Nak muay
นักมวย
Thai term for a fighter in muay thai or boxing. A female fighter is referred to as nak muay ying.
Quick Facts
Term typeRole in training and bouts
LanguageThai
Formnoun
Pronunciation[nahk moo-eye]
Alternative Namesmuay thai fighter
Readings and romanizations
RTGS (Thai)nak muai
Word breakdown
นักnaka person devoted to something
มวยmuaifight, boxing
Definition
Nak muay (นักมวย) consists of the words nak (a person devoted to something) and muay (fight, boxing). It denotes a Thai boxing fighter, broadly also a boxer. A woman is nak muay ying, a foreigner nak muay farang. In Thailand, professional fighters usually live and train in a khai muay camp, and the camp gives them their fighting name. They often start fighting in childhood.