mobile phone; cell phone
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 mobile phone; cell phone
A phone that can be carried and used for calls and communication. It is a general term covering both basic cell phones and smartphones.
mobile phone; cell phone
A portable telephone, including both traditional cell phones and modern smartphones.
Learning notes
Explanation
โทรศัพท์มือถือ combines โทรศัพท์ (“telephone”) with มือถือ (“handheld” or “portable”), giving the overall meaning “mobile phone.” It is a neutral and explicit term. In everyday conversation, it is very often shortened to มือถือ. The usual classifier for the device is เครื่อง. For example, โทรศัพท์มือถือหนึ่งเครื่อง means “one mobile phone.”
Usage
It is widely used when talking about using, buying, charging, or losing a cell phone, as well as when giving a mobile number. The full form is common in conversation, product information, forms, and public notices.
Caution
โทรศัพท์ by itself can refer to telephones in general, including landlines. Also, ปิดโทรศัพท์มือถือ normally means to turn the phone off; to silence only its sound, use an expression such as ปิดเสียงโทรศัพท์มือถือ.
Differences from similar words
1 mobile phone; cell phone synonyms
-
สมาร์ตโฟน specifically means a smartphone with apps and internet functions. โทรศัพท์มือถือ is broader and can also refer to a basic or older-style cell phone.