หมึก
ink
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 ink
- 2 squid、cephalopod (including octopus in some names)
This word mainly refers either to ink used for writing and printing or to squid and related sea animals. The intended meaning is usually clear from context.
ink
A colored substance used for writing or printing, including ink and traditional writing ink.
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เติมหมึก təəm mʉ̀k Refill the ink. เติมหมึก details
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หมึกพิมพ์หมดแล้ว mʉ̀k phim mòt lɛ́ɛw The printer is out of ink. หมึกพิมพ์หมดแล้ว details
squid、cephalopod (including octopus in some names)
A shortened form of ปลาหมึก, commonly referring to squid, especially in food and market contexts. In some animal names, it also covers related cephalopods such as octopus.
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หมึกสดกิโลละเท่าไร mʉ̀k sòt kìloo lá thâw ray How much is fresh squid per kilogram? หมึกสดกิโลละเท่าไร details
Learning notes
Explanation
หมึก has two important everyday meanings. In contexts involving pens, stationery, printing, or printers, it means “ink.” น้ำหมึก can be used when the liquid nature of the ink needs to be made explicit. In markets, restaurants, street-food stalls, and cooking contexts, หมึก is a shortened form of ปลาหมึก and usually means “squid.” The shortened form is especially common in dish names, such as หมึกย่าง, “grilled squid.” The term is not limited strictly to squid: for example, หมึกยักษ์ means “octopus.” Sea animals referred to as หมึก are normally counted with ตัว. Ink is counted by its container, such as ขวด for bottles or ตลับ for cartridges.
Usage
It is used for ink in stationery stores, offices, and conversations about pens or printers. In seafood markets, restaurants, and street-food stalls, it commonly refers to squid being bought, sold, cooked, or ordered. The surrounding context normally makes the meaning clear.
Caution
Without context, หมึก can mean either “ink” or “squid.” To avoid ambiguity, use a more specific expression such as หมึกปากกา or หมึกพิมพ์ for ink, and ปลาหมึก for the animal. Also note that หมึกยักษ์ conventionally means “octopus,” not simply “a giant squid.”