Small wordsSomething in Thai
“Something” in Thai is บางอย่างbaang yàang; you'll also hear อะไรà-rai (in questions and offers).
something, some things pronoun
- baang mid
- yàang low
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
what question word in questions and offers
- à low
- rai mid
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
Question words sit where the answer would go, usually at the end: ชื่ออะไรchûue à-rai, 'called what?'.
อะไรà-rai is taught in Unit 2 · Lesson 1: What's your name? of the free course.
Practise it freeHow to use it
บางอย่างbaang yàang, "some kind", is something you have in mind but don't name, and อะไรบางอย่างà-rai baang yàang is something you can't quite place. In questions and offers, plain อะไรà-rai, what, already means something: กินอะไรหน่อยไหมgin à-rai nàwy mǎi, want something to eat? In the same way ใครkrai, who, is someone, and ที่ไหนtîi-nǎi, where, is somewhere.
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:
- bang yang
- bangyang
More small words in Thai
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Learn this word in Unit 2, free
Unit 2 · Nice to meet you · What's your name? 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