บ่
bòMeanings
1ParticleB2
not; no (Isan/Northern particle)
a negation particle meaning 'not' or 'no' in Isan and Northern Thai
Examples
อ้ายâaiอ้ายâai1older brother (Isan/Lao; also male slightly older)2you (rude/insulting; dialectal)3insulting prefix before a nounบ่bòบ่bò1not; no (Isan/Northern particle)2yes–no question particle (Isan/Northern)กินเผ็ดgin pètกินเผ็ดgin pèt[to] eat spicy foodเลยloieเลยloie1at all; whatsoever (often in negatives)2so; thus; then (immediate result)3completely; absolutely (emphasis)4[to] pass; go beyond; exceedสั่งsàngสั่งsàng1[to] order [sth]; place an order (food/goods)2[to] command; instruct; direct3[to] prescribe; order (medical/legal/official)ต้มจืดdtôm jèutต้มจืดdtôm jèutclear soup; non-spicy soupแทนtaenแทนtaen1instead; rather2[to] replace; substitute for3in place of; on behalf of
I don’t eat spicy food, so I ordered a clear soup instead.
3 more examplesShow less
He’s not going to the wedding because he has urgent business.
These days the money isn’t enough, so we have to be very frugal.
น้องบ่nóng bòเห็นด้วยhĕn dûuaiกับgàpข้อเสนอkôr sà-nĕrเลยloieตัดสินใจdtàt-sĭn-jaiปฏิเสธbpà-dtì-sètอย่างyàangสุภาพsù-pâap
She didn’t agree with the proposal, so she decided to decline politely.
2ParticleB2
yes–no question particle (Isan/Northern)
a sentence-final particle used to form yes–no questions in Isan and Northern Thai; roughly like a rising-question marker
Examples
มื้อนี้méu néeมื้อนี้méu née1this meal2today (Isan/Northeastern Thai)เจ้าjâoเจ้าjâo1lord; master; owner2ruler; prince (royal title)3deity; spirit (title/noun)4prefix: familiar or affectionate term before names or nouns5you (familiar/regional; archaic/literary)6classifier for businesses, suppliers, or individual partiesไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already pastตลาดdtà-làatตลาดdtà-làat1market; marketplace2market (economic demand/sector)3popular; mainstream (colloq.)นำกันnam ganนำกันnam gantogether; with each other (Isan)บ่bòบ่bò1not; no (Isan/Northern particle)2yes–no question particle (Isan/Northern)
Are you going to the market with me today?
3 more examplesShow less
After finishing homework, will you go play football with the guys?
ข้อสอบkôr sòpพรุ่งนี้prûng-néeยากyâakหลายlăaiเจ้าjâoเตรียมโตdtriiam dtohอ่านหนังสือàan năng-sĕuพร้อมprómแล้วláeoบ่bò
Tomorrow’s exam is very hard; are you prepared and have you studied?
งานบุญบ้านเฮาngaan bun bâan haoสิsìเวลาway-laaเก้าgâoโมงmohngเจ้าjâoสิsìไปbpaiช่วยchûuaiจัดjàtโต๊ะdtóก่อนgònบ่bò
Our village festival starts at nine; will you come help set up the tables first?
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markMai ek
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Low tone
bò
Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.
Mid class + Mai ek → Low
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 | — | — |