ค่ะ
kâMeanings
1ParticleA1
polite particle (female, statement)
sentence-ending particle used by females to show politeness or respect in statements.
Examples
หนูnǔuหนูnǔu1mouse; rat2I; me (polite, childlike/feminine in Thai)3you (addressing a child/younger person)ชอบchɔ̂ɔpชอบchɔ̂ɔp1[to] like; be fond of2tend to; usually3be proper; be fitting (formal)อ่านหนังสือàan-nǎng-sʉ̌ʉอ่านหนังสือàan-nǎng-sʉ̌ʉ[to] read; [to] studyค่ะkâค่ะkâ1polite particle (female, statement)2polite particle (female, short response)
I like reading books.
3 more examplesShow less
The weather is very nice today.
เมื่อวานนี้mʉ̂ʉa-waan-níiหนูnǔuส่งงานsòng-ngaanแล้วlɛ́ɛoค่ะkâครูkruuได้รับdâi-rápหรือยังrʉ̌ʉ-yangคะká
I submitted the assignment yesterday. Teacher, have you received it yet?
2ParticleA1
polite particle (female, short response)
polite affirmative/acknowledging response by females; when standing alone often pronounced ค่ะค่ะkâ1polite particle (female, statement)2polite particle (female, short response) with falling tone (answering ‘yes/okay’).
Examples
พนักงานpá-nák-ngaanพนักงานpá-nák-ngaan1employee; staff member; worker2attendant; clerk (service role)ถามtǎamถามtǎam1[to] ask; inquire2[to] ask about; consult3[to] question; interrogateว่าwâaว่าwâa1[to] say; tell2that (clause marker)3[to] think; consider; deem4[to] scold; reproach; criticizeเอาaoเอาao1[to] take; get; pick2[to] want (request/ordering)3[to] use; employ4[to] bring/take (for use)5marker: adverse consequence6come on; all right; go ahead7[to] have sex (vulgar slang)8auxiliary marking emphasis or resultถุงtǔngถุงtǔng1bag; sack; pouch2classifier: bags; sacks; packets3condomไหมmǎiไหมmǎi1yes–no question particle; or not?2silkแม่mɛ̂ɛแม่mɛ̂ɛ1mother; mom2form of address for a woman (traditional/familiar)3prefix: female; main; baseตอบdtɔ̀ɔpตอบdtɔ̀ɔp1[to] answer; reply2[to] respond; react3sunken; hollow (of cheeks/abdomen)ว่าwâaว่าwâa1[to] say; tell2that (clause marker)3[to] think; consider; deem4[to] scold; reproach; criticizeค่ะkâค่ะkâ1polite particle (female, statement)2polite particle (female, short response)
The clerk asked if she wanted a bag; Mom replied, “Yes.”
3 more examplesShow less
The appointment is at nine tomorrow, right? Yes.
Can I help carry things in the afternoon? — Yes.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markMai ek
- Syllable endingDead syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Falling tone
kâ
Starts high, rises a little, then drops clearly.
Low class + Mai ek → Falling
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 | — | — |