Think of in Thai

“Think of” in Thai is นึกถึงnúek tǔeng; you'll also hear นึกออกnúek àwk (come to mind).

นึกถึง núek tǔeng

to think of, to be reminded of verb

núek high
tǔeng rising

High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”

นึกออก núek àwk

to remember, to come up with (an idea) verb come to mind

núek high
àwk low

High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

How to use it

นึกnúek is calling something up in your mind. นึกถึงnúek tǔeng, "think, reaching", is thinking of someone or something, often a smell, a song or a place that brings back memories. นึกออกnúek àwk, "think it out", is when a name or an idea finally comes to you, and นึกไม่ออกnúek mâi àwk is "I can't think of it", the phrase for a word on the tip of your tongue. Missing someone uses the same pattern with คิดkít: คิดถึงkít-tǔeng.

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:

nuek thueng
nuk tung
neuk teung
nuek ok
nuk awk

More verbs in Thai

All verbs

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

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