Say (formal) in Thai

“Say (formal)” in Thai is กล่าวglàao; you'll also hear กล่าวถึงglàao-tǔeng (formal).

กล่าว glàao

to say, to state (formal); to give (a speech, thanks) verb

glàao low

Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

กล่าวถึง glàao-tǔeng

to mention, to refer to (formal) verb

glàao low
tǔeng 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?”

How to use it

กล่าวglàao is "to say" in news reports, speeches and formal writing: กล่าวว่าglàao wâa, said that …, and กล่าวขอบคุณglàao kàwp-kun, to give thanks in a speech. กล่าวถึงglàao-tǔeng is the formal "mention", and ดังกล่าวdang-glàao, "as said", means "the one just mentioned".

In conversation Thais say พูดpûut (speak, say), บอกbàwk (tell) or ว่าwâa: เขาบอกว่าkǎo bàwk wâa, he said that ….

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:

klao
glao
klaw
klao thueng

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