มาก่อน
maa-gɔ̀ɔnMeanings
1VerbA2
[to] come first; arrive earlier; precede
to be earlier than someone or something in time or order; to arrive before others
Examples
3 more examplesShow less
Why did you arrive a full hour before the appointment time?
ถ้าtâaอยากได้yàak dâiที่นั่งtêe nângดีๆdee deeในnaiคอนเสิร์ตkon sèrtคุณkunต้องdtôngพยายามpà-yaa-yaamมาก่อนmaa gònคนอื่นkon èun
If you want a good seat at the concert, you have to try to arrive before everyone else.
2AdverbA2
earlier; previously; beforehand
at an earlier time, before something else happens or before others (often with เคยเคยkəəi1ever; before (past experience)2used to (past habit or state)3shrimp paste (Southern Thai), e.g., เคยเห็นมาก่อน)
Examples
ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)เคยkəəiเคยkəəi1ever; before (past experience)2used to (past habit or state)3shrimp paste (Southern Thai)กินginกินgin1[to] eat2[to] drink (colloquial/with some nouns)3[to] take medicine (colloquial)4[to] consume; use up5[to] corrode; erode; eat into6[to] take (a bribe); pocketอันนี้an-níiอันนี้an-níithis; this one (near the speaker)มาก่อนmaa-gɔ̀ɔnมาก่อนmaa-gɔ̀ɔn1[to] come first; arrive earlier; precede2earlier; previously; beforehand
I have eaten this before.
3 more examplesShow less
Have you ever been here before?
I have never heard of this before.
เขาkǎoเตือนdtʉʉanฉันchǎnแล้วlɛ́ɛoแต่dtɛ̀ɛฉันchǎnไม่mâiเชื่อchʉ̂ʉaเพราะprɔ́ไม่เคยmâi-kəəiเจอjəəแบบนี้bɛ̀ɛp-níiมาก่อนmaa-gɔ̀ɔn
He warned me, but I didn't believe him because I had never encountered something like this before.
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
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableA long vowel with no final consonant, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
maa
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 | — | — |
Word Breakdown
มาmaaมาmaa1[to] come; arrive2[to] come to (a state or situation)3past/as of now aspect marker[to] come; arrivePart 1
+
ก่อนgɔ̀ɔnก่อนgɔ̀ɔn1before; earlier; previously; first2previous; prior; formerbefore; earlier; previously; firstPart 2
มาก่อนmaa-gɔ̀ɔnมาก่อนmaa-gɔ̀ɔn[to] come first; arrive earlier; precede[to] come first; arrive earlier; precedeWord