ฝ่ายใน

fàai-nai

Meanings

1NounB2

one's wife (humorous/formal)

A polite or humorous way to refer to a man's wife.

Examples

เย็นนี้yen-níiเย็นนี้yen-níi1this evening2this evening's (as a modifier)ผมpǒmผมpǒm1I; me (male speaker, polite)2hair (on the head)คงkongคงkong1probably; likely2still; unchanged3[to] remain; stay unchanged4lasting; enduring5firm; steady; stable6[to] keep; retain; preserve7corn; maize (Southern Thai)ไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already past5too; excessivelyดื่มdʉ̀ʉmดื่มdʉ̀ʉm1[to] drink2[to] drink alcoholด้วยdûuaiด้วยdûuai1with; together with2also; too; as well3by; by means of; using4because of; due to5because; since (formal/literary)6request particle; please; tooไม่ได้mâi-dâaiไม่ได้mâi-dâai1cannot; not allowed; impossible2did not3[to] fail to get/receive [sth]4unacceptable; not allowed (won’t do)5No way!; absolutely not6not really/actually (corrective)ต้องdtɔ̂ngต้องdtɔ̂ng1must; have to2must; bound toกลับบ้านglàp-bâanกลับบ้านglàp-bâan[to] go (back) home; return homeไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already past5too; excessivelyรายงานตัวraai-ngaan-dtuuaรายงานตัวraai-ngaan-dtuua[to] report oneself; [to] check in (with authorities)กับgàpกับgàp1with; together with2and (informal)3side dish; accompaniment4against; versus5to; toward (recipient/target)6classifier: sets/pairs (spoon and fork)ฝ่ายในfàai-naiฝ่ายในfàai-nai1one's wife (humorous/formal)2the Inner Court (of the Grand Palace)ก่อนgɔ̀ɔnก่อนgɔ̀ɔn1before; earlier; previously; first2previous; prior; former
I probably can't go for a drink this evening; I have to go home and report to the 'missus' first.
3 more examples
2NounC1

the Inner Court (of the Grand Palace)

A historical term for the part of the Thai Grand Palace reserved for the king's wives, consorts, daughters, and female attendants; the female inhabitants of this area.

Examples

This book tells the life stories of women in the Inner Court during the reign of King Rama V.
3 more examples

Tones

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

2 syllables · pick one to see its rule

How the tone is decided

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

High class consonants

ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห

Result

Low tone

fàai

Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.

High class + Mai ek → Low

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——

Word Breakdown

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ฝ่ายในfàai-naiฝ่ายในfàai-naione's wife (humorous/formal)one's wife (humorous/formal)Word