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VerbsFeelings

Tease in Thai

“Tease” in Thai is แซวsaew; you'll also hear แกล้งglâeng (play a trick on) and ล้อเล่นláw-lên (just kidding).

แซว saew

to tease (in fun) verb

  • saew mid
  • Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.
แกล้ง glâeng

to tease, to play a trick on; to pretend verb

  • glâeng falling
  • Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
ล้อเล่น láw-lên

to joke, to tease; just kidding verb

  • láw high
  • lên falling
  • High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
  • Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”

How to use it

แซวsaew is friendly teasing, a big part of Thai humour: about your accent, your new haircut, the person you were seen with. Laugh and tease back. แกล้งglâeng is playing tricks on someone, and ล้อเล่นláw-lên is "just kidding". Teasing that turns mean, bullying, is กลั่นแกล้งglàn-glâeng.

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:

  • saeo
  • klaeng
  • lor len

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

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