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Formal words

That is to say in Thai

“That is to say” in Thai is กล่าวคือglàao-kuue.

กล่าวคือ glàao-kuue

that is (to say), i.e. conjunction written

  • glàao low
  • kuue mid
  • Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

How to use it

กล่าวคือglàao-kuue, "(it is) said, (it) is", introduces an explanation of what came before: "that is to say", "i.e.". It belongs to writing and lectures.

In conversation Thais use คือkuue on its own, often stretched while they think, or พูดง่ายๆก็คือpûut ngâai-ngâai gâw kuue, "to put it simply".

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:

  • klao khue
  • glao kuu
  • klao keu
  • klaokhue

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