Learn Thai For Free

Sign in Start free

Shake in Thai

“Shake” in Thai is สั่นsàn; you'll also hear เขย่าkà-yào (shake something).

สั่น sàn

to shake, to tremble verb

sàn low

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

เขย่า kà-yào

to shake (something) verb

kà low
yào low

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

You'll hear สั่นsàn in I Won't Tell You (ไม่บอกเธอ).

How to use it

สั่นsàn, with a low tone, is shaking by itself: cold or nervous hands, a voice, a phone on vibrate, the ground in an earthquake. Shaking something, a bottle or a cocktail, is เขย่าkà-yào. Shaking hands is จับมือjàp muue, and shaking your head to say no is ส่ายหน้าsàai nâa.

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:

kha yao
khayao

Read more

Song I Won't Tell You (ไม่บอกเธอ) A secret-crush love song that the teen series Hormones (2013) turned into a nationwide hit. A boy is head over heels but won't say a word, afraid it's too soon and that she'd walk away. Its lines are clear A2 Thai about feelings: want to, almost, when, too soon, good enough, and a heart that trembles.

More verbs in Thai

เป็น bpen Be in Thai
to be (a nationality, a job, a role)
มี mii Have in Thai
to have
ไป bpai Go in Thai
to go
มา maa Come in Thai
to come
กิน gin Eat in Thai
to eat
ดื่ม dùuem Drink in Thai
to drink

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