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Formal words

These (formal) in Thai

“These (formal)” in Thai is เหล่านี้lào-níi; you'll also hear เหล่านั้นlào-nán (written).

เหล่านี้ lào-níi

these (formal; after a noun) adjective written

  • lào low
  • níi high
  • Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
  • High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
เหล่านั้น lào-nán

those (formal; after a noun) adjective written

  • lào low
  • nán high
  • Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
  • High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.

How to use it

เหล่านี้lào-níi and เหล่านั้นlào-nán are the written "these" and "those". They come after the noun: ปัญหาเหล่านี้bpan-hǎa lào-níi, these problems.

In conversation Thais say พวกนี้pûak níi and พวกนั้นpûak nán, or simply นี้níi after the noun.

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:

  • lao nee
  • lao ni
  • laonee

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