Poor in Thai

“Poor” in Thai is จนjon; you'll also hear ยากจนyâak-jon (formal).

จน jon

poor; (casual) broke adjective everyday

jon mid

Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

ยากจน yâak-jon

poor, poverty-stricken (formal) adjective

yâak falling
jon mid

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

How to use it

จนjon is the everyday word, and among friends it just means "broke": เดือนนี้จนduean níi jon, I'm skint this month. News and formal Thai say ยากจนyâak-jon, poor, and poverty is ความยากจนkwaam yâak-jon.

The same spelling also means "until": กินจนอิ่มgin jon ìm, eat until you're full.

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:

chon
john

More describing things in Thai

All describing things

ดี dii Good
ไม่ดี mâi dii Bad
bad, not good
ดีกว่า dii gwàa Better
ดีที่สุด dii tîi-sùt Best
the best
ชอบที่สุด châwp tîi-sùt Favourite
favourite (literally 'like the most')
สุดยอด sùt-yâwt Awesome
awesome, amazing, the best

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