Daily Thai Confidence: Using ลึกลับ (léuk-láb)

Adjective: ลึกลับ (léuk-láb)
Meaning: is mysterious / is secretive / is enigmatic

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the adjective ลึกลับ (léuk-láb), which means ‘mysterious,’ ‘secretive,’ or ‘difficult to understand. It describes something or someone that is not easily explained, hidden from view, or surrounded by uncertainty. The word is commonly used when talking about people, places, events, or stories that seem unknown, strange, or puzzling.

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

p^hôo-^hyǐng k^hōn nán dūu léuk-láb mâak
Literal: Woman person that look mysterious very.
That woman seems very mysterious.

The adjective ลึกลับ (léuk-láb) is often used after the verb ดู (dūu), which means ‘to seem’ or ‘to look’. In this structure, the adjective describes how something appears or feels to the observer — subject + ดู (dūu) + ลึกลับ (léuk-láb). In this sentence, it is placed after the subject ผู้หญิงคนนั้น (p^hôo-^hyǐng k^hōn nán = that woman).

bâan ^hlǎng nán dūu ngīab láe léuk-láb
Literal: House building that look quiet and mysterious.
That house looks quiet and mysterious.

The adjective ลึกลับ (léuk-láb) is often used after the verb ดู (dūu), which means ‘to seem’ or ‘to look’. In this structure, the adjective describes how something appears or feels to the observer — subject + ดู (dūu) + ลึกลับ (léuk-láb). In this sentence, it is placed after the subject บ้านหลังนั้น (bâan ^hlǎng nán = that house).

mēe hàed-gāan léuk-láb gèud-k^hêun mêua-k^hēun-née
Literal: Have event mysterious happen last night.
A mysterious event happened last night.

In Thai, adjectives usually follow the noun they describe. When the adjective ลึกลับ (léuk-láb) is used this way, it directly describes the person, place, thing, or event — noun + ลึกลับ (léuk-láb). In this sentence, it is placed after the noun เหตุการณ์ (hàed-gāan = event / incident).

k^hǎo lâo hàed-gāan léuk-láb t^hêe gèud-k^hêun nāi ^hmùu-bâan hâi p^hûak-rāo fāng
Literal: He recount incident mysterious that happen in village for us to listen.
He told us about the mysterious events that had happened in the village.

The verb เล่า (lâo) means ‘to narrate,’ ‘to relate’ a story or information to someone. It is used when a person speaks about an event, experience, story, or piece of information, usually in a descriptive way.

Practise putting your newly learned Thai word into a sentence by translating the following sentences below.

1. He is a mysterious person.
2. This story seems very mysterious.
3. This case is very mysterious.
4. She likes to read about mysterious stories.
5. There was a mysterious light in the sky last night.

About Post Author

Urai Khomkham

Hi, I’m Urai Khomkham, a Thai language teacher and the creator of Thai Language Tuition UK. I help learners understand how Thai really works, so they can stop guessing and start feeling confident using the language in real life. Inside the community, I share clear lessons, practical explanations, and gentle guidance to support steady, meaningful progress — without pressure or overwhelm. I also share free Thai lessons and learning tips on my YouTube channel, where I break things down step by step and help you build strong foundations at your own pace. By subscribing, you’re not only supporting your own learning — you’re also helping me continue creating free resources to support you and other learners on their Thai journey.

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