Itchy in Thai

“Itchy” in Thai is คันkan; you'll also hear ระคายเคืองrá-kaai-kueang (on labels, at the doctor's).

คัน kan

itchy; to itch adjective

kan mid

Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

ระคายเคือง rá-kaai-kueang

irritated (skin, eyes); irritation adjective on labels, at the doctor's

rá high
kaai mid
kueang mid

High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.

How to use it

คันkan is itchy, and it comes before the part that itches: คันตาkan dtaa, itchy eyes, คันคอkan kaw, a tickly throat, คันหัวkan hǔa, an itchy scalp. The usual culprits are mosquito bites, ยุงกัดyung gàt, and prickly heat in the hot season, and scratching is เกาgao. Labels and doctors say ระคายเคืองrá-kaai-kueang, irritated.

Said the same way, คันkan is also the counting word for cars, bikes, spoons and umbrellas: รถสองคันrót sǎwng kan, two cars. What comes before it tells you which one is meant.

Other spellings you'll see

There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:

kan mak
kan maak
khan mak

More verbs in Thai

All verbs

เป็น bpen Be in Thai
to be (a nationality, a job, a role)
มี mii Have in Thai
to have
ไป bpai Go in Thai
to go
มา maa Come in Thai
to come
กิน gin Eat in Thai
to eat
ดื่ม dùuem Drink in Thai
to drink

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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones