อีหลี
ii-lǐiMeanings
1AdverbB2
really; truly (Isan/Lao colloquial)
an informal adverb in Isan/Northeastern Thai (from Lao), meaning ‘really; truly; indeed’; used like Thai ‘จริงๆจริงๆjing jing1really; truly; actually; indeed2really?!; seriously?!’.
Examples
ส้มตำsôm-dtamส้มตำsôm-dtamsom tam; green papaya saladร้านนี้ráan-níiร้านนี้ráan-níithis shop; this storeแซ่บอีหลีsɛ̂p-ii-lǐiแซ่บอีหลีsɛ̂p-ii-lǐireally delicious; very tastyต้องdtɔ̂ngต้องdtɔ̂ng1must; have to2must; bound toมากินmaa-ginมากินmaa-gin[to] come eatอีกìikอีกìik1more; additional2again3else; other4yet; still (in comparisons/time)ให้ได้hâi-dâaiให้ได้hâi-dâaipost-verb emphasis: definitely; no matter what
The som tum at this restaurant is truly delicious. I definitely have to come eat here again.
3 more examplesShow less
I truly love you, I'm not just kidding.
ตอนแรกdtɔɔn-rɛ̂ɛkก็gɔ̂ไม่mâiเชื่อchʉ̂ʉaแต่dtɛ̀ɛพอpɔɔไปbpaiเห็นกับตาhěn-gàp-dtaaถึงtʉ̌ngได้dâaiรู้rúuว่าwâaเขาkǎoทำงานหนักtam-ngaan-nàkอีหลีii-lǐi
At first I didn't believe it, but after seeing it with my own eyes, I realized he truly works hard.
เขาkǎoบอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâaจะjàกลับมาglàp-maaช่วยchûuaiแล้วlɛ́ɛoเขาkǎoก็gɔ̂กลับมาglàp-maaอีหลีii-lǐiแสดงว่าsà-dɛɛng-wâaเป็นbpenคนkonรักษาคำพูดrák-sǎa-kam-pûut
He said he would come back to help, and he truly did, which shows he's a person who keeps their word.
2InterjectionB2
really!; for real! (Isan/Lao colloquial)
an exclamation expressing surprise or emphatic confirmation, meaning ‘really!’ or ‘for real!’.
Examples
เอeeเอeehmm; well; huhเขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillถูกลอตเตอรี่tùuk-lɔ̂ɔt-dtəə-rîiถูกลอตเตอรี่tùuk-lɔ̂ɔt-dtəə-rîi[to] win the lotteryรางวัลที่หนึ่งraang-wan-tîi-nʉ̀ngรางวัลที่หนึ่งraang-wan-tîi-nʉ̀ngfirst prizeบีbiiบีbii1letter B2vitamin Bอีหลีii-lǐiอีหลีii-lǐi1really; truly (Isan/Lao colloquial)2really!; for real! (Isan/Lao colloquial)
A: He won the first prize in the lottery. B: For real!?
3 more examplesShow less
เอeeเขาkǎoจะjàแต่งงานdtɛ̀ng-ngaanเดือนหน้าdʉʉan-nâaแล้วlɛ́ɛoนะnáบีbiiอีหลีเบาะii-lǐi-bɔ̀เพิ่งpə̂ngเห็นhěnเขาkǎoทะเลาะกันtá-lɔ́-ganอยู่yùuเลยləəi
A: They're getting married next month. B: Really!? I just saw them arguing.
เอeeแน่ใจnɛ̂ɛ-jaiนะnáว่าwâaสิsìเฮ็ดงานhét-ngaanนี้níiเสร็จทันเวลาsèt-tan-wee-laaบีbiiอีหลีii-lǐiคอยkɔɔiเบิ่งbə̀əngโลดlôot
A: Are you sure you'll finish this work on time? B: For real! Just you wait and see!
เขาkǎoได้dâaiทุนtunไปเรียนbpai-riianต่อdtɔ̀ɔเมืองนอกเหรอmʉʉang-nɔ̂ɔk-rə̌əอีหลีii-lǐiไม่น่าเชื่อmâi-nâa-chʉ̂ʉaเลยləəiว่าwâaจะjàเก่งgèngขนาดนี้kà-nàat-níi
He got a scholarship to study abroad... Really!? It's unbelievable that he's that talented.
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
+
หลีlǐiหลีlǐi1[to] flirt with; court (colloq.)2Li (Chinese surname)[to] flirt with; court (colloq.)Part 2
อีหลีii-lǐiอีหลีii-lǐireally; truly (Isan/Lao colloquial)really; truly (Isan/Lao colloquial)Word