squid
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- 1 squid
This is the everyday Thai word for a squid, whether referring to the living animal or squid as food.
squid
It refers to the marine animal known as a squid and is also used for squid served or sold as food.
Learning notes
Explanation
The word is formed from ปลา (“fish”) and หมึก (“ink”), but it is best learned as a single animal name. Despite ปลา in its name, a squid is not biologically a fish. Living squid are counted with ตัว, the general classifier for animals: ปลาหมึกสองตัว means “two squid.” Food orders are counted according to how they are served, such as จาน for a plate or ไม้ for a skewer. The unmodified word usually means “squid,” while related cephalopods are distinguished by compounds. For example, ปลาหมึกยักษ์ means “octopus.”
Usage
It is commonly used when buying seafood at a market or supermarket, ordering at a street stall or restaurant, and talking about marine animals. It frequently appears in the names of grilled, fried, and stir-fried dishes.
Caution
Do not assume that ปลาหมึก by itself always includes octopus. The unmodified word normally means “squid”; octopus and other specific cephalopods have names such as ปลาหมึกยักษ์ and หมึกสาย.
Differences from similar words
1 squid synonyms
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หมึก is a shortened form often heard in conversation and food names. It can also mean “ink,” so ปลาหมึก is clearer when the animal is not obvious from context.