ต๋า

dtǎa

Meanings

1ParticleB2

yes; dear (baby-talk)

a playful, baby-talk pronunciation of 'จ๋าจ๋าjǎa1yes?; what is it?2sentence particle (polite; affectionate)' (jaa), used as an affectionate response, a term of endearment, or to soften a sentence

Examples

แม่mɛ̂ɛแม่mɛ̂ɛ1mother; mom2form of address for a woman (traditional/familiar)3prefix: female; main; baseต๋าdtǎaต๋าdtǎa1yes; dear (baby-talk)2police (slang)3eye (Northern Thai)4maternal grandfather (Northern Thai)วันนี้wan-níiวันนี้wan-níi1today (time of speech)2today; this day3nowadays; at presentเราraoเราrao1we; us2I; me (informal/regional)มีอะไรmii-à-raiมีอะไรmii-à-raiwhat is it?; what's up?กินginกินgin1[to] eat2[to] drink (colloquial/with some nouns)3[to] take medicine (colloquial)4[to] consume; use up5[to] corrode; erode; eat into6[to] take (a bribe); pocketเป็นbpenเป็นbpen1to be (identity/category/state)2to become3[to] know how; be able to (skill)4alive; living5[to] have; suffer from; be in (a condition)มื้อเย็นmʉ́ʉ-yenมื้อเย็นmʉ́ʉ-yendinner; evening meal; supperบ้างbâangบ้างbâang1some; any (unspecified, small set)2sometimes; occasionally3plural/variety marker (after question/request)4somewhat; at least a little
Mommy, what are we having for dinner tonight?
3 more examples
เขาkǎoชอบchɔ̂ɔpทำตัวtam-dtuuaน่ารักnâa-rákแล้วlɛ́ɛoเรียกrîiakแฟนfɛɛnว่าwâaที่รักtîi-rákต๋าdtǎaเวลาที่wee-laa-tîiอยากได้yàak-dâaiอะไรà-rai
He likes to act cute and call his girlfriend "Teerak taa" (darling) when he wants something.
การใช้คำgaan-chái-kamว่าwâaต๋าdtǎaแทนtɛɛnคำว่าkam-wâaจ๋าjǎaเป็นbpenวิธีwí-tiiที่tîiคู่รักkûu-rákแสดงsà-dɛɛngความkwaamออดอ้อนɔ̀ɔt-ɔ̂ɔnและlɛ́หยอกล้อyɔ̀ɔk-lɔ́ɔกันgan
Using the word "taa" instead of "jaa" is a way couples show affection and playfulness to each other.
เมื่อไหร่mʉ̂ʉa-ràiที่tîiเด็กหญิงdèk-yǐngอยากyàakให้hâiพ่อpɔ̂ɔซื้อsʉ́ʉของเล่นkɔ̌ɔng-lênให้hâiเธอtəəจะjàทำเสียงtam-sǐiangหวานwǎanแล้วlɛ́ɛoพูดpûutว่าwâaพ่อpɔ̂ɔต๋าdtǎa
Whenever the little girl wants her dad to buy her toys, she uses a sweet voice and says "Daddy".
2NounC1

police (slang)

police (modern youth slang, often used playfully or to evade keyword filters online)

Examples

ขับรถkàp-rótขับรถkàp-rót[to] drive (a motor vehicle)ระวังrá-wangระวังrá-wang1[to] be careful; take care2watch out!; caution!3[to] watch out for; guard againstด้วยdûuaiด้วยdûuai1with; together with2also; too; as well3by; by means of; using4because of; due to5because; since (formal/literary)6request particle; please; tooนะnáนะná1softener; friendly particle2persuasive/confirming particleข้างหน้าkâang-nâaข้างหน้าkâang-nâa1ahead; in front2the front; the area ahead3in front of [sb]/[sth]4the future; time aheadมีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoพี่pîiพี่pîi1older sibling2older person (informal address)3I; you (for the older person)ต๋าdtǎaต๋าdtǎa1yes; dear (baby-talk)2police (slang)3eye (Northern Thai)4maternal grandfather (Northern Thai)ตั้งด่านdtâng-dàanตั้งด่านdtâng-dàan[to] set up a checkpointอยู่yùuอยู่yùu1[to] live; reside; stay2to be (located); be at3progressive/continuative marker4to exist; remain
Drive carefully, there are cops setting up a checkpoint ahead.
3 more examples
วัยรุ่นwai-rûnสมัยนี้sà-mǎi-níiมักจะmák-jàใช้cháiคำว่าkam-wâaต๋าdtǎaบนbonโซเชียลมีเดียsoo-chiian-mii-diiaแทนtɛɛnคำว่าkam-wâaตำรวจdtam-rùuatเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaหลบเลี่ยงlòp-lîiangการgaanถูกtùukแบนbɛɛnคำkam
Teenagers nowadays often use the word 'taa' on social media instead of 'police' to avoid being censored.
พวกpûuakเด็กแว้นdèk-wɛ́ɛnสลายตัวsà-lǎai-dtuuaกันganอย่างรวดเร็วyàang-rûuat-reoทันทีที่tan-tii-tîiมีmiiคนkonตะโกนdtà-goonบอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâaพี่pîiต๋าdtǎaกำลังจะgam-lang-jàมาmaa
The illegal street racers dispersed immediately as soon as someone shouted that the cops were coming.
การใช้gaan-cháiสแลงsà-lɛ̌ɛngอย่างyàangคำว่าkam-wâaพี่pîiต๋าdtǎaในnaiการสนทนาgaan-sǒn-tá-naaออนไลน์ɔɔn-laaiสะท้อนให้เห็นถึงsà-tɔ́ɔn-hâi-hěn-tʉ̌ngการปรับตัวgaan-bpràp-dtuuaอย่างyàangสร้างสรรค์sâang-sǎnของkɔ̌ɔngชาวเน็ตchaao-nétเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaหลบหลีกlòp-lìikการตรวจสอบgaan-dtrùuat-sɔ̀ɔpจากjàakอัลกอริทึมan-gɔɔ-rí-tʉm
Using slang like 'taa' in online discourse reflects netizens' creative adaptation to bypass algorithmic surveillance.
3NounC2

eye (Northern Thai)

eye, in Northern Thai; a dialect form of standard Thai 'ตาตาdtaa1eye2grandfather (maternal)3elderly man; grandpa (informal)4grid square; mesh5turn (in a game)6eye (classifier for small holes/mesh openings)'

Examples

ในnaiในnai1in; inside; within2during; in (time)3of; belonging to (formal)ภาษาถิ่นเหนือpaa-sǎa-tìn-nʉ̌ʉaภาษาถิ่นเหนือpaa-sǎa-tìn-nʉ̌ʉaNorthern Thai dialect; Northern Thai languageคำว่าkam-wâaคำว่าkam-wâathe word/term (introductory marker)ตาdtaaตาdtaa1eye2grandfather (maternal)3elderly man; grandpa (informal)4grid square; mesh5turn (in a game)6eye (classifier for small holes/mesh openings)ที่tîiที่tîi1place; spot; seat; space2at; in; to (a place)3classifier: places; seats; individual servings4that/which/who (relative marker)5when; the time that (time marker)6ordinal markerใช้cháiใช้chái1[to] use; employ2[to] spend (money); pay; expend3[to] require; take (time/effort/amount)4[to] tell [sb] to do [sth]; assign; orderมองดูmɔɔng-duuมองดูmɔɔng-duu[to] look at; watchจะjàจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3will; would (in conditional results)ออกเสียงɔ̀ɔk-sǐiangออกเสียงɔ̀ɔk-sǐiang1[to] pronounce2[to] vote; cast a voteจัตวาjàt-dtà-waaจัตวาjàt-dtà-waa1fourth (rank/order)2rising tone; rising-tone mark (๋)เป็นbpenเป็นbpen1to be (identity/category/state)2to become3[to] know how; be able to (skill)4alive; living5[to] have; suffer from; be in (a condition)คำว่าkam-wâaคำว่าkam-wâathe word/term (introductory marker)ต๋าdtǎaต๋าdtǎa1yes; dear (baby-talk)2police (slang)3eye (Northern Thai)4maternal grandfather (Northern Thai)
In Northern Thai dialect, the word for 'eye' is pronounced with a rising tone as 'taa'.
3 more examples
แม่อุ๊ยmɛ̂ɛ-úiบอกให้bɔ̀ɔk-hâiระวังrá-wangอย่าyàaให้hâiขี้ฝุ่นkîi-fùnเข้าkâoต๋าdtǎaเวลาwee-laaทำความสะอาดtam-kwaam-sà-àatบ้านbâan
Grandmother (in Northern dialect) told me to be careful not to let dust get into my eyes while cleaning the house.
คำว่าkam-wâaตาdtaaหวานwǎanในnaiภาษากลางpaa-sǎa-glaangคนเหนือkon-nʉ̌ʉaจะjàออกเสียงɔ̀ɔk-sǐiangว่าwâaต๋าdtǎaหวานwǎanซึ่งsʉ̂ngใช้cháiชมchomคนkonที่tîiมีmiiดวงตาduuang-dtaaสวยงามsǔuai-ngaam
The word "sweet eyes" in standard Thai would be pronounced as "taa waan" in Northern Thai, used to compliment someone with beautiful eyes.
บทbòtเพลงพื้นบ้านpleeng-pʉ́ʉn-bâanล้านนาláan-naaมักmákมีmiiการใช้คำgaan-chái-kamว่าwâaต๋าdtǎaในnaiการเปรียบเปรยgaan-bprìiap-bprəəiถึงtʉ̌ngความรักkwaam-rákและlɛ́ความผูกพันkwaam-pùuk-panที่tîiสื่อสารsʉ̀ʉ-sǎanผ่านpàanดวงตาduuang-dtaa
Lanna traditional folk songs often use the word "taa" (eye) as a metaphor for love and connection communicated through the eyes.
4NounC2

maternal grandfather (Northern Thai)

maternal grandfather, in Northern Thai; a dialect form of standard Thai 'ตาตาdtaa1eye2grandfather (maternal)3elderly man; grandpa (informal)4grid square; mesh5turn (in a game)6eye (classifier for small holes/mesh openings)'

Examples

ตอนเด็กdton dèkตอนเด็กdton dèkduring childhoodๆ-ฉันchănฉันchăn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)มักจะmák jàมักจะmák jà1often; usually (habit/frequency)2tend to; be apt/prone to (general tendency)ไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already past5too; excessivelyอยู่yòoอยู่yòo1[to] live; reside; stay2to be (located); be at3progressive/continuative marker4to exist; remainกับgàpกับgàp1with; together with2and (informal)3side dish; accompaniment4against; versus5to; toward (recipient/target)6classifier: sets/pairs (spoon and fork)ต๋าdtăaต๋าdtăa1yes; dear (baby-talk)2police (slang)3eye (Northern Thai)4maternal grandfather (Northern Thai)ที่têeที่têe1place; spot; seat; space2at; in; to (a place)3classifier: places; seats; individual servings4that/which/who (relative marker)5when; the time that (time marker)6ordinal markerเชียงใหม่chiiang màiเชียงใหม่chiiang mài1Chiang Mai (city in northern Thailand)2Chiang Mai Provinceช่วงchûuangช่วงchûuang1period; span (of time)2span; extent3section; segment (part of something)4range; interval (between limits)5distance between supportsปิดเทอมbpìt termปิดเทอมbpìt term1school break; vacation2[to be] on break; between termsท่านtâanท่านtâan1you (formal/polite)2he; she (honorific)3sir; madam4honorific title5classifier (polite for persons)ใจดีjai deeใจดีjai deekind; good-naturedและláeและláeand (coordinating)ตามใจdtaam jaiตามใจdtaam jai1as you wish; up to you2[to] indulge; pamper; let [sb] have their way3[to] suit oneself; do as one pleasesฉันchănฉันchăn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)มากmâakมากmâak1very; extremely2much; a lot; greatly3many; numerous
When I was little, I often spent my school breaks with my maternal grandfather in Chiang Mai; he was very kind and spoiled me a lot.
3 more examples
ต๋าdtǎaของkɔ̌ɔngผมpǒmเป็นbpenคนเฒ่าคนแก่kon-tâo-kon-gɛ̀ɛในnaiหมู่บ้านmùu-bâanที่tîiยังคงyang-kongสืบทอดsʉ̀ʉp-tɔ̂ɔtภูมิปัญญาpuum-bpan-yaaการสานgaan-sǎanตะกร้าdtà-grâaไม้ไผ่máai-pàiแบบล้านนาbɛ̀ɛp-láan-naaดั้งเดิมdâng-dəəmเอาไว้ao-wái
My maternal grandfather is one of the elders in the village who still preserves the traditional Lanna wisdom of weaving bamboo baskets.
แม้ว่าmɛ́ɛ-wâaต๋าdtǎaจะjàอายุaa-yúล่วงเลยlûuang-ləəiเข้าkâoวัยwaiแปดสิบbpɛ̀ɛt-sìpแล้วlɛ́ɛoแต่dtɛ̀ɛท่านtânก็gɔ̂ยังyangแข็งแรงkɛ̌ng-rɛɛngพอpɔɔที่จะtîi-jàเดินขึ้นdəən-kʉ̂nดอยdɔɔiไปbpaiทำบุญtam-bunที่tîiวัดwátได้dâaiทุกtúkวันพระwan-prá
Even though my maternal grandfather is well into his eighties, he is still strong enough to walk up the hill to make merit at the temple every Buddhist holy day.
ในฐานะnai-tǎa-náลูกหลานlûuk-lǎanคนเมืองkon-mʉʉangนอกเหนือจากnɔ̂ɔk-nʉ̌ʉa-jàakการรดน้ำดำหัวgaan-rót-náam-dam-hǔuaต๋าdtǎaกับgàpยายyaaiในช่วงnai-chûuangประเพณีbprà-pee-niiปี๋ใหม่เมืองbpǐi-mài-mʉʉangแล้วlɛ́ɛoเราraoยังyangต้องdtɔ̂ngคอยkɔɔiดูแลduu-lɛɛปรนนิบัติbpron-ní-bàtท่านtânให้ดีhâi-diiในnaiยามyaamบั้นปลายbân-bplaaiชีวิตchii-wítด้วยdûuai
As descendants of the Northern Thai people, besides performing the water-pouring ceremony for our maternal grandfather and grandmother during the Lanna New Year, we must also take good care of them in the twilight of their lives.

Tones

See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.

How the tone is decided

  1. Consonant classMid class
  2. Tone markMai chattawa
  3. Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.

Mid class consonants

กจฎฏดตบปอ

Result

Rising tone

dtǎa

Dips low first, then rises clearly.

Mid class + Mai chattawa → Rising

Tone chart

Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.

Mid classHigh classLow class
No mark + liveMidRisingMid
No mark + dead shortLowLowHigh
No mark + dead longLowLowFalling
Mai ekLowLowFalling
Mai thoFallingFallingHigh
Mai triHigh——
Mai chattawaRising——