ห้วย
stream
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- 1 stream、brook、creek
A ห้วย is a small natural stream or channel carrying water down from hills or mountains. The word can refer to both the flowing water and the channel it runs through.
stream、brook、creek
A small natural watercourse, especially one flowing from mountainous or hilly land.
Learning notes
Explanation
ห้วย can denote not only the water itself but also the natural hollow or channel through which it flows. A place may therefore still be called a ห้วย during the dry season when there is little or no water. The word is also common in place names, such as ห้วยขวาง (Huai Khwang). A modern place bearing such a name does not necessarily have a visible stream today.
Usage
It is commonly used when talking about geography and nature in mountainous, forested, or rural areas—for example, crossing a stream, collecting water, gathering plants along its banks, or discussing seasonal water levels. It also appears frequently in district, road, and attraction names.
Caution
Do not confuse ห้วย, meaning a stream or creek, with ห่วย, an informal word meaning poor-quality or lousy. Large rivers are normally called แม่น้ำ, not ห้วย.
Differences from similar words
1 stream synonyms
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ลำธาร primarily suggests a small, gently flowing stream. ห้วย often has a stronger sense of a natural channel coming down from hills or mountains and may still describe the landform when little or no water is flowing.
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แม่น้ำ means a river and normally refers to a much larger waterway. ห้วย is used for a smaller stream, creek, or mountain channel.