ล่ะ
lâMeanings
1ParticleA2
topic/contrast particle; question tag
a particle marking topic shift or contrast, often inviting a response (e.g., ‘what about…?’, ‘as for…’), also used as a light question tag
Examples
เราraoเราrao1we; us2I; me (informal/regional)ไปกินข้าวbpai-gin-kâaoไปกินข้าวbpai-gin-kâao[to] go eatแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)เธอtəəเธอtəə1you (informal; familiar)2she; herล่ะlâล่ะlâ1topic/contrast particle; question tag2sentence-final particle (casual emphasis)
We already ate; what about you?
3 more examplesShow less
Tomorrow I’ll keep working. What about you—where will you go?
He likes watching movies; as for me, I’m not that interested. What about you?
เรื่องงานrʉ̂ʉang-ngaanฉันchǎnโอเคoo-keeแล้วlɛ́ɛoแต่dtɛ̀ɛเรื่องrʉ̂ʉangเงินngənล่ะlâเราraoจะjàจัดการjàt-gaanกันganยังไงyang-ngai
Work-wise I’m fine, but what about the money—how are we going to handle it?
2ParticleA2
sentence-final particle (casual emphasis)
a casual ending particle adding light emphasis or softening a statement/request
Examples
ช่วยchûuaiช่วยchûuai1[to] help; assist [sb/sth]2please (request marker)3[to] save; rescue [sb]ปิดไฟbpìt-faiปิดไฟbpìt-fai[to] turn off the lightให้hâiให้hâi1[to] give; provide2[to] allow; let; permit3[to] have [sb] do; cause to4for (benefit of)5so that; in order to6until; to the point that (result)หน่อยnɔ̀iหน่อยnɔ̀i1a little; a bit2polite softener (request)ล่ะlâล่ะlâ1topic/contrast particle; question tag2sentence-final particle (casual emphasis)
Please turn off the light, okay?
3 more examplesShow less
I’ll go along too, then.
Don’t forget to submit the work tomorrow, alright?
Could you please explain the steps once more, so I can do it correctly?
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markMai ek
- Syllable endingDead syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Falling tone
lâ
Starts high, rises a little, then drops clearly.
Low class + Mai ek → Falling
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 | — | — |