Can in Thai

“Can” in Thai is ได้dâi; you'll also hear ไหวwǎi (can manage, can take it).

ได้ dâi

can; okay, possible verb can, may; okay

dâi falling

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

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

ไหว wǎi

can manage, can handle (physically) verb can manage, can take it

wǎi rising

Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”

Rising tone. Falling ไหว้wâai is the wai greeting.

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

Practise it free

How to use it

ได้dâi goes after the verb: ไปได้bpai dâi, I can go; ได้ไหมdâi mǎi, is that okay? For skills you learned, Thais often use เป็นbpen: ว่ายน้ำเป็นไหมwâai-náam bpen mǎi, can you swim? ไหวwǎi is about strength or stamina: ไม่ไหวแล้วmâi wǎi láew, I can't take any more.

Before a noun, ได้dâi means "get": ได้เงินเดือนแล้วdâi ngoen-duean láew, I've been paid.

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:

dai mai
wai mai

More verbs in Thai

All verbs

มี mii Have
to have
ไป bpai Go
to go
มา maa Come
to come
กิน gin Eat
to eat
ดื่ม dùuem Drink
to drink
อยาก yàak Want
to want to (+ verb)

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