Be able to in Thai

“Be able to” is สามารถsǎa-mâat in formal Thai; in everyday speech Thais just say ได้dâi after the verb.

สามารถ sǎa-mâat

to be able to, can (formal) verb

sǎa rising
mâat falling

Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”

ได้ dâi

can; okay, possible verb everyday

dâi falling

Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”

Answer ได้ไหมdâi mǎi with ได้dâi (yes) or ไม่ได้mâi dâi (no).

ได้dâi is taught in Unit 4 · Lesson 2: Paying at 7-Eleven of the free course.

Practise it free

How to use it

สามารถsǎa-mâat goes before the verb, usually with ได้dâi after it: สามารถใช้ได้sǎa-mâat chái dâi, can be used. You'll see it on signs, in instructions and in job ads, and it's right for interviews and emails.

In conversation Thais leave it out and say ได้dâi after the verb: พูดไทยได้pûut tai dâi, I can speak Thai. Using สามารถsǎa-mâat in a chat sounds like reading from a manual. "Ability" is ความสามารถkwaam sǎa-mâat.

Other spellings you'll see

There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:

samart
samat
sa mat
samard
sa maat

More formal words in Thai

All formal words

การ gaan Kaan (prefix)
-ing, -tion: turns a verb into a noun (the act of …)
ผู้ pûu Phu (prefix)
person (who …): makes words for people, like -er
นัก nák Nak (prefix)
-er, -ist: someone who does it (as a job or a passion)
ซึ่ง sûeng Who, which (formal)
which, who (adds information; formal, written)
เมื่อ mûea When (formal)
when, once (formal)
จึง jueng Therefore
so, therefore (before the verb of the result)

Learn this word in Unit 4, free

Unit 4 · How much is it? · Paying at 7-Eleven. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.

Practise it free (2 min) See Unit 4

Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones