ควาย
kwaaiMeanings
1NounA2
water buffalo
a large bovine commonly used in farming in Southeast Asia; the water buffalo
Examples
ควายkwaaiควายkwaai1water buffalo2fool; idiot (insult)ตัวนั้นdtuua-nánตัวนั้นdtuua-nánthat one [animal, item]อยู่ในyùu-naiอยู่ในyùu-nai[to] be in [somewhere]นาnaaนาnaapaddy field; rice fieldและlɛ́และlɛ́and (coordinating)กินginกินgin1[to] eat2[to] drink (colloquial/with some nouns)3[to] consume; use up4[to] corrode; erode; eat into5[to] take (a bribe); pocketหญ้าyâaหญ้าyâa1grass2weed; weedy vegetation
That water buffalo is in the field eating grass.
3 more examplesShow less
Yesterday the farmer took the water buffalo to plow the field early in the morning.
Tomorrow we will go see the water buffalo at the pen with grandpa.
ในnaiฤดูทำนาrʉ́-duu-tam-naaชาวบ้านchaao-bâanยังyangใช้cháiควายkwaaiช่วยchûuaiลากlâakไถtǎiเพราะprɔ́แข็งแรงkɛ̌ng-rɛɛngและlɛ́ประหยัดbprà-yàt
In the farming season, villagers still use buffaloes to help pull plows because they are strong and economical.
2NounB2
fool; idiot (insult)
a strong insult for a very stupid or slow-witted person
Examples
อย่าyàaอย่าyàadon’t; do not (negative imperative)ไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already pastด่าdàaด่าdàa1[to] scold; reprimand2[to] insult; curse atเขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillว่าwâaว่าwâa1[to] say; tell2that (clause marker)3[to] think; consider; deem4[to] scold; reproach; criticizeเป็นbpenเป็นbpen1to be (identity/category/state)2to become3[to] know how; be able to (skill)4[to] have; suffer from; be in (a condition)ควายkwaaiควายkwaai1water buffalo2fool; idiot (insult)แบบนั้นbɛ̀ɛp-nánแบบนั้นbɛ̀ɛp-nán1like that; in that way2that kind of; that type of3that kind/that sort (of thing/person)หยาบคายyàap-kaaiหยาบคายyàap-kaairude; vulgar; coarseมากmâakมากmâak1very; extremely2much; a lot; greatly3many; numerousและlɛ́และlɛ́and (coordinating)ทำร้ายtam-ráaiทำร้ายtam-ráai1[to] harm; hurt [sb/sth]2[to] assault; attackความรู้สึกkwaam-rúu-sʉ̀kความรู้สึกkwaam-rúu-sʉ̀k1feeling; emotion2sensation; sensory feeling3intuition; hunch4sentiment; attitude
Don't call him a 'kwai'; that's very rude and hurtful.
3 more examplesShow less
เขาkǎoโดนdoonเพื่อนpʉ̂ʉanล้อlɔ́ɔว่าwâaเป็นbpenควายkwaaiเพราะprɔ́ทำtamข้อสอบkɔ̂ɔ-sɔ̀ɔpพลาดplâatซึ่งsʉ̂ngเป็นbpenคำด่าkam-dàaที่tîiรุนแรงrun-rɛɛng
He was mocked by friends as 'kwai' for messing up the exam, which is a harsh insult.
การใช้คำgaan-chái-kamว่าwâaควายkwaaiด่าdàaคนอื่นkon-ʉ̀ʉnสะท้อนsà-tɔ́ɔnทัศนคติtát-sà-ná-ká-dtìที่tîiไม่mâiเคารพkao-rópและlɛ́สร้างsâangบรรยากาศban-yaa-gàatที่tîiเป็นพิษbpen-pít
Using the word 'kwai' to insult others reflects a lack of respect and creates a toxic environment.
แม้mɛ́ɛเขาkǎoจะjàทำผิดพลาดtam-pìt-plâatแต่dtɛ̀ɛอย่าyàaตีตราdtii-dtraaเขาkǎoว่าwâaเป็นbpenควายkwaaiเพราะprɔ́คำkamนี้níiลดทอนlót-tɔɔnศักดิ์ศรีsàk-sǐiของkɔ̌ɔngคนฟังkon-fangอย่างรุนแรงyàang-run-rɛɛng
Even if he made mistakes, don't label him a 'kwai,' as it severely diminishes the listener's dignity.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow classConsonant clusterIn the cluster คว, the first consonant ค sets the class.
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableEnds in -ย, a sonorant, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
kwaai
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Low class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Mid
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 | — | — |