คำ
kamMeanings
1NounA1
word; term
a single unit of language with meaning; a word or specialized term
Examples
ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)ไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)เข้าใจkâo-jaiเข้าใจkâo-jai1[to] understand; grasp2[to] assume; take sth to be true3[to be] understanding (of [sb])คำkamคำkam1word; term2classifier for words/utterances3speech; saying; utteranceนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)
I don’t understand this word.
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The teacher also told us to memorize three new words.
He added technical terms to the report.
พจนานุกรมpót-jà-naa-nú-gromอธิบายความà-tí-baai-kwaamหมายmǎaiของkɔ̌ɔngคำkamอย่างชัดเจนyàang-chát-jeen
The dictionary explains the meanings of words clearly.
2ClassifierA2
classifier for words/utterances
a classifier used to count words, utterances, sayings, or short phrases
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillพูดpûutพูดpûut1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutแค่kɛ̂ɛแค่kɛ̂ɛ1only; just2up to; as far as; only as much asสองsɔ̌ɔngสองsɔ̌ɔng1two; 22secondคำkamคำkam1word; term2classifier for words/utterances3speech; saying; utteranceแล้วก็lɛ́ɛo-gɔ̂แล้วก็lɛ́ɛo-gɔ̂1and then; after that (sequence)2and also; plus (addition)3and; so; then (continuation/filler)เงียบngîiapเงียบngîiap1quiet; silent2quiet (place/time)3[to] be quiet; fall silent4[to] go silent; stop responding
He spoke only two words and then fell silent.
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This short four-word proverb teaches people a lot.
The teacher had us memorize ten words yesterday.
3NounB1
speech; saying; utterance
spoken expression, what someone says, or a set phrase
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillพูดpûutพูดpûut1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutคำขอโทษkam-kɔ̌ɔ-tôotคำขอโทษkam-kɔ̌ɔ-tôotan apologyแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)เดินdəənเดินdəən1[to] walk; go on foot2[to] proceed; go; move along3[to] run; operate (machine/system)4[to] run; operate; keep runningออกไปɔ̀ɔk-bpaiออกไปɔ̀ɔk-bpai1[to] go out; leave; exit2Get out!3[to] lead out to; extend toทันทีtan-tiiทันทีtan-tiiimmediately; at once
He offered an apology and walked out immediately.
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ผู้จัดการpûu-jàt-gaanย้ำyámคำkamเดิมdəəmว่าwâaเราraoต้องdtɔ̂ngส่งงานsòng-ngaanภายในพรุ่งนี้paai-nai-prûng-níi
The manager reiterated the same words that we must submit the work by tomorrow.
ยายyaaiชอบchɔ̂ɔpใช้cháiคำkamติดปากdtìt-bpàakว่าwâaค่อยเป็นค่อยไปkɔ̂i-bpen-kɔ̂i-bpaiเวลาwee-laaสอนsɔ̌ɔnหลานlǎan
Grandma likes to use the set phrase “take it step by step” when teaching her grandchild.
นักการเมืองnák-gaan-mʉʉangให้hâiคำรับรองkam-ráp-rɔɔngต่อdtɔ̀ɔสาธารณะsǎa-taa-rá-náแต่dtɛ̀ɛประชาชนbprà-chaa-chonยังyangสงสัยsǒng-sǎiในnaiคำพูดkam-pûutของเขาkɔ̌ɔng-kǎo
The politician gave a public assurance, but people still doubt what he says.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is คำ said คัม?
kam
- Vowel spellingThe vowel ำ already ends in an m sound, so it is respelled ัม.
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableThe vowel ำ hides a final -ม, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
kam
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 | — | — |