Places
Work and studyUniversity in Thai
“University” in Thai is มหาวิทยาลัยmá-hǎa-wít-tá-yaa-lai; you'll also hear มหาลัยmá-hǎa-lai (everyday).
university noun
- má high
- hǎa rising
- wít high
- tá high
- yaa mid
- lai mid
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
university (everyday) noun
- má high
- hǎa rising
- lai mid
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
How to use it
มหาวิทยาลัยmá-hǎa-wít-tá-yaa-lai, "great college", has six syllables, so in conversation it shrinks to มหาลัยmá-hǎa-lai. Big universities have nicknames: Chulalongkorn University is simply Chula.
A university student is นักศึกษาnák-sùek-sǎa; นักเรียนnák-rian is a school pupil. Many Thai universities ask undergraduates to wear a uniform, at least for exams and ceremonies.
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:
- mahawitthayalai
- maha witthaya lai
- mahalai
- ma ha lai
- mahavidyalai
More places in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones