หอก
spear
Native recording
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- 1 spear
- 2 the hell [rude intensifier]、the fuck [vulgar intensifier]
Its main meaning is a spear: a weapon with a sharp point on a long shaft. In rude informal speech, it can also intensify a question, much like “the hell.”
spear
A weapon with a sharp point attached to a long shaft, used for thrusting or throwing.
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วัวถูกแทงด้วยหอก wua thùuk thɛɛŋ dûay hɔ̀ɔk The cow was stabbed with a spear. วัวถูกแทงด้วยหอก details
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หอกเล่มนี้ยาวมาก hɔ̀ɔk lêm níi yaaw mâak This spear is very long. หอกเล่มนี้ยาวมาก details
the hell [rude intensifier]、the fuck [vulgar intensifier]
A rude intensifier used with questions or dismissive expressions, similar to “the hell” or, more strongly, “the fuck.”
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ยืนหาหอกอะไร yʉʉn hǎa hɔ̀ɔk aray What the hell are you standing around for? ยืนหาหอกอะไร details
Learning notes
Explanation
The basic meaning is “spear,” a weapon with a sharp head on a long shaft. Spears are commonly counted with the classifier เล่ม, as in หอกหนึ่งเล่ม, “one spear.” The idiom หอกข้างแคร่ refers to a dangerous person within one’s own circle—someone close who may betray or harm you. In expressions such as ทำหอกอะไร, หอก no longer refers to a weapon. It acts as a rude intensifier that adds anger, contempt, or strong disbelief to a question.
Usage
The weapon sense commonly appears in discussions of history, warfare, legends, martial arts, hunting, and games. The intensifying use is heard in arguments, angry informal speech, and deliberately rough dialogue.
Caution
หอก is not a general word for weapons; it specifically means a spear. Its intensifying use can sound highly disrespectful or aggressive, so learners should recognize it but generally avoid using it themselves.
Differences from similar words
1 spear synonyms
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ทวน often suggests a long fighting lance, especially one associated with mounted or traditional combat. หอก is the more general word for a spear used for thrusting or throwing.
2 the hell [rude intensifier] synonyms
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บ้า can add annoyed emphasis to a question, roughly “what on earth.” หอก is rougher and can sound more insulting or aggressive.