AnimalsOctopus in Thai
“Octopus” in Thai is ปลาหมึกยักษ์bplaa-mùek-yák; you'll also hear หมึกสายmùek-sǎai (as food).
octopus noun
- bplaa mid
- mùek low
- yák high
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
Classifier: ตัวdtua · counting word for animals, clothes, tables and chairs
octopus (at the market and on menus) noun as food
- mùek low
- sǎai rising
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
How to use it
An octopus is a "giant squid", ปลาหมึกยักษ์bplaa-mùek-yák, however small it is. At the fish market and on menus it's usually หมึกสายmùek-sǎai, "string squid", often the small ones, grilled or stir-fried. Its arms are หนวดnùat, the same word as a moustache or a cat's whiskers.
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:
- pla muek yak
- plamuk yak
- pla meuk yak
- muek sai
- muk sai
More animals in Thai
All animals
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones