ปากกาลูกลื่น
ballpoint pen
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 ballpoint pen
It refers to a ballpoint pen that writes by rolling a tiny ball at its tip to transfer ink onto a surface.
ballpoint pen
A writing instrument that uses a tiny rotating ball at the tip to apply ink from a refill.
Learning notes
Explanation
The word combines ปากกา, “pen,” with ลูกลื่น, a term associated with the rolling ball mechanism. It describes how the tiny ball at the tip rotates and transfers ink to paper. This is a neutral, standard term used in everyday conversation, schools, offices, and stationery stores. Colors follow the noun, as in ปากกาลูกลื่นสีน้ำเงิน, “blue ballpoint pen.” The usual classifier is ด้าม. For example, ปากกาลูกลื่นสองด้าม means “two ballpoint pens.” When the exact type of pen is already clear, speakers often shorten it to ปากกา, the general word for “pen.”
Usage
It is commonly used when filling out forms, writing at school or work, borrowing a pen, or shopping for stationery. Use it when you need to specify a ballpoint rather than a pencil, fountain pen, marker, or another writing instrument.
Caution
ปากกา is the broader word for pens in general, while ปากกาลูกลื่น specifically means a ballpoint pen. To specify a gel-ink pen, normally use ปากกาเจล, “gel pen.”