Tend to in Thai

“Tend to” in Thai is มักmák; you'll also hear มักจะmák-jà (spoken).

มัก mák

tend to, usually (written) adverb

mák high

High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.

มักจะ mák-jà

tend to, usually adverb spoken

mák high
jà 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

มักmák before a verb means something tends to happen, often enough to expect it. In speech Thais usually add จะjà: มักจะmák-jà.

Similar everyday words: ปกติbpòk-gà-dtì, "usually, normally", at the start of the sentence, and บ่อยbàwy, "often", after the verb: มาบ่อยmaa bàwy, I come here often.

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:

muk
muk ja

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)

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