เป็นหวัด
have a cold
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 have a cold、catch a cold
This common expression means to have or come down with a cold. It focuses mainly on being in the state of having a cold.
have a cold、catch a cold
Describes having a common cold and, depending on context, can also indicate coming down with one.
-
ช่วงนี้เป็นหวัดบ่อย chûaŋ níi pen wàt bɔ̀y I've been catching colds often lately. ช่วงนี้เป็นหวัดบ่อย details
Learning notes
Explanation
The expression combines เป็น, which can describe being or entering a state, with หวัด, “a cold.” It is best learned as the fixed everyday expression “to have a cold.” The basic pattern is subject + เป็นหวัด. The Thai phrase primarily describes the state of having a cold, though context may give it the sense of coming down with one. Adding แล้ว, as in เป็นหวัดแล้ว, clearly signals a change into that state: “has come down with a cold.”
Usage
Use it when telling someone that you have cold symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, or a sore throat. It is natural in everyday conversation, when explaining an absence from school or work, and when briefly describing your condition at a pharmacy or clinic.
Caution
This refers to a common cold. Do not confuse it with มีไข้, “to have a fever,” or เป็นไข้หวัดใหญ่, “to have influenza.” Also, หนาว means “to be or feel cold” and does not mean “to have a cold.”
Differences from similar words
1 have a cold synonyms
-
เป็นไข้หวัด has the same basic meaning but uses the fuller noun ไข้หวัด, “a cold.” In everyday conversation, the shorter เป็นหวัด is extremely common.