Specify in Thai

“Specify” in Thai is ระบุrá-bù.

ระบุ rá-bù

to specify, to state, to identify verb formal

rá high
bù low

High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

How to use it

ระบุrá-bù is to state something exactly: on forms, โปรดระบุbpròot rá-bù, please specify, often sits next to "other"; in the news, ไม่ระบุชื่อmâi rá-bù chûue is "unnamed".

In conversation Thais say บอกbàwk (tell) or เขียนkǐan (write): เขียนชื่อตรงนี้kǐan chûue dtrong-níi, write your name here.

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:

rabuu

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)

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