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Verbs

Flow in Thai

“Flow” in Thai is ไหลlǎi.

ไหล lǎi

to flow, to run (water, tears) verb

  • lǎi rising
  • Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”

How to use it

ไหลlǎi is anything liquid on the move: a river, tap water, tears, a runny nose, น้ำมูกไหลnáam-mûuk lǎi. น้ำไม่ไหลnáam mâi lǎi, "the water doesn't flow", is how you tell your condo office the taps have run dry. Mind the tone: rising ไหลlǎi flows, while low ไหล่lài is your shoulder.

Don't mix it up

  • ไหล่lài

    shoulder

    Low tone: your shoulder.

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:

  • lhai
  • laii

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