I was asked by my Thai Student “What is the difference between เกา and ข่วน?” (gao and kùan). They both mean to scratch but there is a difference.

ข่วน

ข่วน (kùan) means scratch when you get scratched by an animal such as a cat, lion, tiger, etc. Think of the “claws” scratching you. That is the type of scratch ข่วน describes.

Example:

• His face was scratched by a cat
  หน้าเค้าโดนแมวข่วน
  nâa káo dohn maew kùan

เกา

เกา (gao) is when you scratch because you are itchy.

Example:

• I am scratching my leg because it itches
  ผมเกาขาอยู่เพราะว่ารู้สึกคันขา
  pŏm gao kăa yòo prór wâa róo sèuk kan kăa

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I hope you now know how to say to scratch in Thai and know the difference between เกา and ข่วน.