Want in Thai

“Want” in Thai is อยากyàak; you'll also hear เอาao (want, take (a thing)).

อยาก yàak

to want to (+ verb) verb want to (do)

yàak low

Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

A verb follows it: อยากกินyàak gin, want to eat.

เอา ao

to take, to have (choosing what you want) verb want, take (a thing)

ao mid

Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

เอาao is for choosing: เอาอันนี้ao an níi (I'll take this one). ไม่เอาmâi ao is a plain 'no, I don't want it'.

Taught in Unit 3 · Lesson 2: Likes and opinions of the free course.

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How to use it

อยากyàak goes before a verb: อยากกินyàak gin, I want to eat. For a thing, Thais choose with เอาao (เอาอันนี้ao an níi, I'll take this one) or say อยากได้yàak dâi, "want to get". To ask for something politely, use ขอkǎw: see please in Thai.

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:

yark
aow

More verbs in Thai

All verbs

เป็น bpen Be
to be (a nationality, a job, a role)
ไป bpai Go
to go
มา maa Come
to come
กิน gin Eat
to eat
ดื่ม dùuem Drink
to drink
ไม่เอา mâi ao Don't want
I don't want (it)

Learn this word in Unit 3, free

Unit 3 · I like it! · Likes and opinions. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.

Practise it free (2 min) See Unit 3

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