อ้า
open wide
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 open wide、spread apart
This word mainly describes opening something wide or spreading it apart, especially the mouth or arms. It can also represent an “uh…” or “ah…” sound made while thinking or searching for words.
open wide、spread apart
Describes opening something wide or spreading it apart, particularly a body part such as the mouth or arms.
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อ้าปากกว้าง ๆ âa pàak kwâaŋ kwâaŋ Open your mouth wide. อ้าปากกว้าง ๆ details
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อ้าแขนต้อนรับ âa khɛ̌ɛn tɔ̂ɔn ráp welcome with open arms อ้าแขนต้อนรับ details
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อ้าแขนอ้าขา âa khɛ̌ɛn âa khǎa spread one’s arms and legs wide อ้าแขนอ้าขา details
Learning notes
Explanation
As a verb, อ้า conveys more than simply opening something: it evokes a wide opening or a spreading-apart movement. อ้าปาก, “open one’s mouth wide,” is its most representative use. อ้าแขน can describe physically spreading one’s arms. In expressions such as อ้าแขนต้อนรับ, “welcome with open arms,” it also conveys willing or enthusiastic acceptance. As an interjection, อ้า represents a drawn-out vocal sound. It does not express one fixed emotion; hesitation, contemplation, pleading, or consolation may be understood from the context and tone.
Usage
As a verb, it is common when asking someone to open their mouth during an examination, describing a person or animal opening its mouth wide, reacting with an open mouth, or spreading one’s arms to greet someone. As an interjection, it occurs in informal conversation when the speaker pauses to think, hesitates, or struggles to find the right words.
Caution
Use เปิด, not อ้า, for ordinarily opening a door, window, or box. อ้า is best suited to something opening wide or spreading apart, particularly a body part. อ้าขา, “spread one’s legs,” can sound explicit or sexual in some contexts. To clearly express “Oh, I see,” อ๋อ is generally more natural and less ambiguous.
Differences from similar words
1 open wide synonyms
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เปิด is the general verb for opening doors, containers, and many other things, and can also mean turning on a device. อ้า focuses on opening wide or spreading apart, especially a body part.
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แบะ often suggests pulling, parting, or turning out the lips or another soft opening. อ้า is the more neutral word for opening the mouth or a similar part wide.