Firstly in Thai

“Firstly” in Thai is ประการแรกbprà-gaan râek; you'll also hear ประการbprà-gaan (formal).

ประการแรก bprà-gaan râek

firstly, first (in a formal list) adverb

bprà low
gaan mid
râek falling

Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”

ประการ bprà-gaan

point, item (formal counting word for reasons and points) classifier

bprà low
gaan mid

Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

How to use it

ประการแรกbprà-gaan râek is "firstly" in speeches and essays, followed by ประการที่สองbprà-gaan tîi sǎwng, secondly, and so on. ประการbprà-gaan is a formal counting word for points and reasons: สามประการsǎam bprà-gaan, three points.

In conversation Thais say อย่างแรกyàang râek, the first thing, or ก่อนอื่นgàwn ùuen, first of all.

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:

prakan raek
pra kan rak

More formal words in Thai

All formal words

การ gaan Kaan (prefix)
-ing, -tion: turns a verb into a noun (the act of …)
ความ kwaam Kwaam (prefix)
-ness (turns a verb or adjective into a noun)
ผู้ pûu Phu (prefix)
person (who …): makes words for people, like -er
นัก nák Nak (prefix)
-er, -ist: someone who does it (as a job or a passion)
ซึ่ง sûeng Who, which (formal)
which, who (adds information; formal, written)
เมื่อ mûea When (formal)
when, once (formal)

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