Describing thingsSmart in Thai
“Smart” in Thai is ฉลาดchà-làat; you'll also hear เก่งgèng (good at something).
smart, clever, intelligent adjective
- chà low
- làat low
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
good at (something), skilful; clever adjective
- gèng low
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
Plain g with no puff of air, and a low tone. After a verb it means 'well': ร้องเพลงเก่งráwng-pleeng gèng sings well.
เก่งgèng is taught in Unit 13 · Lesson 2: Skills and hobbies of the free course.
Practise it freeHow to use it
ฉลาดchà-làat is clever or intelligent. เก่งgèng is being good at something, and it's the compliment you'll hear most as a learner: พูดไทยเก่งมากpûut tai gèng mâak, you speak Thai so well! The modest reply is นิดหน่อยnít-nàwy, just a little, or ยังไม่เก่งyang mâi gèng, not yet.
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:
- chalat
- chalaad
- chalard
- cha lat
More describing things in Thai
All describing things
Learn this word in Unit 13, free
Unit 13 · Can you speak Thai? · Skills and hobbies. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.
Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones