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Describing things

Difficult in Thai

“Difficult” in Thai is ยากyâak; you'll also hear ลำบากlam-bàak (hard, tough (life)).

ยาก yâak

difficult, hard adjective

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

Falling tone, with a long aa. Don't mix it up with low-tone อยากyàak (to want to).

ลำบาก lam-bàak

hard, tough (life, situation) adjective

  • lam mid
  • bàak low
  • Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

Taught in Unit 13 · Lesson 1: Learning Thai of the free course.

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Don't mix it up

  • อยากyàak

    to want to

    Low tone: to want to.

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:

  • yak
  • yark

More describing things in Thai

All describing things
  • ดี dii Good
  • ไม่ดี mâi dii Bad

    bad, not good

  • ดีกว่า dii gwàa Better
  • ดีที่สุด dii tîi-sùt Best

    the best

  • ชอบที่สุด châwp tîi-sùt Favourite

    favourite (literally 'like the most')

  • สุดยอด sùt-yâwt Awesome

    awesome, amazing, the best

Learn this word in Unit 13, free

Unit 13 · Can you speak Thai? · Learning Thai. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.

Practise it free (2 min) See Unit 13

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