ต๋าย
dtǎaiMeanings
1VerbA2
[to] die (Northern Thai)
In Northern Thai, to stop living; to die.
Examples
หมาบ้านmǎa-bâanหมาบ้านmǎa-bâanpet dog; domestic dogนั้นnánนั้นnán1that (distal demonstrative)2that one; that thing3(topic-marking or emphatic particle)ต๋ายdtǎaiต๋ายdtǎai1[to] die (Northern Thai)2dead (Northern Thai)3exclamation of alarm (Northern Thai)แล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)
That house's dog died.
3 more examplesShow less
His grandfather died two years ago.
If you don't water it, the plant will die.
คนเฒ่าคนแก่kon tâo kon gàeเปิ้ลbpêrnกลัวว่าgluua wâaจะต้องjà dtôngไปbpaiต๋ายdtăaiตี้dtêeอื่นèunตี้dtêeบ่bòใจ้jâiบ้านเกิดbâan gèrtของตัวเองkŏng dtuua ayng
The elderly are afraid they will have to die in a place that isn't their own hometown.
2AdjectiveA2
dead (Northern Thai)
In Northern Thai, not alive; deceased.
Examples
นกnókนกnók1bird2[to] get stood up; miss out (slang)ตั๋วdtǔuaตั๋วdtǔua1ticket; pass2you (Northern Thai; familiar)3certificate; voucher4classifier: ใบ5promissory note; draftนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)ต๋ายdtǎaiต๋ายdtǎai1[to] die (Northern Thai)2dead (Northern Thai)3exclamation of alarm (Northern Thai)
This bird is dead.
3 more examplesShow less
She removed the dead flowers from the vase.
ถึงแม้ว่าtʉ̌ng-mɛ́ɛ-wâaต้นไม้dtôn-máaiจะjàดูเหมือนduu-mʉ̌ʉanต๋ายdtǎaiแล้วlɛ́ɛoในnaiหน้าแล้งnâa-lɛ́ɛngแต่dtɛ̀ɛพอpɔɔได้dâaiฝนfǒnมันmanก็gɔ̂กลับมาglàp-maaเขียวkǐiaoแหมmɛ̌ɛ
Even though the tree looks dead in the dry season, it turns green again once it gets rain.
3InterjectionB1
exclamation of alarm (Northern Thai)
An interjection expressing shock, dismay, or alarm (e.g., 'ต๋ายละ!').
Examples
ต๋ายdtǎaiต๋ายdtǎai1[to] die (Northern Thai)2dead (Northern Thai)3exclamation of alarm (Northern Thai)ละláละlá1[to] quit; give up; drop; let go (of)2each; per3[to] omit; leave out; skip4topic/softening particleเฮาhaoเฮาhao1we; us; our (regional)2I; me (informal, regional)ลืมlʉʉmลืมlʉʉm1[to] forget2[to] leave behind (by forgetting)3forget to; omit unintentionallyกุญแจgun-jɛɛกุญแจgun-jɛɛ1key (for a lock)2lock; locking device3key; crucial factor4answer key; key (solutions)5clef (music)6wrench; spannerไว้wáiไว้wái1[to] keep; save; store2[to] set aside; reserve3for later; in reserve4[to] leave (something) as is5marks retention or maintenance of a state6[to] wear; sport (hair/moustache/etc.)ในบ้านnai-bâanในบ้านnai-bâan1indoors; inside the house2in the house; within the home
Oh no! I forgot the keys inside the house.
3 more examplesShow less
ต๋ายdtăaiเปิ้ลbpêrnบ่bòได้dâiตั้งใจ๋dtâng jăiจะjàยะyáหื้อhêuuaแก้วgâewแตกdtàekเลยloieขอโทษkŏr tôhtจ๊าดjâatนักnák
Oh my! I didn't mean to break the glass at all, I'm so sorry.
Damn! Is it really going to rain this heavily?
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markMai chattawa
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Rising tone
dtǎai
Dips low first, then rises clearly.
Mid class + Mai chattawa → Rising
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 | — | — |