เหี้ย (hia)
What does เหี้ย (hia) mean? เหี้ย (hia) is a Thai severe that translates to “bastard / shit / fuck” in English.
Literal Translation
monitor lizard
Meaning & Usage
"bastard / shit / fuck"
Literally the water monitor lizard. The ultimate Thai swear word. Historically, these lizards ate villagers' chickens, making them universally hated.
Examples in the Wild
เหี้ยเอ๊ย! (Hia oey! - Oh fuck/shit!)
When to Use It
Context
- Expressing strong frustration or emphasis
- Only among very close friends who share this register
- As a spontaneous exclamation
- Direct confrontation (use with caution)
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Around elders or authority figures
- Public spaces — will cause genuine offense
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
Considered so legally and culturally offensive that the government tried to rename the animal to 'Tua Ngen Tua Thong' (silver and gold creature) to sanitize it. Used as an exclamation (Hia!) or an insult.
More in Thai 🇹🇭
View all →อีควาย (ee khwai)
“fucking idiot (female) / dumb bitch”
Directed at a woman to call her extremely stupid.
อีบ้า (ee baa)
“crazy bitch”
A dumb or crazy woman.
ส้นตีน (son teen)
“useless shit / bottom feeder”
The heel of the foot. In Thai culture, feet are the lowest and dirtiest part of the body.
ไอ้ควย (ai khuai)
“cock-sucker / dickhead”
Calling a man a dick.
กวนส้นตีน (kuan son teen)
“asking for a kick / being an annoying prick”
Acting in a highly provocative or annoying manner.
อีหอย (ee hoi)
“you massive pussy/clam”
Hoi means clam/shellfish, which is standard slang for vagina.
เปรต (pret)
“tall freak / cursed ghost”
In Buddhist mythology, a pret is a cursed, impossibly tall ghost with a needle-thin mouth, suffering eternal hunger.
ลูกกะหรี่ (luk karee)
“son of a whore”
Son or daughter of a prostitute.