By may
You might be curious when you read Thai language and find out that sometimes Thai people don’t use “verb to be” in some sentences and you wonder why. So let’s talk about it. As a Thai Language Teacher I come across this many times with my students.
Verb ‘to be’ for Thai people is used when they want to talk about career, places, or who people are. But they don’t use it when they want to say something about age, feeling, or how people and things are.
For example:
When you say “I am tired”, but Thai say “Chăn(phŏhm)-nùehy (ฉัน(ผม)เหนื่อย)” or He is sad = Khăo-sâo (เขาเศร้า) or She is beautiful = Ther(lòhn)-sŭay (เธอ(หล่อน)สวย).
Thai people don’t use “verb to be” in this kind of sentences because adjectives in English are used as Thai verbs. As you talk about age, your sentence is “I am 40 years old”, but it is “Chăn(phŏhm)-aa-yúh-sèe-sìb-bpee (ฉัน(ผม)อายุ 40 ปี)” in Thai language. Or how old is she? = Ther(lòhn)-aa-yúh-thâo-rài (เธอ(หล่อน)อายุเท่าไหร่). Or he is older than me = Khăo-gàe-gwàa-chăn(phŏhm(เขาแก่กว่าฉ้น(ผม). Thai people don’t put “verb to be” in these sentences.
But we use “verb to be” the same way when we express what we do for a living, or who we are, or where we are. We say “I am a doctor = Chăn(phŏhm)-bpen-mŏr (ฉัน(ผม)เป็นหมอ) or she is my mother = Ther(lòhn)-bpen-mâe-khŏhng-chăn(phŏhm) (เธอ(หล่อน)เป็นแม่ของฉัน(ผม)) or where are you now? = Tohn-née-khun-yòo-thêe-năi (ตอนนี้คุณอยู่ที่ไหน).”
Khru May @ Thai Language Hut (Thai Language Teacher)
Want to learn more Thai Language …then come have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com
By may
When you ask some questions, often students do not think to much about it but if they are Thai questions you will need to know how to ask.
Thai questions are not so different from English questions. Depending on tenses Thai people express their questions in different ways.
For example:
If you ask “Do you go to see the movie often? = Khun-bpai-doo-năng-bòy-mái (คุณไปดูหนังบ่อยมั๊ย), and if your answer is “Yes, quite often.” = Khôrr-bòy-náh ( ก็บ่อยนะ ) Or “No, just sometimes.” = Mâi- bòy-ròg-khôrr-bpai-bâang ( ไม่บ่อยหรอก ก็ไปบ้าง )
If your question is “Have you finished this project yet? = Khun-tham-krong-gaan-née-sèt-rúe-yang </sp
By Jang
“ร” is one of the 44 Thai alphabet. Many expat Thai Language students get very confused when they find the “ร” in different positions/ locations. “ร” can work as an initial sound, a final sound and also a vowel sound. As a Thai Language Teacher I find myself having to often explain this to my Thai Students. The details below will give you hints about how to use “ร” in different situations in reading and writing Thai words.
1. “ร” as an initial sound or as a consonant….it gives a “R…” sound
Examples: รัก (ร -ะ ก = รัก) pronounced as “rák” means “love”
ราก (ร –า ก = ราก) pronounced as “raâk” means “root”
เรือ (ร + เ –ือ = เรือ) pronounced as “ruerh” means “boat”
2. “ร” as a final sound or final letter…..it gives a “…N” sound
Examples: หาร (ห -า + ร = หาร) pronounced as “haăn” means “divide”
ธาร ( ธ -า + ร = ธาร) pronounced as “taan” means “water/ creek”
โจร (จ + โ – ร = โจร) pronounced as “jone” means “thief/ bandit/ robber”
3. “รร” as a vowel sound when they come together…it gives a “Ah” sound ( -ะ / - ั )
3.1 “รร” with a final sound or final letter comes afte… it works as vowel ‘ah’( -ะ / - ั )
Examples: วรรค = ว + รร + ค = (วัค) pronounced as “wák” means “space/ pause in writing”
กรรณ = ก + รร + ณ = (กัณ) pronounced as “gan” means “ear”
ธรรม = ธ + รร + ม = (ธัม) pronounced as “tam” means “dharma”
3.2 “รร” without any final sounds or final letters come after it works as “-an” sound (- ัน)
Examples: สรร = ส + รร = (สัน) pronounced as “săn” means “select/ choose”
พรรษา = พ + รร / ษ + า = (พัน – ษา) pronounced as “pan-saă” means “year/ rainy season”
บรรเทา = บ + รร / ท + เ-า = (บัน-เทา) pronounced as “ban-tao” means “relief”
4. “ร” as when it comes after initial sound/ initial letter without any vowels between…it gives “…awn” sound (“…อน”)
Examples: พร = พอน pronounced as “pawn” means “blessing”
กร = กอน pronounced as “gawn” means “hand”
ศร = ศอน pronounced as “săwn” means “arrow”
ละคร = ละ-คอน pronounced as “la-kawn” means “a play/ soap opera”
วานร = วา-นอน pronounced as “waa-nawn” means “monkey”
โคจร = โค-จอน pronounced as “ko-jawn” means “orbit”
I hope this will help you to understand the usage of “ร” better (^_^)
Kru MulanJ (Thai Language Teacher)
Want to learn more Thai…then come to have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com
By Jang
Outside of the Thai Language School, you might often hear some words that you never hear before. These words are usually not taught in Thai lesson that’s why this topic has come to my attention. The following words are Thai slang widely used by Thai teenagers.
ขั้นเทพ (kân-tâpe) = expert/ turn pro/ very good at something
Example: แฟนผมทำอาหารเก่งขั้นเทพ faen-pŏm-tam-aa-haăn-gèng-kân-tâpe
which means “my girlfriend is an expert in cooking”
วืด (weûd) = to miss something
Example: สุพรรษาวืดแชมป์หมากรุกปีนี้ Supansa-weûd-chámp-maàk-rúk-bpee-neê
which means “ Supansa missed being the Chess Champion this year”
ดึ๋ย (deŭi) = disgusting/ yucky
Example: กินอะไรน่ะ….ดึ๋ยจัง gin-àrai-ná?….deŭi-jang
which means “what are you eating? It’s very disgusting
มิได้นำพา (mí-dâi-nam-paa) = it doesn’t make any changes
Example: บอกไปหลายครั้งแล้ว…แต่ก็มิได้นำพา
bàwk-bpai-laăi-kráng-laéw…dtaè-gôr-mí-dâi-nam-paa
which means “I have told him/her many times…but nothing happens/ it doesn’t change anything”
งานเข้า (ngaan-kaô) = we’ve got some work to do!
Example: งานเข้าแล้ว Ngaan-kaô-laéw
which means “we’ve got something to do now”
แจ่ม (jaèm) = brilliant, cool, awesome
Example: วันนี้แต่งตัวแจ่มมาก wan-nee-dtaeng-dtua-jaèm-maâk
which means “you dress up so cool today”
ซะงั้น (sá-ngán) = just like that???
Example: ไม่มาซะงั้น mâi-maa-sá-ngán
which means “he/she didn’t come…just like that??”
ทำเนียน (tam-nian) = blend well/ good at pretending
Example: ตอนอาจารย์ถาม..ทำเนียนมาก dtawn-aa-jaan-taăm….tam-nian-maâk
which means “when the teacher asked, you pretended well
ปอด (pàwd) = chicken-hearted
Example: ไม่มีอะไรหรอก..อย่าปอดไปหน่อยเลย mâi-mee-àrai-ròk……yaà-pàwd-bpai-nòi-loey
which means “it’s just nothing….don’t be so chicken-hearted
เอาท์ (oút) = out/ not in trend
Example: ไปอยู่ไหนมาเนี่ย…ผมทรงนี้เอาท์ไปนานแล้ว
bpai-yoò-năi-maa-niâ…..pŏm-sohng-neé-oút-bpai-naan-laéw
which means “where have you been?…this hair style is already out”
ขี้เม้ง (keê-méng) = whining, complaining, get moody, yelling
Example: คนอะไร…ขี้เม้งได้ทุกเรื่อง kon-àrai…keê-méng-dâi-túk-ruêrng
which means “what kind of person is this?!…complaining and whining with everything
วันนี้โปร่ง (wan-neé-bpròng) = no boyfriend/girlfriend around today
Example: วันนี้โปร่ง ไปเที่ยวไหนกันดี wan-neé-bpròng…bpai-tiâw-năi-gan-dee ?
which means “my boyfriend/girlfriend is not around today…where shall we go?”
จิงดิ (jing-dì) = really???
Example: Suda said วันนี้เลี้ยงข้าวเย็น “wan-neé-liáng-kaô-yen”
Malee said จริงดิ “jing-dî?”
which means “Suda – I’m buying you dinner today / Malee – Really!?”
จึ๊ก (jeúk) = get annoying when being interrupted
Example: ไฟดับตอนกำลังดูทีวีอยู่..จึ๊กมากเลย
fai-dàb-dtawn-gam-lang-doo-TV-yoò…jeúk-maâk-loey
which means “the electricity went out while I was watching TV…I was so annoyed”
สาวก (saă-wóhk) = groupie/ fan club
Example: ฉันนี่แหละ…สาวกตัวจริง chăn-neê-laèh….saă-wóhk-dtua-jing
which means “It’s me!….the real fan club”
I hope this can help you to understand the meaning of Thai teenager slang for your next conversation with Thai people.
Kru MulanJ (Thai Language Teacher)
Want to learn more Thai….then come to have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com
By Jang
In Thai language there are many proverbs regarding love, relationship, couples and marriage. Often you will not hear of these proverbs in your Thai Language School so let’s take a look at the following proverbs…this will help you to describe the situations and matters in a short and easy way. I think these will be of interest to you.
ก้นหม้อยังไม่ทันดำ (gôn-môr-yang-mâi-tan-dam)
which literally means “the bottom of the rice pot is not black yet”
= to break up too soon (after the marriage)
กินน้ำพริกถ้วยเก่า (gin-nám-prík-tuây-gaò)
which literally means “eat the chili paste in the same bowl”
= to go back to the old wife/partner
ทำบุญร่วมชาติ…ตักบาตรร่วมขัน (tam-boon-ruâm-chaâd…dtàk-baàd-ruâm-kăn)
which literally means “do good karma together in the previous life….share the same bowl of rice when offering food to monks”
= To be together because of doing good karma together in the previous life
คลุมถุงชน (klum-tŭng-chon)
which literally means “cover with the bags to hit each other”
= to hold a blind marriage
น้ำตาลใกล้มด ใครจะอดได้ (nám-dtaan-glâi-mód….krai-jà-ohd-dâi)
which literally means “sugar near ants…..who can restrain themselves?”
= when man and woman are together, things can happen
มดแดงแฝงพวงมะม่วง (mód-daeng-faĕng-puang-má-muâng)
which literally means “red ant hidden in the bunch of mangoes”
= a man who is a secret admirer of a woman next door/in neighborhood and try to keep her from other men
ผัวหาบเมียคอน (puă-haàb-mia-kawn)
which literally means “husband hawks..wife carries”
= a couple who helps each other to make an income
กิ่งทองใบหยก (gìng-tawng-bai-yòk)
which literally means “gold leaf…jade leaf”
= a couple who are a very good match
หม้ายขันหมาก (maâi-kăn-maàk)
which literally means “the procession of wedding parade was not taken place”
= a woman whom her wedding is called off
เสนห์ปลายจวัก (sà-nèh-bplaai-jà-wàk)
which literally means “the charm of the ladle”
= a woman who makes a man fall in love with her because of her cooking talent
ตกล่องปล่องชิ้น (dtòk-lâwng-bplàwng-chín)
which literally means “fall in a hole..in a flue”
= decide to be together/ to get married
ถ่านไฟเก่า (taàn-fai-gaò)
which literally means “old flame”
= a person that you loved or had relationship with in the past
ทองแผ่นเดียว (tawng-paèn-diaw)
Which literally means “single gold leaf”
= two families related to each other through the wedding of their children
ร่วมหอลงโรง (ruâm-hŏr-lohng-rong)
which literally means “join the bride house….go inside the building”
= got married/ be husband and wife
Hope you enjoy learning about these proverbs and put it in good use when speaking Thai…
Kru Mulan J (Thai Language Teacher)
Want to learn more Thai language….then come to have a look at our Thai Language school www.thailanguagehut.com
By Jang
In this blog I will focus on the Thai proverbs regarding talking and speaking. These do not come up often in my Thai Language School so I am adding them here for your interest..
I hope this will help expat Thai Language students who learn Thai to understand better when listening to Thai people using Thai proverbs in their sentences.
พูดเป็นต่อยหอย (poòd-bpen-dtòi-hŏi)
which literally means “talking ceaselessly”
= To talk a mile a minute
ขวานผ่าซาก (kwaăn-paà-saâk)
which literally means “using an axe to chop right on a carcass”
= Call a spade a spade
บัวไม่ให้ช้ำ…น้ำไม่ให้ขุ่น (bua-mâi-hâi-chám…..nám-mâi-hâi-kùn)
which literally means “make no bruise on lotus petals….make the water not turbid”
= Think before you speak and speak diplomatically or tactfully to satisfy both sides or parties
ปลาหมอตายเพราะปาก (bplaa-mŏr-dtaai-praóh-bpaàk)
which literally means “the fish (climbing perch fish) is dead because of its own mouth”
= Get in hard situation because of your own words
พูดดีเป็นศรีแก่ตัว (poôd-dee-bpen-seĕ-gaè-dtua)
which literally means “speaking good is the auspicious omen”
= good speech brings good luck
ปากปราศรัย น้ำใจเชือดคอ (bpaak-bpraa-săi…nám-jai-chuêrd-kor)
which literally means “friendly mouth but the heart wants to cut your throat”
= The honey tongue, a heart of gall
ปากว่า…ตาขยิบ (bpaak-waâ-dtaa-kà-yìb)
which literally means “mouth chatting but the eye blinks”
= Overtly agree but covertly oppose
ว่าแต่เขา อิเหนาเป็นเอง (waâ-dtaè-kaó…ìh-naŏ-bpen-aing)
which literally means “criticize the others…then you are just like what you criticize the others”
The pot calls the kettle black
น้ำท่วมทุ่ง…ผักบุ้งโหรงเหรง (nám-tuâm-tûng….pàk-bûng-rŏng-rĕng)
which literally means “there’s a flood in the field…there are very few of morning glory( vegetable)”
= speak/ talk too much but hard to find details in it.
ปากหวานก้นเปรี้ยว (bpaàk-waăn-gôn-bpriâw)
which literally means “sweet mouth….sour bottom”
= sweet words but not sincere
ปั้นน้ำเป็นตัว (bpán-nám-bpen-tua)
which literally means “to form the water into shape”
= to lie/ to set things up without any truth
Are any of these Thai proverbs above describing someone you know?? J
Kru MulanJ (Thai Language Teacher)
Want to learn more Thai language….then come to have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com
By may
One of my hobbies is watching movies and I have got some catchy phrases from them that I use in my Thai language school. Thai people and English native speakers might not know that several English idioms are similar to Thais idioms.
When foreigners said “chicken-hearted”, Thai people said “Jai-bpen-plaa-siw (ใจเป็นปลาซิว).” Or In English “penny wise (and) pound foolish”, and in Thai “Siă-nói-siă-yâag-siă-mâag-siă-ngâai (เสียน้อยเสียยาก เสียมากเสียง่าย).” Or when you say “break one’s word”, Thai say “Siă-kham-phôod (เสียคำพูด).” Or when you use “cannot make (both) ends meet”, Thai use “Cháhg-nâa-mâi-thŭeng-lăhng (ชักหน้าไม่ถึงหลัง).”
For example:
I can’t imagine Sam becoming a police officer; as a boy was always so chicken-hearted. = Chăn-nŭehg-phâap-mâi-òrg-tohn-saem-klaai-bpen-tam-rùaj-sà-măi-bpen-dehg-khăo-jai-sòh-bpen-plaa-siw-loey (ฉันนึกภาพไม่ออกตอนแซมกลายเป็นตำรวจ สมัยเป็นเด็กเขาใจเสาะเป็นปลาซิวเลย)
Isn’t he penny wise and pound foolish to buy that expensive automobile, and yet claim he can’t afford a good pair of shoes? = Kăo-phen-khohn-prà-pêt-siă-nói-siă-yâag-siă-mâag-siă-ngâai-súeh-ród-paeng-paeng-dâi-láew-âang-wâa-mâi-mee-bpan-ya-súeh-rohng-thâo-dee-dee-ság-kôo (เขาเป็นคนประเภทเสียน้อยเสียยากเสียมากเสียง่าย ซื้อรถแพง แพงได้แล้วอ้างว่าไม่มีปัญญาซื้อรองเท้าดี ดีซักคู่)
You can trust her; she is not the kind of person who will break her word easily. = Khun-wái-jai-ther-dâi-ther-mâi-châi-khohn-prà-pêt-yom-siă-kham-phôod-ngâai-ngâai (คุณไว้ใจเธอได้ เธอไม่ใช่คนประเภทยอมเสียคำพูดง่าย ง่าย)
She cannot make (both) ends meet since she lost her job. = Ther-cháhg-nâa-mâi-thŭeng-lăhng-náhb-thâhng-thàe-ther-mâi-mee-ngaan-tham (เธอชักหน้าไม่ถึงหลังนับตั้งแต่เธอไม่มีงานทำ)
Khru May Thai Language Teacher!!!
Want to learn more Thai Language …then come have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com
By Jang
Thai proverbs are widely used among the Thai people in order to explain situations and matters so that the others can have a clear picture about what they are saying. Many expat students do not have many chances to learn about the Thai proverb when they study Thai language in Thai language schools. I think this would be a benefit for students to learn about proverbs because they can improve their Thai language skills by using this artistic language to communicate with Thai people.
In this blog I will teach you some Thai proverbs regarding women in general, let’s check it out.
ดูช้างให้ดูหาง ดูนางให้ดูแม่ (doo-chaáng-hâi-doo-haăng……..doo-naang-hâi-doo-maê)
which literally means “to look at an elephant you have to look at the tail, to look at a woman you have to look at her mother”
= Like mother, Like daughter
สามวันจาก..นารีเป็นอื่น (saăm-wan-jaàk….naa-ree-bpen-uèrn)
which literally means “being away for three days, the woman’s heart turns to someone’s else”
= Out of sight, out of mind
สวยแต่รูป ….จูบไม่หอม (suăy-dtaè-roôp…..joòp-mâi-hăwm)
which literally means “beautiful only the appearance…not smell nice when kissing”
= All that glitters is not gold/ Appearances are deceptive
สามีเป็นช้างเท้าหน้า….ภรรยาเป็นช้างเท้าหลัง
(saă-mee-bpen-chaâng-taô-naâ….pan-rá-yaa-bpen-chaáng-taô-lăng)
which literally means “The husband is like a front leg of elephant……the wife is like the back leg of elephant”
= The rooster is louder than the hen (the husband is the leader and the wife is the follower/supporter)
ผู้หญิงไม่ไร้เท่าใบพุทรา (poô-yĭng-mâi-rái-taô-bai-púd-saa)
which literally means “the women is not hard to find like the leaves of the jujube”
= There are many fish in the sea (refer to women)
เสียทองท่วมหัว…ไม่ยอมเสียผัวให้ใคร (siă-tawng-tuâm-huă…mâi-yawm-siă-puă-hâi-krai)
which literally means “Had rather losing a big pile of gold than losing a husband to anyone”
= The husband is more valuable than the gold or other expensive things. Do not undervalue your husband.
เรียบร้อยเหมือนผ้าพับไว้ (riâb-rói-muĕn-paâ-páb-wái)
which literally means “Neat like a folded cloth”
= Acting like a proper lady
Kru Mulan J (Thai Language Teacher)
Want to learn more Thai language….then come to have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com
By Jang
Thai language has 32 vowels which are generally categorized into three groups as follows:
This is step 2 of learning Thai, the second thing that you have to learn apart from the Thai consonants or Thai alphabet is Thai vowels.
Short vowels consist of –ะ –ิ –ึ –ุ เ–ะ แ–ะ โ–ะ เ–าะ –ัวะ เ–ียะ
เ–ือะ เ–อะ
Long vowels consist of –า –ี –ือ –ู เ– แ– โ– –อ –ัว
เ–ีย เ–ือ เ–อ
Irregular vowels consist of –ำ ใ– ไ– เ–า ฤ ฤๅ (ฦ ฦๅ *no longer used)
As for the Irregular vowels, most of them are transferred to ‘Long vowels’ group except ฤ . And the reason we call them ‘Irregular vowels’ is that they have the sounds of consonants blended in themselves as follows:
–ำ = –ะ with ม (m-sound)
ไ– = –ะ with ย (y-sound)
ใ– = –ะ with ย (y-sound)
เ–า = –ะ with ว (w-sound)
ฤๅ= รือ (ร with –ือ)
ฤ = รึ (ร with –ึ )
The main reason we have to categorize Thai vowels into 2 groups based on sounds; short sound and long sound, is that the vowels also play a major role in tones, pronunciation and grammar. And the two groups of vowels will generate the Thai syllables or Thai words to Dead Syllables and Live Syllables. We spend a longtime practising this with our students at our Thai Language School - but don’t be put off this comes over time …even Thai nationals can get this wrong!
What are the Dead syllables and Live Syllables? To be continued…
Kru Mulan 
(Thai Language Teacher)
Want to learn more Thai Language …then come have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com
By Jang
Many expat students at our Thai Language School find it difficult to recognize the Thai characters in the magazines, newspapers, advertisement and even someone’s handwriting. As a Thai Language Teacher I’m hoping I can help you with this.
The easy way to help you to recognize those Thai characters from other media and to understand the concepts of Thai alphabetical shapes. If you notice the shape of each Thai letter you will see the standard form of Thai letters which are the curve, the line and the circle.
Let’s take a look at these Thai letters
Example 1:
ต this is ‘dtor-dtao’ the tortoise. If you take a closer look at it ต
you will see it starts with a circle then slash then vertical line then two curves and end with verticle line. If you understand and know how the ต made of you will be able to identify ต in different fonts.
ต ต ต ต ß ‘dtor-dtao’ in different styles
**Please note that sometimes the circle will just be changed to a beak and the line might be a little curvy.
Example 2:
ก this is ‘gor-gai’ the chicken. If you have a closer look at it ก
You will see it starts with the vertical line then a little back slash then a curve and end with a vertical line
ก ก ก ก ß ‘gor-gai’ in different styles
**Please note that sometimes the part of the ก ‘gor-gai’ that looks like a beak might disappear. This is another style of writing ก ‘gor-gai’ for many of Thai people, which will look like an inverted ‘U’.
I hope this will help you to recognize the Thai characters when they are written in different styles.
Kru Mulan J (Thai Language Teacher)
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