น่า

nâa

Meanings

1ParticleB1

worthy/apt to ...

a prefix before verbs/adjectives indicating that something is worthy of or apt to receive an action; conveys ‘worth …‑ing’, ‘deserving …’, or suitability (e.g., น่ารักน่ารักnâa-rák1endearing; likable (personality)2sweet; considerate (behavior)3cute; adorable; lovely ‘lovable’, น่ากินน่ากินnâa-gin1appetizing; mouthwatering2colloq. extremely cute3slang: sexually attractive ‘appetizing’).

Examples

ขนมkà-nǒmขนมkà-nǒmsnack; sweet; dessertจานjaanจานjaan1plate; dish (tableware)2classifier for plates/servings3dish antenna; satellite dishนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)น่ากินnâa-ginน่ากินnâa-gin1appetizing; mouthwatering2colloq. extremely cute3slang: sexually attractiveมากmâakมากmâak1very; extremely2much; a lot; greatly3many; numerous
This dish looks very appetizing.
3 more examples
บ้านbâanหลังlǎngนี้níiน่าอยู่nâa-yùuเพราะprɔ́เงียบngîiapและlɛ́มีmiiต้นไม้dtôn-máaiเยอะyə́
This house is suitable to live in because it’s quiet and has lots of trees.
เรื่องrʉ̂ʉangนี้níiน่าnâaคิดkítนะnáเพราะprɔ́มีmiiหลายlǎaiมุมmumที่tîiเราraoไม่เคยmâi-kəəiมองmɔɔng
This is worth thinking about, because there are many angles we’ve never considered.
แผนpɛ̌ɛnโครงการkroong-gaanดูduuน่าnâaทำtamหากhàakทีมtiimพร้อมprɔ́ɔmและlɛ́ทรัพยากรsáp-pá-yaa-gɔɔnเอื้ออำนวยʉ̂ʉa-am-nuuai
The project plan seems worth carrying out if the team is ready and resources allow.
2InterjectionB1

come on; please (persuasive particle)

A conversational particle used to coax, urge, reassure, or add gentle insistence, as in เอาน่าเอาน่าao-nâaCome on; It's okay ‘come on’.

Examples

เอาน่าao-nâaเอาน่าao-nâaCome on; It's okayลองชิมlɔɔng-chimลองชิมlɔɔng-chim[to] taste; sample [food/drink]ดูduuดูduu1[to] look; watch; see2[to] examine; check; inspect3[to] seem; appear4try; have a go5[to] divine; tell fortuneหน่อยnɔ̀iหน่อยnɔ̀i1a little; a bit2polite softener (request)
Come on, just try a little.
3 more examples
ไม่เป็นไรmâi-bpen-raiน่าnâaถ้าtâaทำผิดtam-pìtก็gɔ̂แก้gɛ̂ɛใหม่màiได้dâai
It's okay. If you make a mistake, you can fix it.
ไปด้วยกันbpai-dûuai-ganน่าnâaอยู่yùuบ้านbâanคนเดียวkon-diiaoก็gɔ̂เหงาngǎoเปล่าbplàao
Come along with us. You'll just be lonely staying home by yourself.
ใจเย็นjai-yenน่าnâaถึงtʉ̌ngเขาkǎoจะjàยังyangไม่mâiตอบdtɔ̀ɔpก็gɔ̂ไม่ได้mâi-dâaiหมายความว่าmǎai-kwaam-wâaเขาkǎoไม่สนใจmâi-sǒn-jaiข้อเสนอkɔ̂ɔ-sà-nə̌əของเราkɔ̌ɔng-rao
Come on, relax. Just because he hasn't replied yet doesn't mean he isn't interested in our proposal.

Tones

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

How the tone is decided

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

Low class consonants

คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ

Result

Falling tone

nâa

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

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