ก่อน
gɔ̀ɔnMeanings
1AdverbA2
before; earlier; previously; first
At an earlier time or in advance of something; prior to a reference point; also used to mean 'first/beforehand' when doing something earlier.
Examples
ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)กินข้าวgin-kâaoกินข้าวgin-kâao1[to] have a meal; eat (general)2[to] eat rice (literal)ก่อนgɔ̀ɔnก่อนgɔ̀ɔn1before; earlier; previously; first2previous; prior; formerแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)ค่อยkɔ̂iค่อยkɔ̂i1gradually; little by little2gently; softly3not very; hardly (with negation)4then; later; only afterไปทำงานbpai-tam-ngaanไปทำงานbpai-tam-ngaan[to] go to work
I eat first, then go to work.
3 more examplesShow less
Leave home before seven o’clock to avoid being late.
Please call beforehand before seeing the doctor.
We should read all the details first before deciding to apply.
2AdjectiveB1
previous; prior; former
Occurring or existing earlier than the present or another reference point; used after a noun, as in ครั้งก่อนครั้งก่อนkráng-gɔ̀ɔnlast time; previously ‘the previous time’.
Examples
ผมpǒmผมpǒm1I; me (male speaker, polite)2hair (on the head)ขอkɔ̌ɔขอkɔ̌ɔ1[to] request; ask for [sth]2polite request marker3[to] beg; plead4[to] wish for; pray forอ่านàanอ่านàan1[to] read2[to] read aloud; pronounce3[to] interpret; make sense ofเอกสารèek-gà-sǎanเอกสารèek-gà-sǎan1document2documentationฉบับchà-bàpฉบับchà-bàp1classifier for documents/printed texts2issue; edition; copyก่อนgɔ̀ɔnก่อนgɔ̀ɔn1before; earlier; previously; first2previous; prior; formerอีกครั้งìik-krángอีกครั้งìik-krángagain; once more
I’d like to read the prior document again.
3 more examplesShow less
The previous lesson is an important foundation for this topic.
ข้อมูลkɔ̂ɔ-muunก่อนgɔ̀ɔnอาจàatคลาดเคลื่อนklâat-klʉ̂ʉanจึงjʉngต้องdtɔ̂ngอัพเดตàp-dèetเวอร์ชันwəə-chânล่าสุดlâa-sùt
The earlier information may be inaccurate, so we need to update to the latest version.
ผลการทดลองpǒn-gaan-tót-lɔɔngก่อนgɔ̀ɔnชี้chíiแนวโน้มnɛɛo-nóomเดียวdiiaoกับgàpงานวิจัยngaan-wí-jaiปัจจุบันbpàt-jù-ban
The preceding experiment’s results indicate the same trend as the current study.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markMai ek
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Low tone
gɔ̀ɔn
Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.
Mid class + Mai ek → Low
Tone chart
Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.
| Mid class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |