Describing thingsClose (to someone) in Thai
“Close (to someone)” in Thai is สนิทsà-nìt; you'll also hear ใกล้ชิดglâi-chít (close contact).
close (to someone), intimate; tightly, soundly adjective
- sà low
- nìt low
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
close, in close contact adjective
- glâi falling
- chít high
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
How to use it
สนิทsà-nìt is being close to someone: a เพื่อนสนิทpûean sà-nìt is a close friend or best friend, and สนิทกันsà-nìt gan means two people are close. It also means "completely, tightly": หลับสนิทlàp sà-nìt is sleeping soundly, and a lid that closes สนิทsà-nìt shuts tight. ใกล้ชิดglâi-chít, "near and touching", is close contact: family, colleagues who work side by side. Being physically near is ใกล้glâi.
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:
- sanid
- sanidd
- klai chit
More describing things in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones