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Formal words

However in Thai

“However” in Thai is อย่างไรก็ตามyàang-rai gâw dtaam; you'll also hear ยังไงก็ตามyang-ngai gâw dtaam (spoken).

อย่างไรก็ตาม yàang-rai gâw dtaam

however, nevertheless conjunction written

  • yàang low
  • rai mid
  • gâw falling
  • dtaam mid
  • Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
  • Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
ยังไงก็ตาม yang-ngai gâw dtaam

however, anyway (spoken) conjunction

  • yang mid
  • ngai mid
  • gâw falling
  • dtaam mid
  • Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”

How to use it

อย่างไรก็ตามyàang-rai gâw dtaam, "however it may be", is the written "however": it opens a sentence that limits or contrasts with what came before. In speech the same phrase becomes ยังไงก็ตามyang-ngai gâw dtaam.

In a quick chat, plain แต่dtàe (but) or ยังไงก็yang-ngai gâw (anyway) does the job.

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:

  • yang rai ko tam
  • yangrai gor tam
  • yang ngai ko tam

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