Formal wordsType (kind, category) in Thai
“Type (kind, category)” in Thai is ประเภทbprà-pêet; you'll also hear ชนิดchá-nít (formal) and แบบbàep (everyday).
type, category noun formal
- bprà low
- pêet falling
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
kind, sort; species noun formal
- chá high
- nít high
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
way, style, kind noun everyday
- bàep low
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
แบบนี้bàep níi (like this) is everywhere; แบบไหนbàep nǎi asks 'which kind?' or 'how?'.
แบบbàep is taught in Unit 13 · Lesson 1: Learning Thai of the free course.
Practise it freeHow to use it
ประเภทbprà-pêet is a type or a category: room types, visa types, film genres. ชนิดchá-nít is a kind or a species, for fruit, plants, animals and products. Both also work in conversation, but Thais more often say แบบbàep: เอาแบบไหนao bàep nǎi, which kind do you want?
Typing on a keyboard is another word: see type.
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:
- prapet
- praphet
More formal words in Thai
All formal words
Learn this word in Unit 13, free
Unit 13 · Can you speak Thai? · Learning Thai. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.
Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones