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Verbs

Take in Thai

“Take” in Thai is เอาao; you'll also hear เอาไปao bpai (take away, take along) and พาpaa (take someone).

เอา ao

to take, to have (a thing, a choice) verb

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

เอาao is for choosing: เอาอันนี้ao an níi (I'll take this one). ไม่เอาmâi ao is a plain 'no, I don't want it'.

เอาไป ao bpai

to take (something) away, to take along verb

  • ao mid
  • bpai mid
  • Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.
พา paa

to take, to bring (a person or an animal) verb take someone

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

Taught in Unit 5 · Lesson 2: Ordering of the free course.

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How to use it

Thai builds "take" from เอาao, to take, plus a direction: เอาไปao bpai is "take it away", เอามาao maa is "bring it here". In a shop, เอาอันนี้ao an níi simply means "I'll take this one".

People and animals are led, with พาpaa: พาหมาไปเดินเล่นpaa mǎa bpai doen-lên, take the dog for a walk. Many English "takes" are other verbs: a photo is ถ่ายรูปtàai-rûup, medicine is กินยาgin yaa, a taxi is นั่งแท็กซี่nâng táek-sîi, and time is ใช้เวลาchái wee-laa.

Don't mix it up

  • ผ้าpâa

    cloth, fabric

    Falling tone: cloth.

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:

  • aow
  • ao pai
  • pa

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 5, free

Unit 5 · Street food · Ordering. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.

Practise it free (2 min) See Unit 5

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