News and societyLaw in Thai
“Law” in Thai is กฎหมายgòt-mǎai; you'll also hear พระราชบัญญัติprá-râat-chá-ban-yàt (an Act).
law noun
- gòt low
- mǎai rising
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
an Act (a law passed by parliament) noun
- prá high
- râat falling
- chá high
- ban mid
- yàt low
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
How to use it
กฎหมายgòt-mǎai is the law, and a law. Illegal is ผิดกฎหมายpìt gòt-mǎai, "wrong by the law", and legal is ถูกกฎหมายtùuk gòt-mǎai, "right by the law". A lawyer is a ทนายtá-naai.
Each law passed by parliament is a พระราชบัญญัติprá-râat-chá-ban-yàt, an Act, written พ.ร.บ.paw-raw-baw and said that way too, as in the compulsory motor insurance everyone calls พ.ร.บ.paw-raw-baw. Its numbered sections are มาตราmâat-dtraa.
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:
- kot mai
- kodmai
- godmai
- kot mhai
- phra ratchabanyat
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones