แล้ง
dry from lack of rain
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 dry from lack of rain、drought-stricken、drought
This word describes a prolonged lack of rain or water and can also refer figuratively to a lack of something essential, especially compassion.
dry from lack of rain、drought-stricken、drought
Describes land, weather, or a period affected by too little rain; depending on context, it may be translated as “drought.”
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ปีนี้แล้งมาก pii níi lɛ́ɛŋ mâak There has been very little rain this year. ปีนี้แล้งมาก details
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หน้าแล้ง nâa lɛ́ɛŋ the dry season หน้าแล้ง details
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ฝนแล้งทำให้ชาวนาเดือดร้อน fǒn lɛ́ɛŋ tham hây chaaw naa dʉ̀at rɔ́ɔn The drought is causing hardship for farmers. ฝนแล้งทำให้ชาวนาเดือดร้อน details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core image is of something being deprived of the rain or water it needs and becoming parched. With weather and land, แล้ง describes drought conditions, as in ปีนี้แล้งมาก, “There has been very little rain this year.” In expressions such as ภัยแล้ง, it naturally corresponds to the noun “drought.” The same image extends figuratively to something essential being absent. The most common example is แล้งน้ำใจ, describing someone who lacks compassion or willingness to help others.
Usage
It is common in discussions of weather, farming, and water shortages. หน้าแล้ง is the everyday term for the dry season, while ภัยแล้ง is frequent in news reports and official information about droughts. Figuratively, แล้งน้ำใจ is used to criticize someone for showing little compassion or refusing to help a person in need.
Caution
Use แห้ง, not แล้ง, for ordinary physical dryness such as dry clothes, skin, or surfaces. For “uncaring,” the full expression แล้งน้ำใจ is more natural than แล้ง alone and can sound strongly critical when directed at someone.
Differences from similar words
1 dry from lack of rain synonyms
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แห้ง is the general word for something being dry, such as clothes or a surface. แล้ง usually refers to a prolonged shortage of rain or water.