อีสาน
ii-sǎanMeanings
1NounB1
Isan (region of Thailand)
The northeastern region of Thailand; also used to refer to things related to this region, such as its people, culture, or dialect.
Examples
ปีหน้าbpii-nâaปีหน้าbpii-nâanext yearฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)อยากyàakอยากyàak1[to] want; desire2to crave; to long forไปเที่ยวbpai-tîiaoไปเที่ยวbpai-tîiao1[to] go out for fun; hang out2[to] travel for leisure; go on a trip; go sightseeing3[to] drop by for fun; pay a casual visitอีสานii-sǎanอีสานii-sǎan1Isan (region of Thailand)2Isan; Northeastern Thai3Isan (language/dialect)4northeast (compass point)เพื่อpʉ̂ʉaเพื่อpʉ̂ʉa1for; in order to2for the sake of; on behalf ofเรียนรู้riian-rúuเรียนรู้riian-rúu[to] learn; acquire knowledgeวิถีชีวิตwí-tǐi-chii-wítวิถีชีวิตwí-tǐi-chii-wítlifestyle; way of life; lifewaysท้องถิ่นtɔ́ɔng-tìnท้องถิ่นtɔ́ɔng-tìn1local; regional2the local area; locality
Next year I want to travel to Isan to learn about the local way of life.
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มหกรรมmá-hà-gamครั้งนี้kráng-níiจัดแสดงjàt-sà-dɛɛngวัฒนธรรมwát-tá-ná-tamอีสานii-sǎanทั้งtángการฟ้อนรำgaan-fɔ́ɔn-ramและlɛ́ประเพณีbprà-pee-niiพื้นบ้านpʉ́ʉn-bâan
This festival showcases Isan culture, including traditional dance and local customs.
เพื่อนร่วมงานpʉ̂ʉan-rûuam-ngaanของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnเป็นbpenคนอีสานkon-ii-sǎanเขาkǎoมักmákเล่าเรื่องlâo-rʉ̂ʉangบ้านเกิดbâan-gə̀ətให้hâiฟังfang
My coworker is from Isan, and he often tells stories about his hometown.
งานวิจัยngaan-wí-jaiชิ้นนี้chín-níiสำรวจsǎm-rùuatการเปลี่ยนแปลงgaan-bplìian-bplɛɛngทางสังคมtaang-sǎng-komของkɔ̌ɔngชุมชนอีสานchum-chon-ii-sǎanในnaiเมืองใหญ่mʉʉang-yài
This study examines social changes among Isan communities in big cities.
2AdjectiveB1
Isan; Northeastern Thai
Relating to Isan or northeastern Thai (e.g., food, music, style).
Examples
ร้านนี้ráan-níiร้านนี้ráan-níithis shop; this storeมีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoอาหารอีสานaa-hǎan-ii-sǎanอาหารอีสานaa-hǎan-ii-sǎanNortheastern Thai (Isan) cuisineเผ็ดนัวpèt-nuuaเผ็ดนัวpèt-nuuaspicy and savoryมากmâakมากmâak1very; extremely2much; a lot; greatly3many; numerous
This place serves Isan food that's deliciously spicy.
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คืนนี้kʉʉn-níiมีmiiดนตรีdon-dtriiหมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lamสไตล์sà-dtaiอีสานii-sǎanที่tîiลานlaanหน้าnâaเมืองmʉʉang
Tonight there will be Isan-style mor lam music at the town square.
He likes to wear Isan-patterned clothes when going to temple fairs.
สารคดีsǎa-rá-ká-diiชุดchútนี้níiสำรวจsǎm-rùuatรสชาติrót-châatอีสานii-sǎanร่วมสมัยrûuam-sà-mǎiที่tîiผสานpà-sǎanเทคนิคték-nìkครัวkruuaสากลsǎa-gon
This documentary series explores contemporary Isan flavors blended with global culinary techniques.
3NounB2
Isan (language/dialect)
The Lao-related dialects spoken in northeastern Thailand; often considered a variety of Lao, distinct from Central Thai.
Examples
ยายyaaiยายyaai1grandmother (maternal)2old woman (informal; can be rude)พูดpûutพูดpûut1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutอีสานii-sǎanอีสานii-sǎan1Isan (region of Thailand)2Isan; Northeastern Thai3Isan (language/dialect)4northeast (compass point)กับgàpกับgàp1with; together with2and (informal)3side dish; accompaniment4against; versus5to; toward (recipient/target)6classifier: sets/pairs (spoon and fork)หลานlǎanหลานlǎan1grandchild2niece or nephewที่บ้านtîi-bâanที่บ้านtîi-bâan1at home; at one’s residence2one’s family; people at homeแต่dtɛ̀ɛแต่dtɛ̀ɛ1but; however (contrast)2only; just (restriction)3from; since (starting point)พอpɔɔพอpɔɔ1enough; sufficient2enough; sufficiently3[to] suffice; be enough4quite; rather; fairly5as soon as; whenออกไปɔ̀ɔk-bpaiออกไปɔ̀ɔk-bpai1[to] go out; leave; exit2Get out!3[to] lead out to; extend toข้างนอกkâang-nɔ̂ɔkข้างนอกkâang-nɔ̂ɔk1outside; outdoors2the outside; exterior3outside ofก็gɔ̂ก็gɔ̂1also; too2then; so (sequence/result)3conditional marker (if… then…)4well; after all (emphasis/justification)5topic/resumption markerพูดpûutพูดpûut1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutกลางglaangกลางglaang1middle; center2middle; central3in the middle; in the center4amid; in the midst of; mid-ได้dâaiได้dâai1okay; sure; agreed2[to] get; obtain; receive3can; [to] be able to; may4[to] manage to; succeed in5actualized-action markerคล่องklɔ̂ɔngคล่องklɔ̂ɔng1fluent; nimble2liquid; having liquidity (finance)3unobstructed; free-flowing; smooth4nimble; deft
Grandma speaks Isan with her grandchild at home, but when outside she speaks Central Thai fluently.
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ผมpǒmฟังfangเพลงpleengหมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lamแล้วlɛ́ɛoเริ่มrə̂əmเข้าใจkâo-jaiคำkamอีสานii-sǎanหลายlǎaiคำkamมากขึ้นmâak-kʉ̂n
After listening to mor lam songs, I started to understand many Isan words more.
ในnaiโรงเรียนroong-riianแถวtɛ̌ɛoโคราชkoo-râatเด็กdèkบางคนbaang-konใช้cháiคำkamอีสานii-sǎanปนกับbpon-gàpภาษาไทยpaa-sǎa-taiกลางglaangเวลาwee-laaเล่าเรื่องlâo-rʉ̂ʉang
In schools around Korat, some children mix Isan words with Central Thai when telling stories.
รายการวิทยุraai-gaan-wít-tá-yúท้องถิ่นtɔ́ɔng-tìnสลับsà-làpใช้cháiภาษาอีสานpaa-sǎa-ii-sǎanและlɛ́ไทยtaiกลางglaangเพื่อให้pʉ̂ʉa-hâiผู้ฟังpûu-fangทั้งสองtáng-sɔ̌ɔngกลุ่มglùmเข้าถึงkâo-tʉ̌ngข้อมูลkɔ̂ɔ-muunได้dâai
The local radio program alternates between Isan and Central Thai so both audiences can access the information.
4NounB2
northeast (compass point)
The northeast direction or compass point (often used formally or traditionally with ทิศทิศtítdirection; compass point).
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
ii
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
+
สานsǎanสานsǎan1[to] weave; interlace2[to] build on; carry forward; connect[to] weave; interlacePart 2
อีสานii-sǎanอีสานii-sǎanIsan (region of Thailand)Isan (region of Thailand)Word