วัย
waiMeaning
1NounA2
age; stage of life
a period in life defined by age or development (e.g., วัยเด็กวัยเด็กwai-dèkchildhood, วัยชราวัยชราwai-chá-raaold age)
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillอยู่ในyùu-naiอยู่ในyùu-nai[to] be in [somewhere]วัยเด็กwai-dèkวัยเด็กwai-dèkchildhoodอยู่yùuอยู่yùu1[to] live; reside; stay2to be (located); be at3progressive/continuative marker4to exist; remain
He is still in childhood.
3 more examplesShow less
During school age, we should practice discipline consistently.
เธอtəəกำลังgam-langก้าวเข้าสู่gâao-kâo-sùuวัยทำงานwai-tam-ngaanจึงjʉngต้องdtɔ̂ngรับผิดชอบráp-pìt-chɔ̂ɔpมากขึ้นmâak-kʉ̂n
She is entering the working age, so she has to take on more responsibilities.
กิจกรรมgìt-jà-gamนี้níiออกแบบมาɔ̀ɔk-bɛ̀ɛp-maaสำหรับsǎm-ràpวัยผู้ใหญ่wai-pûu-yàiตอนต้นdtɔɔn-dtônที่ต้องการtîi-dtɔ̂ng-gaanพัฒนาpát-tá-naaทักษะták-sàด้านdâanอาชีพaa-chîip
This activity is designed for early adulthood, for those who want to develop career-related skills.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is วัย said ไว?
wai
- Vowel spellingัย is read like the vowel ไ (ai).
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
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
wai
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 | — | — |