The most common curse word in Thai is the word for the water monitor. In this article, you will see the reason behind it. Moreover, you will see how variety this word is used in the modern Thai.
Why เหี้ย (hîa) become the most common curse word in Thai
ตัวเหี้ย (tua hîa) or
เหี้ย (hîa) is what we call the water monitor in Thai. It’s believed that ตัวเหี้ย (tua hîa) has been despised since a hundred years ago, mainly because of its look and behavior.
The water monitor has small animals as its food, such as ไก่ (kày) chicken, นก (nók) bird, ปลา (plaa) fish, กบ (kòp) frog, หนู (nǔu) rat, etc.
In the past, almost every household raised chickens at their house—some for domestic consumption, some for commercial.
And that’s when the problem emerged. ตัวเหี้ย (tua hîa) knew where is the best place for their favorite food. They entered people’s houses and stole chickens.
The same issue still happens nowadays, but the situation has changed slightly.
For example, they eat people’s animals, not just chicken, but also fish in the pond, especially at a farm, and pets at home.
And because of what has been mentioned, ตัวเหี้ย (tua hîa) has never been liked by many people.
How to curse in Thai using เหี้ย (hîa)
According to a historical record, the word เหี้ย (hîa) has been used as a curse word and an insult at least since King Rama 4 – 5 period (AD 1804 – 1853).
How people used it in the past
- It is an insult to call a person who destroys a home and causes the loss of wealth. Also, to call someone who is a villain or a horrible person.
- People used to call other animals that get into the house and cause damage.
How people use it now
1. It is an insult to call a person who has terrible and immoral behavior.
- ไอ้เหี้ย (ʔây hîa) refers to a man
- อีเหี้ย (ʔii hîa) refers to a woman
2. It is an impolite pronoun among friends (for some groups of people), especially men, to show a close relationship. It can refer to the 2nd person or 3rd person.
-
ไอ้เหี้ย กินข้าวยังวะ
(ʔây hîa, kin khâaw yaŋ wá)
= You assh*le, have you eaten yet? -
ไอ้เหี้ยแซมตื่นสาย
(ʔây hîa Sam tɨ̀ɨn sǎay)
= Assh*le Sam overslept.
3. It is an impolite interjection. People use it when they have an extreme feeling, such as shock, horrification, surprise, or even excitement.
- เหี้ย! (hîa!) in a short, loud sound is used when they are shocked.
- เหี้ยยย (hîaaa) in a long, high-pitched voice is used among teenage or young women when they are delighted with something.
4. It is a verb that means to behave in a foul and unpleasant way.
-
อย่ามาเหี้ยกับกู
(yàa maa hîa kàp kuu)
= Don’t f*ck with me. -
ไปเหี้ยไกลๆ เลย
(pay hîa klay klay ləəy)
= Get the hell away from me.
5. When saying it twice, it is an adverb to emphasize or increase the degree of something. You can use it in both negative and positive contexts.
Structure:
adjective / adverb + เหี้ยๆ (hîa hîa)
-
รถติดเหี้ยๆ (rót tìt hîa hîa)
= The traffic is f*cking horrible. -
สวยเหี้ยๆ (sǔay hîa hîa)
= (She) is f*cking beautiful.
6. Saying it twice after a noun conveys a negative quality of that thing or the personality of that person.
Structure:
noun + เหี้ยๆ (hîa hîa)
- คนเหี้ยๆ (khon hîa hîa) = A f*cking horrible person.
- รถเหี้ยๆ (rót hîa hîa) = A damn shi*ty car.
7. It is an adverb conveying sarcastic or frustrated feelings in a response to a question.
- Q:
สอบผ่านไหม
(sɔ̀ɔp phàan máy)
= Did you pass the exam?
A: ผ่านเหี้ยอะไรอะ
(phàan hîa ʔaray ʔa)
= (I) didn’t pass that sh*t.
- Q:
เงินเดือนขึ้นไหม
(ŋən dɨan khɨ̂n máy)
= Did you get a raise?
A: ขึ้นเหี้ยอะไรอะ
(khɨ̂n hîa ʔaray ʔa)
= No f*ucking raise.
The above usages are not all, but most have already been included.
You don’t need to learn how to use it yourself, but it is good to know about it. You will hear it occasionally in Thai shows or movies.
The other names of เหี้ย (hîa)
Since this word is considered a rude and curse word, people come up with other ear-pleasing names when talking about them, including;
ตัวเงินตัวทอง (tua ŋen tua thɔɔŋ) – Money and gold animal
In the past, people believed that if the water monitor entered one’s house, there would be destruction and ruin, especially of wealth and fortune.
Therefore, instead of uttering its unpleasant name, people called it ตัวเงินตัวทอง (tua ŋen tua thɔɔŋ) to แก้เคล็ด (kæ̂æ khlét).
แก้เคล็ด (kæ̂æ khlét) is a Thai cultural practice that is done to counteract bad luck or misfortune and turn it into good fortune or prevent undesirable events.
ตัวกินไก่ (tua kin kày) – An animal eats chicken
This name is more straightforward than the previous one. The water monitor is well-known for eating domesticated chicken.
That’s why they call it ตัวกินไก่ (tua kin kày), an animal that eats chicken.
วรนุช (wɔɔranút) – A beautiful woman
It is the newest name given to the water monitor but the least popular one. วรนุช (wɔɔranút) is a common first name for Thai women, which means beautiful lady.
In 2009, the Director of the Wildlife Conservation Office at that time came up with the idea of changing the water monitor’s name to วรนุช (wɔɔranút) because it’s pronounced close to its scientific name, Varanus salvator.
But people protested about it and were not accepted by many.
The present situation of the water monitor in Thailand
You can find them near water in many areas (rivers, canals, ponds, etc.). The most famous place in Bangkok to find them is สวนลุมพินี (sǔan lum phi nii) Lumphini Park.
This year, the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Committee approved the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation proposal to classify the water monitor as a protected wildlife species that can be bred.
Anyone wanting to breed them must obtain the government’s license as a legal breeder.
The purpose is to promote it as an economic animal. Some people have them as pets; some use their skin to produce leather goods because their skin is soft but tough and durable with intricate patterns.