งู
snake
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- 1 snake
This is the everyday word for a snake, regardless of its species or whether it is venomous.
snake
It refers to any snake, without specifying a particular species.
Learning notes
Explanation
งู is a neutral, everyday animal name used in both speech and writing. The classifier is ตัว: งูสองตัว means “two snakes,” and งูตัวนี้ means “this snake.” A venomous snake is งูมีพิษ, and a nonvenomous snake is งูไม่มีพิษ. The word งู alone does not indicate whether a snake is venomous.
Usage
Use it when spotting a snake outdoors, discussing animals, or talking about fears. ระวังงู! means “Watch out for snakes!”
Caution
The idiom งู ๆ ปลา ๆ describes rudimentary knowledge or limited skill, such as speaking only a little of a language. This meaning belongs to the whole expression, not to งู on its own.