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Formal words

Want (formal) in Thai

“Want (formal)” in Thai is ประสงค์bprà-sǒng.

ประสงค์ bprà-sǒng

to wish (to), to want (formal) verb

  • bprà low
  • sǒng rising
  • Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
  • Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”

How to use it

ประสงค์bprà-sǒng is the formal "want, wish to": ผู้ที่ประสงค์จะpûu tîi bprà-sǒng jà, those wishing to …, is on notices and forms. The same word is in วัตถุประสงค์wát-tù-bprà-sǒng and จุดประสงค์jùt-bprà-sǒng, purpose.

In conversation Thais say อยากyàak, want to, or ต้องการdtâwng-gaan, need, want.

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:

  • prasong
  • pra song

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