ยาย
yaaiMeanings
1NounA1
grandmother (maternal)
one’s mother’s mother; also used as a respectful kin-term for elderly women in some contexts
Examples
3 more examplesShow less
Today I’m going to eat with my grandmother.
ครูสอนkruu sŏnให้hâiเด็กๆdèk dèkกล่าวglàaoสวัสดีsà-wàt-deeคุณยายkun yaaiที่มาtêe maaชมchomการแสดงgaan sà-daeng
The teacher told the children to greet the grandmother who came to watch the show.
Tomorrow I will take my grandmother to see the doctor in the morning.
2NounB1
old woman (informal; can be rude)
an elderly woman; informal and may sound rude or disrespectful depending on context and tone
Examples
เมื่อวานmʉ̂ʉa-waanเมื่อวานmʉ̂ʉa-waan1yesterday (the day before today)2yesterday; yesterday (as an adverb)มีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoยายyaaiยายyaai1grandmother (maternal)2old woman (informal; can be rude)คนหนึ่งkon-nʉ̀ngคนหนึ่งkon-nʉ̀ng1one person2a person; someoneตะโกนdtà-goonตะโกนdtà-goon[to] shout; yell; call outด่าdàaด่าdàa1[to] scold; reprimand2[to] insult; curse atคนขับรถkon-kàp-rótคนขับรถkon-kàp-rótdriver (vehicle); chauffeurกลางglaangกลางglaang1middle; center2middle; central3in the middle; in the center4amid; in the midst of; mid-ถนนtà-nǒnถนนtà-nǒnroad; street
Yesterday an old lady shouted at a driver in the middle of the road.
3 more examplesShow less
เขาkǎoพูดpûutใส่sàiยายyaaiคนkonนั้นnánด้วยdûuaiน้ำเสียงnáam-sǐiangเสียsǐiaมารยาทmaa-rá-yâatจนjonคนkonแถวนั้นtɛ̌ɛo-nánหันมาhǎn-maaมองmɔɔng
He spoke to that old woman in a rude tone, making people around turn to look.
อย่าyàaไปbpaiเรียกrîiakเขาkǎoว่าwâaยายyaaiแบบนั้นbɛ̀ɛp-nánสิsìฟังดูfang-duuไม่mâiให้เกียรติhâi-gìiat
Don’t call her ‘yai’ like that; it sounds disrespectful.
นักข่าวnák-kàaoพาดหัวpâat-hǔuaว่าwâaยายyaaiโวยwooiทำให้tam-hâiหลายคนlǎai-konรู้สึกว่าrúu-sʉ̀k-wâaถ้อยคำtɔ̂ɔi-kamดูduuแรงrɛɛngและlɛ́ไม่สุภาพmâi-sù-pâap
The reporter headlined ‘Old hag rages!’, which made many feel the wording was harsh and impolite.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableEnds in -ย, a sonorant, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
yaai
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 | — | — |