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Back then in Thai

“Back then” in Thai is ตอนนั้นdtawn-nán.

ตอนนั้น dtawn-nán

then, at that time adverb

  • dtawn mid
  • nán high
  • High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.

How to use it

ตอนนั้นdtawn-nán, "that time", points back to a moment in the past: ตอนนั้นยังเด็กdtawn-nán yang dèk, I was still a kid then. Its partners are ตอนนี้dtawn-níi, now, and ตอนที่dtawn-tîi, when, which starts a whole clause. Long ago, in the old days, is สมัยก่อนsà-mǎi gàwn. "Then" as in "and then, next" is แล้วláew or แล้วก็láew gâw.

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:

  • ton nan
  • tawn nan
  • torn nan

More small words in Thai

All small words
  • ผม pǒm I

    I, me (male speaker)

  • คุณ kun You
  • เขา kǎo He, she
  • เรา rao We

    we, us

  • พวกเขา pûak-kǎo They

    they, them

  • ทุกคน túk kon Everyone

    everyone, everybody

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