Small wordsHow in Thai
“How” in Thai is ยังไงyang-ngai; you'll also hear แค่ไหนkâe-nǎi (how much, to what extent) and ไงngai (casual).
how question word
- yang mid
- ngai mid
- Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.
Spoken Thai; on signs and in writing you'll see อย่างไรyàang-rai.
how much, to what extent question word
- kâe falling
- nǎi rising
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
how? (short form) question word casual
- ngai mid
- Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.
Taught in Unit 6 · Lesson 1: Question words of the free course.
Practise it freeHow to use it
ยังไงyang-ngai goes at the end, after the verb: ไปยังไงbpai yang-ngai, how do I get there? Among friends it shrinks to ไงngai, as in เป็นไงบ้างbpen ngai bâang, how's it going? To ask how much or how far something goes, put แค่ไหนkâe-nǎi after a describing word: ไกลแค่ไหนglai kâe-nǎi, how far?
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:
- yangai
- yung ngai
- yang ngay
More small words in Thai
All small words
Learn this word in Unit 6, free
Unit 6 · Questions, questions · Question words. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.
Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones