อาม่า
aa-mâaMeanings
1NounA2
paternal grandmother (in a family of Chinese descent)
The father's mother, used in Thai families of Chinese descent. (From Teochew/Hokkien Chinese 阿嬤)
Examples
นี่nîiนี่nîi1this (colloq.)2this; this one (pronoun)3here is…; look/listen (attention-getter)คือkʉʉคือkʉʉ1to be (definition/identification)2namely; that is; i.e.อาม่าaa-mâaอาม่าaa-mâa1paternal grandmother (in a family of Chinese descent)2an elderly woman (as a term of address)ของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnmy; mineค่ะkâค่ะkâ1polite particle (female, statement)2polite particle (female, short response)
This is my paternal grandmother.
3 more examplesShow less
My paternal grandmother cooks very delicious Chinese food.
This holiday, I will go visit my paternal grandmother in the province.
ตอนเด็กๆdton dèk-dèkอาม่าaa-mâaชอบchôpเล่าlâoนิทานní-taanให้hâiฟังfangแต่dtàeตอนนี้dton néeท่านtâanอายุมากàa-yú mâakแล้วláeoเลยloieไม่ค่อยmâi kôiได้dâiเล่าlâo
When I was little, my paternal grandmother liked to tell me stories, but now she is very old so she doesn't tell them often.
2NounB1
an elderly woman (as a term of address)
A respectful term of address for an elderly woman, particularly one of Chinese descent.
Examples
อาม่าaa-mâaอาม่าaa-mâa1paternal grandmother (in a family of Chinese descent)2an elderly woman (as a term of address)ครับkrápครับkráppolite particle (male speaker)ขายkǎaiขายkǎai1[to] sell [sth]2for sale; for purchase3[to] sell oneself; prostitute oneselfก๋วยเตี๋ยวgǔuai-dtǐiaoก๋วยเตี๋ยวgǔuai-dtǐiaorice noodles; noodle dishชามchaamชามchaam1bowl2portion (bowlful)3classifier: bowls/bowlfulsละláละlá1[to] quit; give up; drop; let go (of)2each; per3[to] omit; leave out; skip4topic/softening particleเท่าไหร่tâo-ràiเท่าไหร่tâo-rài1how much/how many (amount/price)2how (to what degree/extent)3not much/many (after negation)4no matter how much/manyครับkrápครับkráppolite particle (male speaker)
Ma'am, how much is a bowl of noodles? (addressing an elderly female vendor)
3 more examplesShow less
ผมpǒmเห็นhěnอาม่าaa-mâaคนหนึ่งkon-nʉ̀ngกำลังจะgam-lang-jàข้ามถนนkâam-tà-nǒnเลยləəiเดินเข้าไปdəən-kâo-bpaiช่วยchûuaiพยุงpá-yungท่านtân
I saw an elderly lady who was about to cross the street, so I went over to help support her.
อาม่าaa-mâaที่têeร้านขายของชำráan kăai kŏng chamใจjaiดีมากdee mâakชอบchôpแถมtăemขนมkà-nŏmให้hâiเด็กๆdèk dèkเสมอsà-mĕr
The elderly lady at the grocery store is very kind; she always gives extra snacks to the children.
การแสดงgaan-sà-dɛɛngความมีน้ำใจkwaam-mii-náam-jaiต่อdtɔ̀ɔอาม่าaa-mâaที่tîiเราraoพบเจอpóp-jəəตามdtaamท้องถนนtɔ́ɔng-tà-nǒnสะท้อนถึงsà-tɔ́ɔn-tʉ̌ngวัฒนธรรมwát-tá-ná-tamอันanดีงามdii-ngaamของkɔ̌ɔngสังคมไทยsǎng-kom-tai
Showing kindness to the elderly women we meet on the street reflects the beautiful culture of Thai society.
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 classMid class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableA long vowel with no final consonant, so it is live.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Mid tone
aa
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Mid 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
อาaaอาaa1paternal uncle/aunt (younger than one’s father)2uncle; aunt (familiar address)3prefix (Pali/Skt.): toward; near; throughoutpaternal uncle/aunt (younger than one’s father)Part 1
+
ม่าmâaม่าmâa1grandmother (colloq., Sino-Thai)2drama (clipped slang)grandmother (colloq., Sino-Thai)Part 2
อาม่าaa-mâaอาม่าaa-mâapaternal grandmother (in a family of Chinese descent)paternal grandmother (in a family of Chinese descent)Word