pilot
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 pilot
This is the general, neutral word for a person who flies an aircraft, such as an airplane or helicopter.
pilot
A person who operates and flies an aircraft, whether in civil or military aviation.
-
เธออยากเป็นนักบิน thəə yàak pen nák bin She wants to be a pilot. เธออยากเป็นนักบิน details
Learning notes
Explanation
นักบิน is formed from นัก, which denotes a person engaged in a profession or specialized activity, and บิน, meaning “to fly.” Its basic image is therefore “a person whose work or expertise involves flying.” It is a neutral, gender-independent term used for pilots of civilian aircraft, military aircraft, and helicopters. Because it refers to a person, it is counted with คน: นักบินสองคน means “two pilots.”
Usage
It is commonly used when stating someone’s occupation or career goal and when discussing airlines, airports, flight operations, aviation accidents, or military aircraft. Common patterns include เป็นนักบิน “to be a pilot” and อยากเป็นนักบิน “to want to become a pilot.”
Caution
นักบิน refers to the person flying the aircraft, not a flight attendant. On its own, it normally means an aircraft pilot; an astronaut is specifically called นักบินอวกาศ.