คิว
kiuMeanings
1NounA2
queue; line
a line of people or things waiting for their turn
Examples
หน้าร้านnâa-ráanหน้าร้านnâa-ráan1storefront; front of a shop2physical store; brick-and-mortar outletมีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoคิวยาวkiu-yaaoคิวยาวkiu-yaaolong queue/lineมากmâakมากmâak1very; extremely2much; a lot; greatly3many; numerous
There is a very long queue in front of the shop.
3 more examplesShow less
Yesterday I waited in line to buy tickets for half an hour.
Tomorrow, don’t cut the line at the bank.
ตอนเช้าdtɔɔn-cháoแถวtɛ̌ɛoรถเมล์rót-meeมีmiiคิวkiuต่อกันdtɔ̀ɔ-ganยาวyaaoจนjonเลี้ยวlíiaoไปถึงbpai-tʉ̌ngหน้าnâaซอยsɔɔi
In the morning the bus line stretches so long it curves to the front of the alley.
2NounA2
turn in order
one’s turn to do or get something in a sequence
Examples
ถึงtʉ̌ngถึงtʉ̌ng1to; until; up to2[to] arrive; reach3to; toward (recipient/goal)4even if; even though5as much as; as many as; to the point of6only then; then as a result (informal)7about; concerning; regardingคิวkiuคิวkiu1queue; line2turn in order3appointment slot; booking; schedule4cue (signal)5billiard cueฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)แล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)จะjàจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3will; would (in conditional results)สั่งอาหารsàng-aa-hǎanสั่งอาหารsàng-aa-hǎan[to] order food
It’s my turn now; I’ll order food.
3 more examplesShow less
เมื่อวานmʉ̂ʉa-waanฉันchǎnรอrɔɔจนกว่าจะjon-gwàa-jàถึงtʉ̌ngคิวkiuของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnจึงjʉngได้dâaiเข้าไปkâo-bpaiเล่นlên
Yesterday I waited until it was my turn before I could go in to play.
Once it’s your turn, hand the documents to them right away.
เราraoเปลี่ยนbplìianกติกาgà-dtì-gaaให้hâiทุกคนtúk-konได้dâaiเล่นlênตามdtaamคิวkiuเพื่อความยุติธรรมpʉ̂ʉa-kwaam-yú-dtì-tam
We changed the rules so everyone plays in turn for fairness.
3NounA2
appointment slot; booking; schedule
a reserved time or scheduled slot for a service or activity (e.g., doctor, barber, filming schedule)
Examples
ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)จองคิวjɔɔng-kiuจองคิวjɔɔng-kiu[to] book a queue spot; [to] make an appointmentตัดผมdtàt-pǒmตัดผมdtàt-pǒm1[to] cut [sb]'s hair2[to] get a haircutวันเสาร์wan-sǎoวันเสาร์wan-sǎoSaturdayตอนบ่ายdtɔɔn-bàaiตอนบ่ายdtɔɔn-bàai1afternoon2in the afternoon
I booked a haircut slot for Saturday afternoon.
3 more examplesShow less
Tomorrow the doctor scheduled my examination slot at 9 a.m.
The aircon technician said there is an available slot next Monday.
The film crew rescheduled the shooting slot due to heavy rain.
4NounB1
cue (signal)
a signal or prompt to begin speaking or doing something
Examples
พอpɔɔพอpɔɔ1enough; sufficient2enough; sufficiently3[to] suffice; be enough4quite; rather; fairly5as soon as; whenได้dâaiได้dâai1okay; sure; agreed2[to] get; obtain; receive3can; [to] be able to; may4[to] manage to; succeed in5actualized-action markerคิวkiuคิวkiu1queue; line2turn in order3appointment slot; booking; schedule4cue (signal)5billiard cueจากjàakจากjàak1from; away from2[to] leave; depart; part from3nipa palmผู้กำกับpûu-gam-gàpผู้กำกับpûu-gam-gàp1director (film/TV/theater)2supervisor; overseer; person in charge3police superintendent (short form)แล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)นักแสดงnák-sà-dɛɛngนักแสดงnák-sà-dɛɛngactor; performer (gender-neutral)ก็gɔ̂ก็gɔ̂1also; too2then; so (sequence/result)3conditional marker (if… then…)4well; after all (emphasis/justification)5topic/resumption markerเริ่มrə̂əmเริ่มrə̂əm1[to] start; begin2[to] start to; begin toพูดpûutพูดpûut1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutบทbòtบทbòt1chapter; section2lesson (unit of study)3role; part (acting)4script/text; lyrics5classifier for stanzas, chapters, and lessons6clause; provision (law/regulation)7role; duty; functionทันทีtan-tiiทันทีtan-tiiimmediately; at once
Once the cue from the director was given, the actor started speaking immediately.
3 more examplesShow less
The DJ nodded as a cue, so I played the next song.
เมื่อmʉ̂ʉaไฟfaiบนbonเวทีwee-tiiเปลี่ยนสีbplìian-sǐiนั่นคือnân-kʉʉคิวkiuให้เราhâi-raoเดินออกมาdəən-ɔ̀ɔk-maa
When the stage lights changed color, that was the cue for us to walk out.
เสียงปรบมือsǐiang-bpròp-mʉʉเงียบngîiapลงlongเป็นbpenสัญญาณsǎn-yaanคิวkiuให้hâiพิธีกรpí-tii-gɔɔnเริ่มrə̂əmกล่าวglàaoเปิดงานbpə̀ət-ngaan
The applause dying down was the cue for the host to begin the opening remarks.
5NounB1
billiard cue
a stick used to strike balls in billiards or pool
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillหยิบyìpหยิบyìp1[to] pick up; take (with fingers)2[to] select; choose (a small item)3a pinch (measure)คิวkiuคิวkiu1queue; line2turn in order3appointment slot; booking; schedule4cue (signal)5billiard cueแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)ชอล์กchɔ̂ɔkชอล์กchɔ̂ɔk1chalk (writing/drawing stick)2chalk (material)หัวhǔuaหัวhǔua1head (body part)2top; end; tip3leader; chief; head4mind; mentality; way of thinking5classifier: head-like items; bulbs; heads of nails/pins6header; title; headline7beginning; initial part8[to] laugh (Isan; archaic in standard Thai)คิวkiuคิวkiu1queue; line2turn in order3appointment slot; booking; schedule4cue (signal)5billiard cueก่อนgɔ̀ɔnก่อนgɔ̀ɔn1before; earlier; previously; first2previous; prior; formerเริ่มแทงrə̂əm-tɛɛngเริ่มแทงrə̂əm-tɛɛng[to] start stabbing; begin to stab
He picked up the cue and chalked the tip before starting to strike.
3 more examplesShow less
My cue is a bit heavy, which makes it hard to control the cue ball.
นักสนุกเกอร์nák-sà-nùk-gə̂əคนkonนั้นnánเปลี่ยนbplìianคิวkiuสำรองsǎm-rɔɔngระหว่างrá-wàangเกมgeemเพราะprɔ́ปลายbplaaiคิวkiuสึกsʉ̀kจนjonจับjàpสปินsà-bpinไม่อยู่mâi-yùu
That snooker player switched to a backup cue during the game because the tip had worn down and couldn’t hold spin.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableEnds in -ว, a sonorant, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
kiu
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 | — | — |