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Verbs

Should in Thai

“Should” in Thai is ควรkuan; you'll also hear น่าจะnâa-jà (probably; should).

ควร kuan

should, ought to verb

  • kuan mid
  • Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

Softer than ต้องdtâwng: it's advice, not a rule, and 'shouldn't' is ไม่ควรmâi kuan.

น่าจะ nâa-jà

probably; should (it would be best to) adverb

  • nâa falling
  • jà low
  • Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
  • Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

A soft guess (น่าจะดีnâa-jà dii it's probably good) or soft advice (น่าจะลองnâa-jà lawng you should give it a try).

Taught in Unit 16 · Lesson 2: Medicine and the doctor of the free course.

Practise it free

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:

  • khuan
  • kuun

More verbs in Thai

All verbs
  • เป็น bpen Be

    to be (a nationality, a job, a role)

  • มี mii Have

    to have

  • ไป bpai Go

    to go

  • มา maa Come

    to come

  • กิน gin Eat

    to eat

  • ดื่ม dùuem Drink

    to drink

Learn this word in Unit 16, free

Unit 16 · At the clinic · Medicine and the doctor. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.

Practise it free (2 min) See Unit 16

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