ผวนคำ
pǔuan-kamMeaning
1VerbB2
[to] spoonerize words; [to] swap syllables
to spoonerize words; to engage in a type of Thai wordplay by swapping the vowels and final consonants of two syllables to create a new phrase
Examples
ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)3like; as (in the manner of)ฟังfangฟังfang1listen2heed3[to] sound; seem (to the ear)เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂iไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂i1rarely; seldom; not often2not very; hardly (degree)รู้เรื่องrúu-rʉ̂ʉangรู้เรื่องrúu-rʉ̂ʉang1[to] understand; be aware/informed (of sth)2understandable; intelligible; coherent3[to] face consequences; be in trouble (colloq.)เพราะprɔ́เพราะprɔ́1because2because of; due to3melodious; pleasant-soundingเขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillชอบchɔ̂ɔpชอบchɔ̂ɔp1[to] like; be fond of2tend to; usually3be proper; be fitting (formal)พูดpûutพูดpûut1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutผวนคำpǔuan-kamผวนคำpǔuan-kam[to] spoonerize words; [to] swap syllablesอยู่yùuอยู่yùu1[to] live; reside; stay2to be (located); be at3progressive/continuative marker4to exist; remainตลอดเวลาdtà-lɔ̀ɔt-wee-laaตลอดเวลาdtà-lɔ̀ɔt-wee-laaall the time; constantly
I don't really understand him because he likes to speak in spoonerisms all the time.
3 more examplesShow less
วัยรุ่นwai rûnไทยtaiมักจะmák jàเล่นlênผวนคำpŭuan kamเพื่อpêuuaสร้างsâangคำkamแสลงsà-lăengใหม่ๆmài màiไว้wáiคุยกันkui ganในnaiกลุ่มเพื่อนglùm pêuuan
Thai teenagers often spoonerize words to create new slang words to talk among their friend groups.
การgaanผวนคำpǔuan-kamถือเป็นtʉ̌ʉ-bpenทักษะták-sàทางtaangภาษาpaa-sǎaอย่างหนึ่งyàang-nʉ̀ngที่tîiต้องdtɔ̂ngอาศัยaa-sǎiความเข้าใจkwaam-kâo-jaiเรื่องrʉ̂ʉangสระsàและlɛ́พยัญชนะท้ายpá-yan-chá-ná-táai
Word spoonerism is considered a language skill that requires an understanding of vowels and final consonants.
นักเขียนnák-kǐianบางคนbaang-konใช้cháiเทคนิคték-nìkการgaanผวนคำpǔuan-kamเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaหลีกเลี่ยงlìik-lîiangการใช้คำgaan-chái-kamหยาบyàapโดยตรงdooi-dtrongในnaiงานเขียนngaan-kǐianของkɔ̌ɔngตนdton
Some writers use spoonerism techniques to avoid using direct profanity in their writing.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is ผวนคำ said ผวน-คัม?
pǔuan-kam
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableEnds in -น, a sonorant, so it is live.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Rising tone
pǔuan
Dips low first, then rises clearly.
High class + No tone mark + Live syllable → 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 | — | — |