Small wordsเอง (eng) in Thai: what it means and how to use it
เองeeng after a word means “myself, by oneself”, or “just, only”.
oneself, by oneself; just, only adverb
- eeng mid
- Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.
How to use it
เองeeng after a verb means "myself, yourself, by oneself": ทำเองtam eeng, I made it myself; ไปเองได้bpai eeng dâi, I can go on my own. เดี๋ยวจ่ายเองdǐaw jàai eeng, "I'll pay myself", is how a Thai friend tells you the meal is on them.
After an amount, a time or a place it means "just, only": แค่นี้เองkâe níi eeng, is that all?; ห้านาทีเองhâa naa-tii eeng, only five minutes. The pronoun "oneself" is ตัวเองdtua-eeng, which young couples also use for "you".
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:
- eng
- aeng
- ehng
- ayng
More small words in Thai
All small words
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones