พยาบาล
nurse
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 nurse
- 2 nurse (a sick or injured person)、tend to (a patient)
This word refers to professionally caring for sick or injured people, or to a nurse who provides that care. In modern Thai, it is most commonly used as the noun “nurse.”
nurse
A healthcare professional who cares for patients and assists with their treatment. The term is gender-neutral.
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เรียกพยาบาลให้หน่อย rîak phayaabaan hây nɔ̀ɔy Please call a nurse. เรียกพยาบาลให้หน่อย details
nurse (a sick or injured person)、tend to (a patient)
To tend to a sick or injured person by monitoring them and providing the care needed for recovery. It specifically suggests nursing or medical care.
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หมอกำลังพยาบาลคนป่วย mɔ̌ɔ kamlaŋ phayaabaan khon pùay The doctor is treating a patient. หมอกำลังพยาบาลคนป่วย details
Learning notes
Explanation
In modern Thai, พยาบาล most often means “nurse” when used on its own. It is gender-neutral. พยาบาลชาย can specify a male nurse, while พยาบาลหญิง specifies a female nurse. Nurses are counted with คน, the usual classifier for people. For example, พยาบาลหนึ่งคน means “one nurse.” As a verb, พยาบาล means to nurse or tend to a sick or injured person. The nominalized form การพยาบาล is commonly used for “nursing” or “nursing care.” โรงพยาบาล is the word for “hospital.” พยาบาล by itself does not mean “hospital.”
Usage
It is commonly used in hospitals, clinics, emergency care, and conversations about healthcare staff. Typical expressions include เป็นพยาบาล, “to be a nurse,” and เรียกพยาบาล, “call a nurse.” The verb is used when discussing nursing care, including caring for a sick family member over time, and is also common in medical or caregiving contexts.
Caution
Do not confuse พยาบาล “nurse” with หมอ “doctor.” For general-purpose “take care of” or “look after,” use ดูแล. The verb พยาบาล is normally limited to nursing someone who is sick or injured.
Differences from similar words
1 nurse synonyms
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นางพยาบาล specifically refers to a female nurse. พยาบาล is the standard gender-neutral term and can refer to a nurse of any gender.
2 nurse (a sick or injured person) synonyms
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ดูแล is a broad verb meaning “look after” or “take care of” and can be used for people, homes, or responsibilities. พยาบาล specifically means caring for someone who is sick or injured.
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รักษา focuses on medically treating or curing an illness, often in connection with a doctor’s work. พยาบาล focuses on nursing and tending to the patient.