ทำ
tamMeanings
1VerbA1
[to] do; make
to perform an action or create/produce something
Examples
3 more examplesShow less
He makes a gift for his mother.
Yesterday we went to work on a project at school.
Tomorrow I will make a poster for the exhibition.
2VerbA2
[to] act; behave
to behave or conduct oneself in a certain way
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillวางตัวwaang-dtuuaวางตัวwaang-dtuua1[to] conduct oneself; carry oneself2[to] select; earmark (someone for a role)สุภาพsù-pâapสุภาพsù-pâap1polite; courteous2gentle; mild (manner/speech)3proper; refined; respectableกับgàpกับgàp1with; together with2and (informal)3side dish; accompaniment4against; versus5to; toward (recipient/target)6classifier: sets/pairs (spoon and fork)ทุกคนtúk-konทุกคนtúk-koneveryone; everybody
He behaves politely toward everyone.
2 more examplesShow less
Yesterday he behaved poorly toward a friend, so he apologized.
เวลาwee-laaเจอjəəผู้ใหญ่pûu-yàiเราraoควรkuuanวางตัวwaang-dtuuaสำรวมsǎm-ruuamและlɛ́พูดจาpûut-jaaนุ่มนวลnûm-nuuanเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaให้เกียรติhâi-gìiat
When meeting elders, we should carry ourselves with restraint and speak gently to show respect.
3VerbA2
[to] cook; prepare food
to prepare or cook food or a dish
Examples
วันนี้wan-níiวันนี้wan-níi1today (time of speech)2today; this day3nowadays; at presentแม่mɛ̂ɛแม่mɛ̂ɛ1mother; mom2form of address for a woman (traditional/familiar)3prefix: female; main; baseทำtamทำtam1[to] do; make2[to] act; behave3[to] cook; prepare food4[to] do; carry out (work)5[to] cause; makeข้าวผัดkâao-pàtข้าวผัดkâao-pàtfried rice
Today Mom is making fried rice.
3 more examplesShow less
Yesterday I cooked a clear soup for my friend to taste.
Tomorrow we will make a fruit salad for the party.
ถ้าtâaมีmiiเห็ดhètสดsòtฉันchǎnจะjàทำtamพาสต้าpâat-dtâaเห็ดhètครีมซอสkriim-sɔ́ɔtเป็นbpenมื้อเย็นmʉ́ʉ-yen
If there are fresh mushrooms, I’ll cook creamy mushroom pasta for dinner.
4VerbA2
[to] do; carry out (work)
to carry out work, a job, or a task
Examples
พ่อpɔ̂ɔพ่อpɔ̂ɔ1father; dad2sir; mister (rural/archaic)3prefix: male person; leader; father figureทำงานtam-ngaanทำงานtam-ngaan1[to] work; do one's job; be on duty2[to] function; operateที่tîiที่tîi1place; spot; seat; space2at; in; to (a place)3classifier: places; seats; individual servings4that/which/who (relative marker)5when; the time that (time marker)6ordinal markerโรงงานroong-ngaanโรงงานroong-ngaanfactory; plant
Dad works at a factory.
3 more examplesShow less
Yesterday I worked a part-time shift at the coffee shop.
ตอนเช้าdtɔɔn-cháoเขาkǎoทำงานtam-ngaanส่งของsòng-kɔ̌ɔngแล้วlɛ́ɛoตอนบ่ายdtɔɔn-bàaiค่อยkɔ̂iไปเรียนbpai-riian
In the morning he works delivering goods, and in the afternoon he goes to study.
She does volunteer work in the community every weekend.
5VerbB1
[to] cause; make
to cause something to happen or make someone/something become a certain way
Examples
ข่าวดีkàao-diiข่าวดีkàao-diigood newsนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)ทำให้tam-hâiทำให้tam-hâi1[to] make; cause [sb/sth] to [do/be sth]; render2[to] do/make [sth] for [sb]ทุกคนtúk-konทุกคนtúk-koneveryone; everybodyยิ้มyímยิ้มyím1[to] smile2smile
This good news makes everyone smile.
3 more examplesShow less
The heavy rain caused severe traffic.
A small compliment made him feel much more encouraged.
การเลื่อนgaan-lʉ̂ʉanประชุมกะทันหันbprà-chum-gà-tan-hǎnทำให้tam-hâiแผนงานpɛ̌ɛn-ngaanทั้งสัปดาห์táng-sàp-daaต้องdtɔ̂ngปรับbpràpใหม่mài
The sudden meeting postponement caused the entire week’s plan to be revised.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is ทำ said ทัม?
tam
- 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
tam
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 | — | — |