อะ
àMeanings
1InterjectionA2
uh; um (hesitation)
An interjection expressing hesitation, thinking, or a pause in casual speech.
Examples
อะàอะà1uh; um (hesitation)2huh?; what? (prompt/attention)3softening/filler particle (colloquial)ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)ยังyangยังyang1still; continuing2not yet (with ไม่)3yet? (question use)4still/even (emphatic degree)คิดไม่ออกkít-mâi-ɔ̀ɔkคิดไม่ออกkít-mâi-ɔ̀ɔk[to] draw a blank; can’t think of/remember
Uh... I still can't think of it.
3 more examplesShow less
Uh, let me check first whether I can go.
Uh, yesterday I think I forgot to bring the keys.
อะàถ้าtâaให้เลือกhâi-lʉ̂ʉakนะnáฉันchǎnคิดว่าkít-wâaเราraoควรkuuanเลื่อนlʉ̂ʉanประชุมbprà-chumไปbpaiพรุ่งนี้prûng-níiจะjàดีกว่าdii-gwàa
Uh, if I have to choose, I think we should postpone the meeting to tomorrow.
2InterjectionB1
huh?; what? (prompt/attention)
A casual interjection to prompt repetition, show mild surprise, or get attention (similar to “huh?”/“what?”).
Examples
อะàอะà1uh; um (hesitation)2huh?; what? (prompt/attention)3softening/filler particle (colloquial)เมื่อกี้mʉ̂ʉa-gîiเมื่อกี้mʉ̂ʉa-gîi1just now; a moment ago2a moment ago; just now (time)พี่pîiพี่pîi1older sibling2older person (informal address)ว่าwâaว่าwâa1[to] say; tell2that (clause marker)3[to] think; consider; deem4[to] scold; reproach; criticizeอะไรà-raiอะไรà-rai1what2what; what kind of (modifier)3something; anything (unspecified)4what? (interjection of surprise/confusion)อีกทีìik-tiiอีกทีìik-tii1again; once more2another time; laterได้ไหมdâai-mǎiได้ไหมdâai-mǎi1is it possible/allowed?; OK?2could you ... ? (request softener)
Huh? What did you just say? Could you repeat that?
3 more examplesShow less
Huh, wait—are you really moving cities?
Huh? It's due today, professor? I thought it was tomorrow.
Huh? Did you say 'the meeting is canceled'? I couldn't hear clearly.
3ParticleB2
softening/filler particle (colloquial)
A casual particle (often sentence-final or medial) that softens tone, fills a pause, or stretches a word; meaning depends on context and intonation.
Examples
ถ้าtâaถ้าtâaif; in caseจะjàจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3will; would (in conditional results)ไปพร้อมกันbpai-prɔ́ɔm-ganไปพร้อมกันbpai-prɔ́ɔm-gan[to] go togetherก็gɔ̂ก็gɔ̂1also; too2then; so (sequence/result)3conditional marker (if… then…)4well; after all (emphasis/justification)5topic/resumption markerบอกเวลาbɔ̀ɔk-wee-laaบอกเวลาbɔ̀ɔk-wee-laa[to] tell the timeกันganกันgan1together; together with2each other; one another (post-verb marker)3[to] prevent; keep [sth] out; ward off; block4protective; resistant to; -proof5I; me (informal, male speech)6[to] set aside; reserve; earmarkหน่อยnɔ̀iหน่อยnɔ̀i1a little; a bit2polite softener (request)อะàอะà1uh; um (hesitation)2huh?; what? (prompt/attention)3softening/filler particle (colloquial)จะได้jà-dâaiจะได้jà-dâai1so that; in order that; that way2will be able to; get to; come to3then; so (result in instructions/explanations)เตรียมตัวdtriiam-dtuuaเตรียมตัวdtriiam-dtuua[to] prepare oneself; get readyทันtanทันtan1[to] be in time for2in time3[to] catch up with; keep up with; keep abreast of4[to] be a match for; see through
If we're going together, just tell me the time, okay, so I can get ready in time.
3 more examplesShow less
This task isn't urgent, but please check it thoroughly, okay?
เดี๋ยวdǐiaoถึงtʉ̌ngแล้วlɛ́ɛoค่อยkɔ̂iคุยkuiรายละเอียดraai-lá-ìiatกันganอีกทีìik-tiiอะàเพราะprɔ́ตอนนี้dtɔɔn-níiรถติดrót-dtìtมากmâak
Let's discuss the details when we arrive, okay, because traffic is really bad now.
เราraoอยากyàakให้hâiทีมtiimลองlɔɔngแนวคิดnɛɛo-kítนี้níiก่อนอะgɔ̀ɔn-àเผื่อpʉ̀ʉaจะjàเห็นhěnปัญหาbpan-hǎaที่tîiซ่อนอยู่sɔ̂ɔn-yùu
We'd like the team to try this idea first, okay, in case hidden issues emerge.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingDead syllableA short vowel with no final consonant, so it is dead.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Low tone
à
Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.
Mid class + No tone mark + Dead syllable → Low
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 | — | — |