Small wordsIf in Thai
“If” in Thai is ถ้าtâa; you'll also hear ถ้าเกิดว่าtâa gòet wâa (if it happens that).
ถ้า tâa
if conjunction
- tâa falling
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
Falling tone, with a long aa. The result often starts with ก็gâw: ถ้าว่างก็มานะtâa wâang gâw maa ná If you're free, come over.
ถ้าเกิดว่า tâa gòet wâa
if (it happens that), if ever conjunction
- tâa falling
- gòet low
- wâa falling
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
A longer, very common spoken form of ถ้าtâa (if).
Taught in Unit 23 · Lesson 2: Advice and the bill of the free course.
Practise it freeOther 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:
- ta
- tha
More small words in Thai
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Learn this word in Unit 23, free
Unit 23 · If I were you · Advice and the bill. 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