The Original Thai-English Language
Cognate Dictionary & Learning Tool
LivingHour.org
Published by LivingHour.org
Smashwords Edition
Copyright, LivingHour.org, 2009
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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Introduction
The Original Thai/English Language Cognate Dictionary & Learning Tool is an essential supplementary resource for speaking, reading, and understanding the Thai language in the quickest possible time. Over the years, the Thai people have adopted hundreds of English words into their language. For example, a common Thai word for a cook is gúk, which as you can see is pronounced much like the English word from which it is borrowed.
In this book, you'll quickly learn the most commonly used English loan words, as well as Thai words that rhyme with, or sound similar to, their English counterpart or a related word. For example, the Thai word for bell is grìng, which is similar to what a bell does: ring.
For the beginning student, these similar words make it much easier to dive into the Thai language without experiencing that common feeling that you're drowning in a sea of strange sounds. Learning Thai becomes less intimidating and more fun. It also makes all those Thai words which aren't similar sounding easier to remember.
With this book you'll also learn how English words sometimes change when pronounced by Thai people. These differences are important to know when having conversations with new Thai friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. While some Thais do speak "standard" English, many others do not. Their non-standard pronunciation results from the fact that the Thai language has different sound rules and lacks certain English sounds. You will often hear this non-standard English when talking to Thais, but if you don't know how they've changed the pronunciations, you often will not understand what they are saying.
The colloquial Thai sentences included here make this book a valuable tool for intermediate students. Humorous and useful examples are combined in equal measure, so that you can better communicate and enjoy the authentic sanúk (fun) Thai lifestyle. In addition, useful language notes are provided covering areas such as grammar, pronunciation, and additional vocabulary, as well valuable tips on speaking the Isaan dialect.
Lastly, this book will help all learners better recognize the ways in which many Thai words are formed. Minus the polysyllabic words adopted from foreign languages, Thai is a monosyllabic language. More complicated ideas/words are thus formed by putting together one syllable root words to form new words. For example, the Thai word for refrigerator dtôo-yen is formed by the words dtôo (cabinet) + yen (cool).
When such words occur in this book, they are broken down for you. Paying attention to how these root words are put together will help you build your vocabulary even faster. When reading these break-downs, though, do be aware that Thai root words often have quite a few meanings depending how they are used in a sentence. From the range of potential meanings, only those best suited to the entry have been chosen.
A Brief Word on Speaking Thai
We would like to share a few things that we've learned over the past ten years speaking with rural Thais who rarely have heard foreigners trying to speak their mother tongue.. Firstly, do not get discouraged if you have trouble with the tones of the Thai language. What is most important to being understood by Thais is not proper tones (though that surely helps) but getting your words in the right order. Unlike English, where foreigners can mix up words and still be understood, Thais will (more often than not) look at you with confusion unless all the words are correctly situated in your sentence. This is true even if you are speaking with correct tones. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the exact order of the words in the sample sentences of this book. Speaking proper tones will come naturally as you increasingly talk and listen to Thais.
That being said, for those who don't find speaking tones an overwhelming obstacle, do try to learn them as best you can. But don't get discouraged if mastery doesn't happen quickly (it won't); nor get so hung up on tones that it causes you to hesitate and stumble when speaking. In the beginning, the most important tone to recognize and speak is the falling tone, which can be mastered even by those who consider themselves tone deaf. The other tones will fall in place around it.
Secondly, speak the longer form of a Thai word to increase the likelihood of being understood. Beginners should shy away from using the shorter form of words. For example, using the word rôop for photo instead of rôop-thài or using chúht for shirt instead of sêua-chúht. This is because the longer form of the word is easier to understand within the context of a sentence, even if you get the tone wrong. Using more words in your sentences also makes you sound more polite. Although it should be noted that speaking polite/formal Thai in casual situations that don't demand it can cause confusion in the person to whom you are speaking.
Lastly, all people who are interested in developing good Thai language skills will benefit greatly by learning how to read Thai. While the Thai script appears daunting at first, it actually can be mastered rather quickly with regular practice. Knowing how to read Thai significantly improves your pronunciation, and will make it much easier to use other Thai language books, since you won't have to rely on the many different ways that authors transliterate Thai.
About the Sample Sentences & The Translations
The sample sentences in this book are colloquial (informal) and are aimed at helping students of the Thai language speak more like a native. They were chosen based on the author's many years of laughing, living, and working with Thais. As a rule of the thumb, the more words (pronouns, prepositions, polite particles, etc.) you find dropped from a sentence, the more casual the sentence is. When speaking in more formal situations these words should not be dropped.
The Thai translations have been executed so that they reflect the way in which a Thai person would naturally express the same sentiment. This means that some English words will be dropped, and changes will occur in the vocabulary and the arrangement of thoughts. To help you better understand these changes, a literal English translation is provided below the Thai translation. Do place close attention to the manner in which these changes occur, because they not only provide a window into the Thai language, but also the Thai personality/psychology as well.
Basic Thai Grammar Notes for Beginners
*In the Thai language, adjectives come after nouns. It is best to think of these adjectives as states of being, which include a silent "is". For example, the word sŭay shouldn't be thought to mean "beautiful" but "is beautiful." As such, Thai sentences can be formed without any verbs, per se. For example, bâhn née sŭay mâhk = house this (is) beautiful very much or this house is very beautiful.
*Spoken Thai is compact and speakers often drop pronouns, prepositions, and other parts of speech, which are considered implied.
*Thai verbs do not change tenses. The past is understood by context. The continuous (-ing) tense is also understood by context in colloquial speech, or by adding gam-lang or yòo, or both of these auxiliary verbs. The future tense is formed by adding já (will) before the verb, although this is sometimes dropped.
*Thais will often double a word to add euphony or rhythm to a sentence, to add emphasis to the meaning of the word, or to make the word plural. This is why you might hear Thais sometimes say the English loanword saym-saym (same).
*The Thai word for come (mah) is sometimes used as a directional marker to show that the direction of the action is moving toward the speaker. Alternatively, the Thai word for go (bpai) is sometimes used to show that the action is moving away from the speaker.
*The word khăwng (of) is used before a pronoun or name to signify possession, but this word is often dropped.
*Plurals are understood by context or by adding number words along with a classifier.
*In Thai, no articles are used with nouns.
Thai Particles in this Book
The Thai particles used in this book have been separated into the following categories: softener, emphasis, encourager, change of state, question, and polite. They often can not be directly translated into English. When such particles appear in the sample sentences, they are transcribed in the literal English translations inside parentheses as: (soften), (emph.), (urge), (change), (question), and (polite).
In addition the Thai word gâw, which is often used as a marker to join two clauses, is signified as: (joiner). And classifiers, class nouns that refer to a previous noun, are signified by: (class.)--for example, the phrase three students (nák-rian săhm khon) literally means: student three (class.)
Pronunciation Changes: English to Thai
When Thais adopt an English word into the Thai language, the pronunciation of consonants usually changes according to the following rules. Although the list appears a little long, these changes will become second nature to you after a few hours with this book.
*A "b" at the end of a word is pronounced like a "p" (e.g. see entry for club).
*A "ch" or "sh" at the end of a word is pronounced as a "t" (e.g. see entry for coach and appendix entry for flash).
*A "d" at the end of a syllable or word is pronounced as a "t" or sometimes dropped (e.g. see entry for download).
*An "f" sound at the end of a syllable or word is often pronounced as a "p" (e.g. see entry for graph).
*A soft "g" sound at the beginning of a word often is pronounced like a "y" (e.g. see entry for gym) and at the end of a word like a "t" (e.g. see entry for homepage).
*A hard "g" at the end of a word is pronounced like a "k" (e.g. see entry for wig).
*A soft "k" sound at the beginning of a word or syllable followed by a vowel sometimes is pronounced like a hard "k/g", (e.g. see entry for bakery).
*An "l" at the end of the word is pronounced as an "n" (e.g. see entry for basketball)
*If a word begins with "pl" the "l" is dropped (e.g. see entry for plan).
*If a word ends in "mp" or "nt" the last consonant is dropped (e.g. see entries for camp and apartment).
*An "r" at the end of syllable or word is dropped (e.g. see entry for bar), but at the beginning of a word it is often pronounced colloquially like an "l".
*If an "r" appears as part of a consonant cluster at the end of a word it is dropped (e.g. see entry for farm).
*An "s" at the end of syllable or word is pronounced as a "t" or dropped (e.g. see entry for cheese). The plural "s" is always dropped.
*An "sh" or "zh" sound in the middle of a word is either pronounced like a "t + ch" (e.g. see entry for tissue) or as a "ch" (e.g. see entry for version).
*If a word ends in "st" the "s" is dropped (e.g. see entry for columnist).
*An "s" followed by a consonant has an "a" sound inserted in between (e.g. see entry for spray).
*An "sh" at the beginning of a word sounds like a soft "ch" (although it is written and transliterated the same as a regular "ch" sound).
*A soft "t" that begins a second or third syllable is pronounced like a hard "t" (dt) (e.g. see entry for internet).
*A "th" sound is pronounced as a "t" (e.g. see appendix entry for logarithm).
*A "v" at the beginning of a word is pronounced as a "w" (e.g. see entry for view). But it's pronounced like "f" or "p" if it appears at the end of a word or syllable (e.g. see appendix entry for Steve).
*A "z" sound at the beginning of a word is pronounced as an "s" (e.g. see entry for zigzag). But is dropped or pronounced as a "t" if it appears at the end of a word (e.g. see entry for jazz).
*If a syllable or word ends with an "ai" sound followed by any consonant, the consonant is often dropped (e.g. see entries for wine and nightclub)
*In polysyllabic words like computer (khawm-phiu-dtûh) the stress often will be placed on the final syllable. This stress often causes the syllable to take on a falling tone contrary to Thai tone rules (e.g. see entry for furniture).
Important: Many Thais will pronounce English words according to the above rules, even if the words have not been adopted into the Thai language. So, if you find yourself in a jam where your English is not being understood and you don't know the equivalent Thai word or phrase, try applying these rules to your English and speak again. You'll be surprised how often you are suddenly understood.
Transliteration
The following English transliteration key is a good guide for helping you to pronounce the Thai in this book.
Consonants
bp = like the hard "p" in "nap"
ph = like the soft "p" in "pin"
dt = like the soft "d" in "ladder"
th = like the soft "t" in "time"
kh = like the soft "k" in "king"
g = like the g in "goat" but softer
j = like the "j" in "joke" but a little harder
ng = like the "ng" in "song"
The rest of the consonants in this book (b, ch, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, s, t, w) have the same pronunciation as their equivalents in English, except that "r" is sometimes pronounced as an "l".
Main Vowels
a = like the "a" in "what"
ah = like the "a" in "father"
ay = between the "ay" in "pay" (but shorter)
ae = like the "a" in "bat"
ai = like the "ie" in "pie"
aw = like the "aw" in "saw"
ee = like the "ee" in "see"
e = like the "e" in "bed"
i = like the "i" in "pin"
oo = like the "oo" in "soon"
o = like the "o" in "rope"
eu = like the "ou" in "should" said when smiling
uh = like the "er" in "butter" but without saying the "r"
Vowel Combinations
ao = like the "ow" in "now"
aeo = like "ao" but with "ae" sound held out
oi = like the "oy" in "toy"
ia = like the "ia" in "Maria"
iu = like the "ew" in "eww" (yuck)
ui = like the "ouie" in "Louie"
io = like the "io" in "neo"
iao = "ee" + "ow"
eo = like the "ayo" in "mayo"
ua = like the "ua" in "Kahlua"
uay = "oo" + "ay"
eua = "eu" + "uh"
euy = "eu" + "ee"
euay = "eu" + "ay"
The tone marks used are as follows:
è = low tone é = high tone ê = falling tone
ě = rising tone e = regular tone
Readers of the Thai language please note that tone rules are sometimes broken when it comes to English words which have been adopted into the language. Therefore, the tones transcribed in this book sometimes also break the rules and reflect the way a Thai commonly will speak the word.
The Original Thai-English
Cognate Dictionary
adjust v. – จัด – jàt
We should be adjusting our goals.
พวกเรา ควรจะ จัด เป้าหมาย ให้ดี
Phûak-rao khuan-jà jàt bpâo-măi hâi-dee.
lit. we should adjust goal* carefully
*goal (เป้าหมาย) = bpâo (เป้า) purpose/objective + măi (มาย) to intend/mean
agency n. – องค์การ – awng-gahn
How long have you been working at that agency?
ทำงาน ที่ องค์การ นาน เท่าไหร่ ครับ
Tham-ngahn thêe awng-gahn nahn thâo-rài khráp?
lit. work at agency long how much (polite)?
work (ทำงาน) = tham (ทำ) do/make + ngahn (งาน) work/job
AIDS n. – เอดส์ – àyt
I got an AIDS test yesterday. But I'm not scared.
เมื่อวาน ตรวจ เชื้อ เอดส์ แล้ว แต่ เรา ไม่ กลัว หรอก
Mêua-wahn dtrùat chéua àyt láeo dtàe rao mâi glua ràwk.
lit. yesterday check germ AIDS already, but I not scared (emph.)
*yesterday (เมื่อวาน) = mêua (เมื่อ) when/at the time + wahn (วาน) yesterday
air (conditioner) n. – แอร์ – ae
It's really cold in here! Can you turn off the air?
ห้อง หนาว จัง ปิด แอร์ ได้ มั้ย
Hâwng năo jang! Bpìt* ae dâi mái?
lit. room cold very much, turn off air (question)
*The word bpìt (ปิด) also means to close or be shut down.
angry adj. – โกรธ – gròt
I'm angry because there is no co-operation in this place.
ผม โกรธ เพราะ ที่นี่ ไม่ มี ความร่วมมือ สักนิด
Phǒm gròt práw thêe-nêe mâi mee khwahm-rûam-meu* sàk-nít.
lit. I angry because here not have cooperation* even a little
The word khwahm (ความ) is a prefix added to a verb or adjective to form an abstract noun. In this case, it is added to the verb cooperate rûam-meu (ร่วมมือ), which literally means join-hand, to form cooperation.
apartment n. – (อพาทเมนต์) – à-phâht-mayn
I'm looking for a cheap apartment.
ผม หา อพาร์ทเม้นท์ ถูกๆ* อยู่
Phǒm hăh à-phâht-máyn thòok thòok yòo.
lit. I look for apartment cheap cheap am
*The symbol ๆ means that the word before it is repeated twice.
aspirin n. – แอสไพริน – áet-phai-rin
Just aspirin isn't going to cure this headache.
กิน แต่ แอสไพริน ไม่ หาย ปวดหัว หรอก
Gin dtàe* áet-phai-rin mâi hăi bpùat-hŭa ràwk.
lit. consume just aspirin not give cure headache (emph.)
*The word dtàe (แต่), used above to mean just, also means but.
badminton n. – แบดมินตัน – bàet-min-dtân
You play badminton like my grandma.
แก เล่น แบดมินตัน เหมือน ยาย ของ ฉัน
Gae lên bàet* mĕuan yai khăwng chăn.
lit. you play badminton like grandmother me
*The word bàet-min-dtân (แบดมินตัน) is often shortened to bàet (แบด).
bakery n. – เบเกอรี่ – bay-guh-rêe
I forgot to go to the bakery and pick up the bread.
ฉัน ลืม ไป รับ ขนมปัง ที่ เบเกอรี่
Chăn leum bpai ráp khà-nŏm-bpang thêe bay-guh-rêe.
lit. I forget go get bread* at bakery
*bread (ขนมปัง) = khà-nŏm (ขนม) snack/sweets + bpang (ปัง) bread
ball n. – บอล – bawn
Let's kick the ball around.
เตะ ลูกบอล กันเถอะ
Dtè lôok-bawn* gan-thùh.
lit. kick ball let's
*The word for ball is often extended to lôok-bawn (ลูกบอล), the word lôok (ลูก) being both a classifier for small round objects and the word for child.
bar n. – บาร์ – bah
What? They don't have a salad bar anymore?
อะไร นะ ไม่ มี สลัด บาร์ อีกแล้ว หรอ
À-rai ná? Mâi mee sà-làt bah èek-láeo lăw*?
lit. what (soften), not have salad bar anymore (question)
*While the word หรอ should technically be pronounced răw, it is nearly always pronounced as lăw. It is a variation of the question particle rěu (หรือ).
basketball n. – บาสเกตบอล – bàht-gèt-bawn
I beat him at basketball, so now he's lost face.
ผม เล่น บาสเกตบอล ชนะ เขา ก็เลย เสีย หน้า
Phŏm lên bàht-gèt-bawn chá-ná, kháo gâw-leuy sĭa nâh.
lit. I play basketball* win, he thus lose face
*The word bàht-gèt-bawn (บาสเกตบอล) is often shortened to just bàht (บาส).
battery n. – แบตเตอรี่ – bàet-dtuh-rêe
Do you have any double A batteries?
มี แบตเตอรี่ ดับเบิล เอ มั้ย
Mee bàet-dtuh-rêe* dàp-bûhn ay mái.
lit. have battery double A (question)
*The word bàet-dtuh-rêe (แบตเตอรี่) is sometimes abbreviated to bàet (แบต), like the word for badminton.
bikini. n. – บิกินี – bì-gì-nêe
I'll be the girl wearing the white bikini.
ฉัน จะ เป็น สาว ที่ ใส่ บิกินี สีขาว
Chăn jà bpen săo* thêe sài bì-gì-nêe sĕe-khăo.
lit. I will be girl who wear bikini white
*Note the word săo (สาว) is only used to refer to girls and young women. But in the Issan dialect the word phôo-săo (ผู้สาว) is the equivalent of the Thai word phôo-yĭng (ผู้หญิง) and refers to all women.
bingo n. – บิงโก – bing-go
He hurt his hand playing bingo. Don't ask me how.
เขา เจ็บ มือ ตอนที่ เล่น บิงโก อย่า ถาม ว่า ยังไง
Kháo jèp meu dtawn-thêe lên bing-go. Yàh thăhm wâh yang-ngai.
lit. he hurt hand while play bingo. Don't ask that how.
*while (ตอนที่) = dtawn (ตอน) period of time + thêe (ที่) that/at
boy/girlfriend n. – แฟน – faen
I'm not going out with you because you already have a girlfriend.
ฉัน ไม่ ได้ ไป เที่ยว กับ คุณ สักที เพราะ คุณ มี แฟน แล้ว
Chăn mâi dâi bpai thîo gàp khun sàk-thee, phráw khun mee faen* láeo.
lit. I not can go travel with you even once, because you have girlfriend already
*The word faen (แฟน) actually is derived from the English word fan (supporter) and can also be used to refer to one's wife or husband.
before (think gone) adv. – ก่อน – gàwn
Before this I was a porn star.
ก่อน นี้ เรา เป็น ดารา หนัง โป๊
Gàwn née rao bpen* dah-rah năng bpó.
lit. before this I am star movie porn
*The word bpen (เป็น) is a verb which can mean am, is, and are, but you cannot put an adjective after it.
bell (think ring) n. – กริ่ง – grìng
Ring the bell to buy everyone* a drink.
กด กริ่ง ซื้อ เครื่องดื่ม ให้ ทุกคน
Gòt grìng séu khrêuang-dèum hâi thúk-khon.
lit. push bell buy drink for everyone.
*everyone (ทุกคน) = thúk (ทุก) every/each + khon (คน) person/people
beer n. – เบีย – bia
Let's go, open up that beer!
เร็ว สิ เปิด เบีย ออกมา
Réo sì, bpùht bia àwk-mah!
lit. fast (urge), open beer come out*
*The phrase come out (àwk-mah) is used above as a directional marker that shows the speaker expects the action is moving towards him. In other words, the person opening the beer is going to be sharing that beer with the speaker.
bill n. – บิล – bin
Excuse me! We'll take the bill now.
น้อง เช็คบิล ด้วย นะ
Náwng*, chék-bin dûay ná.
lit. young person, check-bill (polite) (soften)
*In restaurants you can call the attention of your waiter/waitress with the word náwng (น้อง), which is how an older person commonly addresses a young person. It is not to be used though if the server is clearly older than you.
bitch (complain) v. – บ่น – bòn
Are you gonna keep bitchin'?
แก จะ บ่น ไป เรื่อย ป่ะ เนี่ย
Gae jà bòn bpai rêuay bpà* nîa
lit. you will go bitch always (question) (emph.)
*The word bpà (ป่ะ) is an informal question particle used in or not questions. It is commonly used by young Thais.
bonus n. – โบนัส – bo-nát
The boss is going to pay our bonuses separately.
เจ้านาย จะ จ่าย โบนัส ของ เรา แยกกัน
Jâo-nai jà jài bo-nát khăwng rao yâek-gan*.
lit. boss will pay bonus of us separately
*Whenever the action of the sentence is dealing with more than one person, the word gan (กัน) usually appears. In this case, it's attached to the word yâek (แยก), which means to separate.
bored adj. – เบื่อ – bèua
What do you mean, you're bored?
หมายความ ว่า ไง คุณ เบื่อ
Măi-khwahm wâh ngai khun bèua?
lit. means* that how you bored
*means (หมายความ) = măi (หมาย) mean/intend + khwahm (ความ) meaning/sense
bow n. – โบ – bo
That's crazy. You want me to put a bow on my ass, too?
บ้า แหละ เอา โบ ใส่ ก้น ด้วย มั้ย
Bâh làe. Ao bo sài gôn dûay mái?
lit. crazy (emph), want bow put on ass too (question)
*Try not to confuse bo (โบ) with bpó (โป๊), which means porn.
bowling n. – โบว์ลิ่ง – bo-lîng
When we're in Bangkok, do you want to go bowling?
เมื่อ อยู่ กรุงเทพ ไป โยน โบว์ลิ่ง มั้ย
Mêua yòo grung-thâyp, bpai yon bo-lîng mái*.
lit. when be in Bangkok, go throw bowling (question)
*In the Isaan dialect the word bàw (บ่อ) replaces the question particle mái (มั้ย) and often is preceded by the word yòo (อยู่).
brake n./v. – เบรก – bràyk
Can you fix my brakes by tomorrow?
คุณ ซ่อม เบรก ให้ เสร็จ พรุ่งนี้ ได้ มั้ย ครับ
Khun sâwm bràyk hâi sèt phrûng-née dâi mái khráp?
lit. you fix* brake to finish tomorrow can (question) (polite)
*The word for fix (ซ่อม) and fork (ส้อม) are pronounced the same (sâwm) but spelled differently.
brandy n. – บรั่นดี – bràn-dee
Slowly now. Brandy should be sipped.
ช้าๆ นะ คุณ ควรจะ จิบ บรั่นดี
Cháh cháh ná. Khun khuan-jà jìp bràn-dee.
lit. slowly slowly (soften), you should sip brandy
*Try not to confuse the word cháh (ช้า) with the word chah (ชา), which means tea.
brush v./n. – แปรง – pbraeng
Brush your teeth. Your breath really stinks!
แปรง ฟัน นะ ลมหายใจ เหม็น จัง เลย
Pbraeng fan ná. Lom-hăi-jai mĕn jang leuy!
lit. brush teeth (soften), breath* stinks really (emph.)!
*breath (ลมหายใจ) = lom (ลม) air/wind + hăi-jai (หายใจ) breathe
buffet n. – บุฟเฟ่ต์ – bùf-fây
Wow, that buffet was fantastic. I am so full.
ว้าว บุฟเฟ่ต์ สุดยอด นะ เรา อิ่ม มากๆ
Wáo, bùf-fây sùt-yâwt ná. Rao ìm mâhk mâhk*.
lit. wow, buffet excellent (soften), I full very very much
*In the Isaan dialect, the expression lăi lăi (หลายๆ) replaces mâhk mâhk (มากๆ), meaning very very much.
burst v. – ระเบิด – rá-bùht
If I eat one more dessert, I think I'll burst.
ถ้า กิน ของหวาน อีก จาน ฉัน คงจะ ระเบิด
Thâh gin khăwng-wăhn èek jahn chăn khong-jà rá-bùht.
lit. if eat dessert* another plate I may burst
*dessert (ของหวาน) = khăwng (ของ) things + wăhn (หวาน) sweet
bye int. – บาย – bai
Bye bye, take care of yourself.
บายๆ ดูแล ตัวเอง ด้วย นะ
Bai bai, doo-lae dtua-ayng dûay ná
lit. bye bye*, look after yourself too ok
*Note that the formal way to say goodbye is sà-wàt-dee (สวัสดี) + a polite particle, which is the same phrase one uses to greet people.
cabaret – คาบาเรต์ – khah-bah-ray
That cabaret is great. The lady-boys are outrageous.
คาบาเรต์ สนุก มาก กะเทย เวอร์ มาก เลย
Khah-bah-rây sà-nùk mâhk. Gà-theuy wûh* mâhk leuy.
lit. cabaret fun a lot, transvestites outrageous a lot (emph)
*The word wûh (เวอร์) is the shortened form of o-wûh (โอเวอร์), which comes from the English phrase over the top.
café n. – คาเฟ่ – kah-fây
What's happened? The café has closed down.
เกิด อะไร ขึ้น คาเฟ่ ปิดตัวลง
Gùht à-rai khêun*? Khah-fây bpìt-dtua-long.
lit. happen what arise, café close-self-down.
*The word khêun (ขึ้น) is also a verb used to describe the act of getting into a car, as one must step (rise) up to enter a vehicle.
caffeine n. – คาเฟอีน – khah-fay-een
Instant coffee doesn't have enough caffeine!
กาแฟ ผง มี คาเฟอีน ไม่ พอ เลย
Gah-fae phong mee khah-fay-een mâi phaw* leuy.
lit. coffee powder have caffeine not enough at all
*The word phaw (พอ) also means as soon as.
cake n. – เค้ก – khâyk
Happy Birthday! I made you a special cake.
แฮปปี้เบิร์ธเดย์ ฉัน ทำ เค้ก พิเศษ ให้ หนู นะ
Hâep-bpêe-bùht-day! Chăn tham kháyk phi-sàyt hái nǒo* ná.
lit. happy birthday, I make cake special for young child (soften)
*The word nǒo (หนู) literally means mouse, and it is used sometimes to address or refer to a young child instead of using their name or a personal pronoun.
camp n. – แคมป์ – khaem
Watch yourself at the camp. That farang teacher is a dirty old man.
ระวัง ตัว นะ อยู่ ที่ แคมป์ อาจารย์ ฝรั่ง นั่น เป็น เฒ่าหัวงู
Rá-wang dtua ná yòo thêe khaem. Ah-jahn fà-ràng nân bpen thâo-hŭa-ngoo.
lit. be careful self okay be at camp, teacher Westerner that is dirty old man*
*dirty old man (เฒ่าหัวงู) = thâo (เฒ่า) old + hûa (หัว) head + ngoo (งู) snake
cap n. – แก๊ป – gáep
I'm sorry, but please take off your cap.
ขอโทษ นะ ครับ แต่ ถอด หมวก แก๊ป ครับ
Khăw-thôt ná khráp, dtàe thàwt mùak gáep khráp.
lit. sorry* (softener) (polite), but take off hat cap (polite)
*sorry (ขอโทษ) = khăw (ขอ) ask/request + thôt (โทษ) blame/punishment
captain n. – กัปตัน – gàp-dtan
He is the captain of that lousy football team.
เขา เป็น กัปตัน ทีม ฟุตบอล ขี้กะโล้โท้
Kháo* bpen gàp-dtan theem fút-bawn khêe-gà-ló-thó.
lit. he is captain team football lousy.
*Try not to confuse the pronoun kháo (เขา) with the
word khâo (ข้าว), which means rice, or the word khào (ข่าว), which means news.
carry (think back) v. – แบก – bàek
You don't remember? I had to carry you home!
จำ ไม่ ได้ อ่ะ เรา ต้อง แบก คุณ กลับ บ้าน
Jam mâi dâi à? Rao dtâwng bàek* khun glàp bâhn.
lit. remember not can (question), I must carry you return home
*Note that the word bàek (แบก) is used mostly with heavy things which are burdensome to carry.
cartoon n. – การ์ตูน – gah-dtoon
I've never drawn a sexy cartoon.
ฉัน ไม่เคย วาด การ์ตูน เซ็กซี่ หรอก
Chăn mâi-kheuy wâht gah-dtoon sék-sêe ràwk*.
lit. I never draw* cartoon sexy (emph.)
*The word ràwk (หรอก) is a particle used only in sentences with a negative, and often implies that something is not as the other person thought.
cashier n. – แคชเชียร์ – khâet-chia
I think I'm going to ask out that cashier.
เรา คิด ว่า จะ ชวน แคชเชียร์ ไป ออก เดท
Rao* khít wâh jà chuan khâet-chia bpai àwk dàyt.
lit. I think that will invite cashier go out date
*Note that the word rao (ราว)—which is spelled differ-ently and has a longer vowel sound than the rao (เรา) seen above—means about, around, or approximately.
casino n. – กาสิโน – gah-sì-nô
I lost all my money at the casino.
เรา เสีย เงิน เรา ทั้งหมด ที่ กาสิโน
Rao sĭa nguhn rao tháng-mòt thêe gah-sì-nô.
lit. I lose money me all* at casino.
*all (ทั้งหมด) = tháng (สูญ) all/whole + mòt (หมด) completely
cassette n – คาสเซ็ต – khah-sét
Do you have the cassette that comes with this textbook?
มี คาสเซ็ต มา กับ แบบเรียน หรือ เปล่า
Mee khah-sét mah gàp bàep-rian rĕu bplào?
lit. have cassette come with textbook* or not