Describing thingsSuitable in Thai
“Suitable” in Thai is เหมาะmàw; you'll also hear เหมาะสมmàw-sǒm (formal).
suitable; to suit adjective
- màw low
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
appropriate, proper (formal) adjective
- màw low
- sǒm rising
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
How to use it
เหมาะmàw is suitable, and เหมาะกับmàw gàp, "suitable with", is how Thai says something suits someone: a colour, a job, a couple. The formal เหมาะสมmàw-sǒm is the word for proper dress and behaviour: shorts and bare shoulders at a temple are ไม่เหมาะสมmâi màw-sǒm, not appropriate.
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:
- mo
- mor
- mo som
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More describing things in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones