ค คอ ควาย [general] water buffalo The 4th consonant in the Thai alphabet

Low-class Consonant

ค คอ ควาย [general] water buffalo The 4th consonant in the Thai alphabet, a low-class letter pronounced like 'kh' at the beginning of a syllable, or 'k' at the end of a syllable

1710 Words + Phrases Beginning With ค

ค.ศ. Abbreviation [short for] คริสต์ศักราช; A.D.; ANNO DOMINI; in the year of the Lord"; Christian Era

คง khohngM adverb probably; most likely
auxiliary verb [auxiliary verb] probably...; may...; might...
adjective permanent; fixed
verb, intransitive, formal to remain

คงคล้าย khohngM khlaayH verb might be like; may be like
คงคา khohngM khaaM noun, poetic river; waters
proper noun, geographical [แม่น้ำคงคา] [India's] river Ganges
คงง่วง khohngM nguaangF verb probably is sleepy
คงจะ khohngM jaL auxiliary verb [auxiliary verb] probably will; might; probably or possibly will or would; can, could
คงจะ... khohngM jaL adverb probably will...; sure to...
คงจะกลับ khohngM jaL glapL verb probably will return
คงจะกลับบ้าน khohngM jaL glapL baanF phrase probably will return home
คงจะกำลัง khohngM jaL gahmM langM auxiliary verb [auxiliary verb combination] is probably (+verb)-ing; may be (+verb)-ing; might be (+verb)-ing
คงจะกิน khohngM jaL ginM verb probably will eat
คงจะดื่ม khohngM jaL deuumL verb probably will drink
คงจะได้ khohngM jaL daiF auxiliary verb [auxiliary verb combination] will probably get to...; would have...
คงจะทำ khohngM jaL thahmM verb probably will do
คงจะนอน khohngM jaL naawnM verb probably will sleep
คงจะเป็น khohngM jaL bpenM verb probably will be
คงจะไป khohngM jaL bpaiM verb probably will go
คงจะพูด khohngM jaL phuutF verb probably will say
คงจะแพง khohngM jaL phaaengM verb is probably expensive
คงจะมา khohngM jaL maaM verb probably will come
คงจะมี khohngM jaL meeM verb probably will have
คงจะไม่ khohngM jaL maiF auxiliary verb [auxiliary verb combination] probably won't...; may not...; might not...
คงจะไม่ได้ khohngM jaL maiF daiF auxiliary verb [auxiliary verb combination] probably won't get to...; wouldn't have...
คงจะไม่มา khohngM jaL maiF maaM verb probably won't come
คงจะโยน khohngM jaL yohnM verb probably will throw
คงจะรัก khohngM jaL rakH verb probably will love
คงจะรู้ khohngM jaL ruuH verb probably will know
คงจะเรียน khohngM jaL riianM verb probably will study
คงจะวิ่ง khohngM jaL wingF verb probably will run
คงจะส่ง khohngM jaL sohngL verb probably will send
คงจะสอน khohngM jaL saawnR verb probably will teach
คงจะให้ khohngM jaL haiF verb probably will give
คงจะอ่าน khohngM jaL aanL verb probably will read
คงจะเอา khohngM jaL aoM verb probably will want
คงมี khohngM meeM verb probably has; might have; may have
คงไม่ khohngM maiF auxiliary verb [auxiliary verb combination] probably won't...; may not...; might not...
คงสภาพ khohngM saL phaapF verb to remain constant or the same; to be stable
คงอยู่ khohngM yuuL verb, intransitive to remain; exist; hold on to

คณบดี khohnM baL deeM noun [of an academic institution] a dean
คณะ khaH naH council; group; member; corporation
noun faculty of a college or university
classifier [numerical classifier for faculty]
คณะกรรมการ khaH naH gamM gaanM noun committee; council
คณะกรรมการผู้พิจารณาการให้รางวัลและการตัดสิน khaH naH gamM gaanM phuuF phiH jaanM naaM gaanM haiF raangM wanM laeH gaanM dtatL sinR noun, phrase, formal jury
คณะตุลาการ khaH naH dtooL laaM gaanM noun, phrase, formal jury
คณะทูต khaH naH thuutF noun the diplomatic corps
คณะผู้ร่วมงาน khaH naH phuuF ruaamF ngaanM noun, plural, phrase, formal staff; crew
คณะมัณฑนศิลป khaH naH manM thaH naaM sin[p]R noun Faculty of Interior Decoration
คณะร้องเพลง khaH naH raawngH phlaehngM noun a (vocal) choir; singing group
คณะรัฐมนตรี khaH naH ratH mohnM dtreeM noun cabinet, council of ministers or advisors
คณะลูกขุน khaH naH luukF khoonR noun, phrase, formal jury
คณะลูกขุนที่ไม่อาจลงมติเป็นเอกฉันท์เพื่อตัดสินจำเลย khaH naH luukF khoonR theeF maiF aatL lohngM maH dtiL bpenM aehkL chan[t]R pheuuaF dtatL sinR jahmM leeuyM noun, phrase, formal a hung jury

ฃ ฃอ ขวด bottle The 3rd consonant in the Thai alphabet

ฃ ฃอ ขวด bottle The 3rd consonant in the Thai alphabet, a high-class letter pronounced like 'kh' at the beginning of a syllable, or 'k' at the end of a syllable. This letter is obsolete.

1 Words + Phrases Beginning With ฃ

ฃอ khaawR [pronunciation of the 3rd letter of the Thai alphabet; this letter is rarely used now]

ข ขอ ไข่ egg The 2nd consonant in the Thai alphabet

High-class Consonant

ข ขอ ไข่ egg The 2nd consonant in the Thai alphabet, a high-class letter pronounced like a 'K' or a hard 'G.'

833 Words + Phrases Beginning With ข

ขจร khaL jaawnM noun [ต้นขจร] the vine, Telosma minor
noun, loanword, Pali bird, the sun, the moon; wind; rain
verb, loanword, Pali (of scent or smell) waft, give out, send forth, permeate
verb, loanword, Pali (of fame) to spread; make known
ขจรขจาย khaL jaawnM khaL jaayM verb (of scent or smell) to permeate; (of fame) spread, make known
ขจัด khaL jatL verb to get rid of; remove; obviate; annihilate; eliminate; exterminate; exclude; abolish;; wipe out
ขจาย khaL jaayM verb, Cambodian to scatter; to spread out; to diffuse
adjective scattered; spread out; diffused
ขจี khaL jeeM adjective glossy and green, dripping green, shiny green, dark green, fresh and green, green and thick verdant, verduous,
proper noun Kha-jee [a common Thai female given name]
ขโจร khaL johnM particle, colloquial [euphonious particle for ขโมย ]
ขณะ khaL naL noun, conjunction while; when; as; instant; moment, a short time; occasion; juncture; hour;
ขณะเดียวกัน khaL naL diaaoM ganM adverb, phrase at the same time; then; in the meantime; meanwhile; at once
ขณะที่ khaL naL theeF at the moment when...
ขณะนั้น khaL naL nanH adverb, phrase at that time; then; in (or during) those days
ขณะนี้ khaL naL neeH adverb now; at present; this moment
ขณะหนึ่ง khaL naL neungL adverb, phrase for a (short) while; momentary; temporary; for the time being
ขด khohtL attributive verb [is] coiled; curled up; rolled up; twisted or bent into a coil
noun coil; ring; circle
verb to roll into a coil; to coil; to bend; to twist
ขดลวด khohtL luaatF noun spring; coil of wire
ขน khohnR noun [of the body, but not the head, of a human] hair
verb to transport; carry off; remove; take away
noun wool; fur; soft animal covering
noun feather
ข้น khohnF adjective [of a fluid] concentrated; dense; thick; condensed; viscous
adjective (of a taste) strong; rich
adjective violent; fierce; sharp; acute
adjective deep; strong
ขนไก่ khohnR gaiL noun chicken feather
ข้นแค้น khohnF khaaenH adjective, phrase, idiom อัตคัด (destitute); ขัดสน (needy)
ขนง khaL nohngR noun, poetic, loanword, Khmer eyebrow
ขนด khaL nohtL noun coil; reel; roll
adjective [of snakes or the snake-like objects] coiled, twisted, curled
ขนตา khohnR dtaaM noun eyelash
ขนถ่าย khohnR thaayL verb, transitive [of goods and merchandise] to transport, unload, discharge
ขนนก khohnR nohkH noun feather
ขนบ khaL nohpL noun manners; tradition; custom; social custom; usual practice; common practice; convention; procedure
ขนบธรรมเนียม khaL nohpL thamM niiamM noun customs; tradition; practice
ขนบธรรมเนียมประเพณี khaL nohpL thamM niiamM bpraL phaehM neeM noun, phrase, formal, loanword, Pali custom
ขนพองสยองเกล้า khohnR phaawngM saL yaawngR glaoF adjective, phrase, idiom bloodcurdling; causing goose bumps
ขนเพชร khohnR phaehtF noun, figurative, colloquial [euphemism] pubic hair
ขนม khaL nohmR noun dessert; sweets; cake
ขนมกินเล่น khaL nohmR ginM lehnF noun cookie
ขนมคุกกี้ khaL nohmR khookH geeF noun cookie
ขนมเค็ก khaL nohmR khekH noun cake
ขนมเค็กวันเกิด khaL nohmR khekH wanM geertL noun birthday cake
ขนมจาก khaL nohmR jaakL noun a northeastern Thai dish of sticky rice flour baked with coconut in nipa palm leaf
ขนมจีน khaL nohmR jeenM noun Chinese pasta noodles
ขนมโดนัต khaL nohmR dohM natH noun donut
ขนมบัวลอย khaL nohmR buaaM laawyM noun a [type of Thai] sweetmeat
ขนมเบื้อง khaL nohmR beuuangF noun [a Vietnamese dish of crepes filled with prawns, shallots, and bean sprouts]
ขนมปัง khaL nohmR bpangM noun bread; bakery
ขนมปังกรอบ khaL nohmR bpangM graawpL noun crackers
ขนมปังกรอบเค็ม ทำเป็นรูปเกลียว khaL nohmR bpangM graawpL khemM thahmM bpenM ruupF gliaaoM noun pretzel
ขนมปังกลม khaL nohmR bpangM glohmM noun a bread roll
ขนมปังเค็ม khaL nohmR bpangM khemM noun saltine; soda cracker
ขนมปังปิ้ง khaL nohmR bpangM bpingF noun toast
ขนมหวาน khaL nohmR waanR noun candy; sweets in general
ขนย้าย khohnR yaayH verb to transport
ขนลุก khohnR lookH noun goosebumps; goose pimples; gooseflesh
ขนส่ง khohnR sohngL adjective, verb transport; conveyance; traffic
ขนสัตว์ khohnR sat[w]L noun wool; animal fur
ขนสินค้า khohnR sinR khaaH verb to transport items or merchandise

ก กอ ไก่ chicken The 1st consonant in the Thai alphabet

Mid-class Consonant ก กอ ไก่ chicken The 1st consonant in the Thai alphabet, a middle-class letter pronounced like a 'K' or a hard 'G.'

2021 Words + Phrases Beginning With ก


ก็ gawF conjunction, particle, colloquial, idiom also; too; as well; well...; [suggestion] should...; [cause-effect] therefore; so...; then...
conjunction, particle, formal, colloquial [used in "neither... nor" pattern] not at all; by no means
conjunction, particle, formal, colloquial even; still
conjunction, particle, formal, colloquial [placed in front of "only, merely, or just"]

particle, formal, colloquial [a particle that emphasize anything that follows]
ก. noun, Abbreviation [abbreviation for] gram
ก.ก. noun, Abbreviation committee
ก.ค. proper noun, Abbreviation [written abbreviation for] July
ก.พ. proper noun, Abbreviation [written abbreviation for] February
ก.ย. proper noun, Abbreviation [written abbreviation for] September

กก gohkL noun the base or bottom of something
verb to hatch; brood; incubate; coddle
noun [ต้นกก] flatsedge; Cyperus digitatus or another of the several hundred species of the genus Bakánoa (Cyperaceae); one of which is used by the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico as a visionary entheogen
noun [แม่กก] the first of the "Eight Word Ending Protocols" in Thai grammar; the "-c", "-g", "-k", "q" and "-ck" sounds at the end of a syllable; a dead ending [see notes]

กก. Abbreviation [abbreviation for] kilogram
กกกอด gohkL gaawtL verb, transitive to hug; embrace; hold in one's arms; caress
กกไข่ gohkL khaiL verb hatch eggs
กกหู gohkL huuR noun the base of the ear

กง gohngM noun ring; rim; circle; arch; arc
noun rib(s) of a wooden boat
noun wheel(s) of a cart
noun buddhist wheel of life
noun business; thing; affair; something to be concerned with somebody
noun [แม่กง] the second of the "Eight Word Ending Protocols" in Thai grammar, the "-ng" sound at the end of a syllable, a live ending [see notes]

ก่ง gohngL verb to bend, curve, or arch an object
ก๋ง gohngR noun, loanword, Chinese maternal grandfather
กงการ gohngM gaanM noun business; affairs
กงเต็ก gohngM dtekL noun a ceremony that releases souls from purgatory or expiates the sins of the dead (derived from China and still practiced widely by Thai-Chinese citizens)

กงล้อ gohngM laawH noun, phrase, formal wheel
กงศุลฯ gohngM soonR [alternate spelling of กงสุล]
กงสี gohngM seeR noun, colloquial, loanword, Chinese cooperation; common property; cartel; pool; organization; firm
กงสุล gohngM soonR noun, loanword, English [transliterally, "consul"]
กงสุลฯ gohngM soonR [alternate spelling of กงสุล]
ก็เชื่อซะ gawF cheuuaF saH example sentence "Then you should believe it!"

กฎ gohtL noun rule; regulation
classifier [numerical classifier for laws]
กฎเกณฑ์ gohtL gaehn[t]M noun rule; regulation
กฎข้อบังคับ gohtL khaawF bangM khapH noun, phrase, formal law
กฎจราจร gohtL jaL raaM jaawnM noun traffic regulations
กฎบัตร gohtL bat[r]L noun (legal, governmental) charter
กฎบัตรสหประชาชาติ gohtL bat[r]L saL haL bpraL chaaM chaatF proper noun the Charter of the United Nations

กฎหมาย gohtL maayR noun, formal law
กฎหมายปิดปาก gohtL maayR bpitL bpaakL noun estoppel
กฎหมายแพ่ง gohtL maayR phaaengF noun civil law
กฎหมายระหว่างประเทศ gohtL maayR raH waangL bpraL thaehtF noun international law
กฎหมายโรมัน gohtL maayR rohM manM noun Roman law
กฎหมายอาญา gohtL maayR aaM yaaM noun criminal law; penal law
กฎอัยการศึก gohtL aiM gaanM seukL noun, formal martial law

กด gohtL verb to press; compress; thrust; constrain; compel, force; squash; hit (a button or keyboard key)
noun [ความกด] pressure
verb, transitive to tyrranize or oppress
verb to ring (a bell)
noun [ปลากด] catfish
noun [แม่กด] the third of the "Eight Word Ending Protocols" in Thai grammar, the "-d" and "-t" sound at the end of a syllable, a dead ending [see notes]
กดกระดิ่ง gohtL graL dingL verb ring (bell)
กดขี่ gohtL kheeL verb oppress
กดเงิน gohtL ngernM verb, colloquial to make a withdrawal from an ATM
กดชักโครก gohtL chakH khrohkF verb to flush a toilet
กดดัน gohtL danM verb to pressure; to compel; to force; to oppress
กดโทรไปที่... gohtL tohM bpaiM theeF phrase to place a phone call to...
กดปุ่ม gohtL bpoomL verb, intransitive, phrase, colloquial to press; depress or hit a button or keyboard key
กดปุ่มคอนโทรลพร้อมกับปุ่มซีเพื่อคัดลอกประโยคที่ต้องการ ไปเก็บไว้ที่คลิปบอร์ด gohtL bpoomL khaawnM thaH rohnM phraawmH gapL bpoomL seeM pheuuaF khatH laawkF bpraL yohkL theeF dtaawngF gaanM bpaiM gepL waiH theeF khlipH baaw[r]dL example sentence "Press 'control' together with the 'c' key to copy the desired sentence to the clipboard."
กดหัว gohtL huaaR verb, transitive to oppress; to boss (around)
กดออด gohtL aawtL verb, colloquial to ring a doorbell

ก็ดี gawF deeM example sentence "Very well, then."
ก็ได้ gawF daiF phrase O.k.; okay.
กตเวที gohtL waehM theeM noun [กตัญญูกตเวที] gratefulness, sense of obligation or duty
กตัญญู gaL dtanM yuuM attributive verb [is] grateful; with filial devotion and obedience; dutiful
noun [ความกตัญญู] gratitude

Introduction

Introduction

Thai is the primary language of Thailand, a country in Southeast-Asia with a population of around 60 million people. This website is provides information for English-speakers with any level of interest in Thailand, its language and culture—from beginners who wish to learn a few phrases before their vacation to advanced students who may want to live or work in Thailand someday. Be sure to check out the message boards, or if you just need to look up a word, head for the online dictionary.

History of the Thai language

Thai is the national language of Thailand, spoken by around eighty percent of the sixty million residents of the South-East Asian country. Linguists consider it an "uninflected, primarily monosyllabic, tonal language" in the "Ka-Tai group." The spoken language is believed to have originated in the area which is now the border between Vietnam and China, an idea which provides clues to the origin of the Thai people, an area of continued scholarly debate. Linguistically, the language is related to languages spoken in eastern Burma, northern Vietnam, Yunnan, and Laos.

The written Thai Language was introduced by the third Sukothai period king, Ramkamhaeng, in 1283. This writing system has undergone little change since its introduction, so inscriptions from the Sukothai era can be read by modern Thai readers. The writing was based on Pali, Sanskrit, and Indian concepts, and many Mon and Khmer words entered the language.

Regional variation

Within Thailand, there are four major dialects, corresponding to the southern, northern ("Yuan"), northeastern (close to Lao language), and central regions of the country; the latter is called Central Thai or Bangkok Thai and is taught in all schools, is used for most television broadcasts, and is widely understood in all regions. Nowadays, English is also taught in all public schools. There are a few minor Thai dialects such as Phuan and Lue, spoken by small populations. Also within Thailand, small ethnic minority groups (including so-called "hill tribes") account for around sixty languages which are not considered related to Thai.

The four primary dialects of Thai should not be confused with four different "languages" used by Thais in different social circumstances. For example, certain words are used only by Thai royalty, creating a royal language. There are also languages used for religious figures, polite everyday interactions, and gruff or crude communications.

Alphabet, tones, and grammar

The Thai alphabet uses forty-four consonants and fifteen basic vowel characters. These are horizontally placed, left to right, with no intervening space, to form syllables, words, and sentences. Vowels are written above, below, before, or after the consonant they modify, although the consonant always sounds first when the syllable is spoken. The vowel characters (and a few consonants) can be combined in various ways to produce numerous compound vowels (dipthongs and tripthongs).

Unlike the Chinese language, the system is alphabetic, so pronunciation of a word is independent of its meaning (English is also an alphabetic language). On the other hand, Thai is tonal, like Chinese and unlike English. This means that each word has a certain pitch characteristic with which it must be spoken to be properly understood. The Thai language uses five tones, called mid, low, high, rising, and falling.

Each syllable, consisting of one or more consonants and a simple or compound vowel (possibly inherent or implied, and thus not written) has a "default" tone determined by several factors, including the type of consonant(s) present (consonants are divided into three classes for this purpose). The syllable's tone can be modified by one of four tone markers. Some people incorrectly assume that the tone marks identify all necessary tones, or perhaps force certain tones, but neither of these is correct. Actually the final tone of a syllable is determined by the tone mark in conjunction with the type of syllable, as determined by the vowel and consonant characters present.

The grammar of the Thai language is considerably simpler than grammar in Western languages, and for many students, this makes up for the additional difficulty of tones. Most significantly, words are not modified or conjugated for tenses, plurals, genders, or subject-verb agreement. Articles such as a, an, or the are also not used. Tenses, levels of politeness, verb-to-noun conversion, and other language concepts are accomplished with the simple addition of various modifying words (called "particles") to the basic subject-verb-object format.

Many westerners do not make time to learn written Thai, focusing instead only on speaking. One problem with this approach is that the various reference materials you will accumulate each have a different transliteration (phonetic spelling with a western alphabet) scheme, and it thus becomes difficult to recognize connections between your multiple sources of information. Although only you can decide whether to make the extra effort to study Thai script, I think it can provide a valuable and rewarding foundation for continued learning of the Thai language.

About the Author

Glenn Slayden studied Thai conversation at an evening school for two years beginning in early 1991 and traveled to Thailand for the first time in 1996, spending 3 months there. Since then, he has returned ten times and traveled throughout the country, a source of great amusement for the many Thais he has attempted to speak with. Beginning in 1997, he began self-study of Thai reading and writing, and created an early version of this web site as a personal learning aid, and to share his experience learning Thai with others. Please feel free to send feedback!

Good Luck! (ขอให้โชคดี-Kor-hai-choke-di)