Small wordsas long as conjunction
- dtràap low
- dai mid
- tîi falling
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
In speech, ถ้าtâa… ยังyang… (if… still…) often says the same.
You'll hear it in True Love (รักแท้).
How to use it
ตราบใดที่dtràap dai tîi, "for as long as", sets a condition that has to keep holding, often with ยังyang, still: as long as you still love me, as long as I'm alive. It's a little formal, at home in songs, speeches and rules. In everyday talk Thais say ถ้าtâa, if, or ขอแค่kǎw kâe, "all I ask is": ขอแค่ฝนไม่ตกก็พอkǎw kâe fǒn mâi dtòk gâw paw, as long as it doesn't rain, I'm happy. Staying as long as you like is staying นานเท่าที่อยากnaan tâo tîi yàak.
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:
- trap dai thi
- traap dai tee
- trab dai tee
Read more
More small words in Thai
All small words- คุณ kun You in Thai
- เขา kǎo He, she in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones