This is the Thai equivalent of a stop sign, universally recognized by its red octagonal shape. The word หยุด (yùt) means "stop" and is one of the most essential words for anyone living in or traveling through Thailand. It is pronounced with a low tone.

The character ๆ visible at the bottom of the sign is not actually the Thai repetition mark (ๆ), but rather appears to be a small reference number or marking. In some versions of Thai stop signs, additional text or numbering may appear below the main word.

The word หยุด is a cluster consonant word. The initial consonant cluster is หย (hǒr-yǒr), where ห acts as a "leading h" that changes the tone class of ย from low class to high class, resulting in the low tone pronunciation "yùt." This is a common pattern in Thai called "hor nam" (ห นำ), where ห leads another consonant to modify its tone. Understanding this pattern is crucial for reading Thai correctly.

Thailand adopted the octagonal stop sign shape following international road sign conventions, but uses the Thai word หยุด instead of the English word "STOP." You will encounter this sign at intersections throughout the country. Related useful vocabulary includes หยุดรถ (yùt rót, "stop the vehicle") and ห้ามหยุด (hâam yùt, "no stopping").