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Formal words

ความ (kwaam) in Thai: the prefix for -ness

ความkwaam turns a Thai describing word or a verb of thinking and feeling into a noun, like English “-ness”: สุขsùk is happy, ความสุขkwaam sùk is happiness.

ความ kwaam

-ness (turns a verb or adjective into a noun) noun prefix

  • kwaam mid
  • Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

How to use it

ความkwaam names a quality, a feeling or an idea: ความรักkwaam rák, love; ความเร็วkwaam rew, speed; ความคิดkwaam kít, a thought or idea. Some have become words of their own, like ความหมายkwaam-mǎai (meaning).

Its partner การgaan names actions: การเรียนgaan rian is studying, while ความรู้kwaam-rúu is knowledge, what you know. Signs and notices are full of these nouns, like ความปลอดภัยkwaam bplàwt-pai (safety). In conversation Thais usually say the plain word instead: ปลอดภัยไหมbplàwt-pai mǎi, is it safe?

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:

  • kwam
  • khwam
  • kuam

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More formal words in Thai

All formal words
  • 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)

  • จึง jueng Therefore

    so, therefore (before the verb of the result)

  • ต่างๆ dtàang-dtàang Various

    various, all kinds of (after the noun)

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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones