Proceed in Thai

“Proceed” in Thai is ดำเนินการdam-noen-gaan; you'll also hear ดำเนินdam-noen (formal).

ดำเนินการ dam-noen-gaan

to proceed, to take action; to process (formal) verb

dam mid
noen mid
gaan mid

Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

ดำเนิน dam-noen

to go on, to proceed; to run (a business, a life) verb formal

dam mid
noen mid

Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

How to use it

ดำเนินการdam-noen-gaan is the all-purpose official verb for getting something done: processing an application, handling a complaint, taking action. กำลังดำเนินการgam-lang dam-noen-gaan, "in progress", is a status you'll see in apps and on websites. ดำเนินdam-noen alone means to go on or to run: ดำเนินชีวิตdam-noen chii-wít, to live one's life.

In conversation staff say จัดการให้jàt-gaan hâi, "we'll sort it out for you", and everyone else says ทำtam, to do.

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:

damnoen kan
damnern karn
damnoenkan

More formal words in Thai

All formal words

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)
จึง jueng Therefore
so, therefore (before the verb of the result)

Learn Thai with the free course

A complete course from your first phrase to real conversations, with audio for every word and AI speaking practice. Free, no sign-up needed.

Start the free course

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