Absent-minded in Thai

“Absent-minded” in Thai is ใจลอยjai-lawy.

ใจลอย jai-lawy

absent-minded, distracted, miles away adjective

jai mid
lawy mid

Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

Parts: ใจjai heart, mind ลอยlawy to float

How to use it

ใจลอยjai-lawy, "floating heart", is when your mind drifts off: in a meeting, in class, behind the wheel. Thais say it about themselves to apologise for not listening, and tease lovesick friends who stare at their phones with it. ลอยlawy is the same "float" as in ลอยกระทงlawy grà-tong.

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:

jai loy
jai loi
chai loi

More everyday expressions in Thai

All everyday expressions

สวัสดี sà-wàt-dii Hello
ยินดีต้อนรับ yin-dii dtâwn-ráp Welcome
ขอบคุณ kàwp-kun Thank you
ขอโทษ kǎw-tôot Sorry
ไม่เป็นไร mâi bpen rai Never mind
it's okay
ใช่ châi Yes

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