Die in Thai

“Die” in Thai is ตายdtaai; you'll also hear เสียชีวิตsǐa-chii-wít (polite, formal).

ตาย dtaai

to die; dead verb

dtaai mid

Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

เสียชีวิต sǐa-chii-wít

to die, to pass away (polite, formal) verb

sǐa rising
chii mid
wít high

Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.

How to use it

ตายdtaai is the plain word, fine for animals, plants and in jokes. For a person, it can sound blunt: the news and polite talk say เสียชีวิตsǐa-chii-wít, "lose life", and families often keep just the first half: ยายเสียแล้วyaai sǐa láew, Grandma has passed away.

ตายdtaai is also an everyday intensifier: ร้อนจะตายráwn jà dtaai, hot enough to die, and ตายแล้วdtaai láew, "oh my god!".

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:

taai
sia chiwit
sia chee wit

More verbs in Thai

All verbs

เป็น bpen Be
to be (a nationality, a job, a role)
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

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