bird sounds. The slang use is common among friends and on social media when someone fails to get tickets, loses out in a drawing, misses a limited product, or is unsuccessful in romance.
Caution
The slang use of นก is highly informal and is not suitable for formal writing, business reports, or serious failures. In those contexts, พลาด (“miss” or “make a mistake”) or ไม่สำเร็จ (“not succeed”) is clearer. When counting birds, use the animal classifier ตัว.
Differences from similar words
2 miss out [slang] synonyms
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พลาด is the general word for missing something or making a mistake and can be used in a much wider range of situations. นก is playful slang, often used when someone misses out on tickets, a desired item, a romantic opportunity, or a similar hoped-for result.