Generally in Thai

“Generally” in Thai is โดยทั่วไปdooi tûa-bpai; you'll also hear ทั่วไปtûa-bpai (formal).

โดยทั่วไป dooi tûa-bpai

generally, in general adverb formal

dooi mid
tûa falling
bpai mid

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

ทั่วไป tûa-bpai

general, ordinary; all over adjective formal

tûa falling
bpai mid

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

How to use it

โดยทั่วไปdooi tûa-bpai, "generally", is how formal Thai states the usual case. ทั่วไปtûa-bpai alone means "general, ordinary": บุคคลทั่วไปbùk-kon tûa-bpai, the general public, is on every ticket board, next to the price for students or children.

In conversation Thais say ปกติbpòk-gà-dtì, "normally": ปกติร้านเปิดสิบโมงbpòk-gà-dtì ráan bpòet sìp moong, the shop usually opens at ten.

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:

doi thua pai
doy tua pai
tua pai

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