Dictionary entry

สวย

sǔaiverb

beautiful; pretty

#250 most common1 syllablein 3 readings

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Meanings

every sense kept, sourced — never invented

1adj.

beautiful; pretty; gorgeous; lovelycurated

2v.

to get scolded or hurt; to be in for itwiktionary

Less common senses (1)

3adj.

perfectly steamed; well steamedwiktionary

In the readings

real sentences, spoken by real voices

ฉันคิดว่าสวยที่สุดในโลก

I think it's the most beautiful thing in the world.

Mild · นครราชสีมาfrom เทศกาลที่ฉันชอบที่สุด →

ผมยาวกว่าฉัน ผอมกว่าฉัน ยิ้มสวยกว่า

Longer hair than me. Thinner than me. Prettier smile.

Jiji · สระบุรีfrom คนเก่า →

Built from

Jonsson (1991) suggested a derivation from a Proto-Southwestern Tai *suəjᴬ¹ (“handsome; slender”), but most Southwestern Tai languages lack reflexes for this hypothetical term. Suthiwan and Tadmor (2009) regards สวย (sǔai) as a loanword from Teochew 媠 (sui², “beautiful”). In Southwestern Tai, cognate with Lao ສວຍ (suāi). Corrupted from ซวย (suai).