อ้าว
âaoMeanings
1InterjectionA2
oh!; hey! (surprise/realization)
an exclamation expressing surprise, sudden realization, or mild confusion, similar to “oh!”
Examples
3 more examplesShow less
Oh, I forgot my wallet at home!
Oh! What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in a long time.
อ้าวâaoผมpǒmเพิ่งpə̂ngเข้าใจว่าkâo-jai-wâaทำไมtam-maiเขาkǎoถึงtʉ̌ngโกรธgròotที่แท้tîi-tɛ́ɛก็gɔ̂เป็นเพราะbpen-prɔ́เรื่องrʉ̂ʉangนี้níiนี่เองnîi-eeng
Oh, I just realized why he was angry. So it was because of this all along.
2InterjectionA2
hey! (mild reproach/attention)
an exclamation used to mildly reproach or call attention when something unexpected happens, similar to “hey!”
Examples
3 more examplesShow less
Hey, who told you to open that box?
อ้าวâaoไหนnǎiบอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâaจะjàช่วยกันchûuai-ganทำtamไงngaiทำไมtam-maiปล่อยให้bplɔ̀i-hâiฉันchǎnทำtamคนเดียวkon-diiao
Hey, I thought you said you'd help. Why did you leave me to do it alone?
อ้าวâaoทำtamอย่างนี้yàang-níiได้ยังไงdâai-yang-ngaiสัญญาsǎn-yaaแล้วlɛ́ɛoว่าwâaจะjàไม่mâiบอกbɔ̀ɔkใครkraiเรื่องrʉ̂ʉangนี้níi
Hey, how could you do this? You promised you wouldn't tell anyone about this.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markMai tho
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Falling tone
âao
Starts high, rises a little, then drops clearly.
Mid class + Mai tho → Falling
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 | — | — |