Meaning in Thai

“Meaning” in Thai is ความหมายkwaam-mǎai.

ความหมาย kwaam-mǎai

meaning noun

  • kwaam mid
  • mǎai rising
  • Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
Parts: ความkwaam (turns a verb into a noun) หมายmǎai to mean, to intend

How to use it

Thai names are chosen for their ความหมายkwaam-mǎai, and people enjoy explaining theirs. To ask what a word means, though, Thais use a verb: แปลว่าอะไรbplae wâa à-rai, "translates as what?", or, about what someone is trying to say, หมายความว่าอะไรmǎai-kwaam-wâa à-rai, what do you mean?

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:

  • khwam mai
  • kwam mai

More work and study in Thai

All work and study
  • ทำงาน tam-ngaan Work

    to work

  • เลิกงาน lôek-ngaan Finish work

    to finish work (for the day)

  • ประชุม bprà-chum Meeting
  • หัวหน้า hǔa-nâa Boss

    boss, manager, head (of a team)

  • เงินเดือน ngoen-duean Salary

    salary (monthly pay)

  • สัมภาษณ์ sǎm-pâat Interview

    to interview

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