หอ
dorm
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 dorm、student accommodation
- 2 tower、hall、building (for a specific purpose)
- 3 newlyweds' home、bridal chamber
This word refers to a building with a particular purpose or to a tower. In everyday conversation, it often means a dorm or student accommodation.
dorm、student accommodation
A common conversational term for a dorm or rented student accommodation.
-
จากหอไปมหาวิทยาลัยใช้เวลาเพียงสิบนาที càak hɔ̌ɔ pay mahǎawítthayaalay cháy weelaa phiaŋ sìp naathii It takes only ten minutes to get from the dorm to the university. จากหอไปมหาวิทยาลัยใช้เวลาเพียงสิบนาที details
tower、hall、building (for a specific purpose)
A building devoted to a particular function, including a hall or tower. It usually forms part of a compound naming that function.
-
เจอกันหน้าหอประชุม cəə kan nâa hɔ̌ɔprachum Let's meet in front of the auditorium. เจอกันหน้าหอประชุม details
-
หอนาฬิกาอยู่กลางเมือง hɔ̌ɔnaalíkaa yùu klaaŋ mʉaŋ The clock tower is in the center of town. หอนาฬิกาอยู่กลางเมือง details
newlyweds' home、bridal chamber
In wedding-related expressions, it refers to a home or room prepared for newlyweds.
-
พิธีส่งตัวเข้าหอ phíthii sòŋ tua khâw hɔ̌ɔ the ceremony of escorting the newlyweds to their bridal chamber พิธีส่งตัวเข้าหอ details
Learning notes
Explanation
In expressions such as อยู่หอ (live in a dorm) and กลับหอ (go back to the dorm), หอ is short for หอพัก. It can refer to privately run student accommodation as well as university dorms. In building names, the following word identifies the function: หอนาฬิกา is a clock tower, and หอประชุม is an auditorium. Height is not essential, as words such as หอสมุด (library) show. The newlywed-related meaning is most useful to learn through expressions such as เรือนหอ, ห้องหอ, and เข้าหอ, which occur in wedding contexts.
Usage
Students often use it when discussing where they live or heading home. It also appears in facility names and signs around campuses and towns. In wedding contexts, it occurs in expressions about the couple's home or wedding rituals.
Caution
Do not use หอ as a general translation of “castle” or “high-rise.” Outside the accommodation sense, learning it as part of established compounds will help you use it naturally.
Differences from similar words
1 dorm synonyms
-
หอพัก is the full term and works in both conversation and written information. หอ is the shortened form commonly used when the context is accommodation.
2 tower synonyms
-
ตึก commonly refers to substantial buildings, such as office or apartment buildings. หอ identifies a tower or a facility with a specific function; it is not a general term for tall buildings.
-
อาคาร is a general word for a building, regardless of its height or purpose. หอ appears in names for towers and buildings with particular functions.