No matter in Thai

“No matter” in Thai is ไม่ว่าmâi wâa.

ไม่ว่า mâi wâa

no matter (what, who, where …), regardless of conjunction also in speech

mâi falling
wâa falling

Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”

How to use it

ไม่ว่าmâi wâa is "no matter": add a question word, and start the second half with ก็gâw: ไม่ว่าที่ไหนmâi wâa tîi-nǎi, wherever; ไม่ว่าอะไรmâi wâa à-rai, whatever. With หรือrǔue it's "whether … or …". You'll hear it in careful speech as well as read it.

In casual talk Thais often say ยังไงก็yang-ngai gâw, "anyway, whatever happens".

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:

mai wa
maiwa

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