เทา
taoMeanings
1AdjectiveA1
gray; grey
Having the color between black and white; gray.
Examples
เสื้อsʉ̂ʉaเสื้อsʉ̂ʉa1shirt; top2jacket; coat3classifier: ตัวตัวdtuuaตัวdtuua1body; self; person (colloq.)2classifier: animals, garments, furniture, certain items; people (informal)3character; figureนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)สีเทาsǐi-taoสีเทาsǐi-tao1gray/grey (color)2gray/grey; gray-colored3gray area; semi-legal
This shirt is gray.
3 more examplesShow less
The sky looks gray today.
ฉันchǎnชอบchɔ̂ɔpรองเท้าหนังrɔɔng-táao-nǎngสีเทาsǐi-taoเพราะprɔ́แมตช์mɛ̂ɛtกับgàpเสื้อผ้าsʉ̂ʉa-pâaง่ายngâai
I like gray leather shoes because they match outfits easily.
His cat has light gray fur, almost silver.
2NounA1
gray color; grey color
The color gray.
Examples
3 more examplesShow less
The house wall is gray.
Tomorrow I will wear a gray shirt to work.
ตอนเด็กdton dèkฉันchănไม่ชอบmâi chôpสีsĕeสดsòtๆ-เลยloieเลือกlêuuakกระเป๋าgrà-bpăoสีเทาsĕe taoแทนtaen
As a child I didn’t like bright colors, so I chose a gray bag instead.
3AdjectiveB2
shady; dubious; morally gray
Unclear or questionable in legality or ethics (figurative use).
Examples
ดีลdinดีลdin1deal (agreement; transaction)2[to] make a deal; negotiate; finalizeนี้néeนี้née1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)ดูdooดูdoo1[to] look; watch; see2[to] examine; check; inspect3[to] seem; appear4try; have a go5[to] divine; tell fortuneเทาtaoเทาtao1gray; grey2gray color; grey color3shady; dubious; morally grayๆ-เพราะpráwเพราะpráw1because2because of; due to3melodious; pleasant-soundingเงื่อนไขngêuuan kăiเงื่อนไขngêuuan kăi1condition; requirement2terms; provisions3constraint; limitationไม่ชัดเจนmâi chát jenไม่ชัดเจนmâi chát jenunclear; vagueและláeและláeand (coordinating)อาจàatอาจàat1may; might (possibility)2possibly; perhaps3able; capable (literary/formal)ผิดกฎหมายpìt gòt-măaiผิดกฎหมายpìt gòt-măai1illegal; unlawful2illegally
This deal seems gray because the terms are unclear and might be illegal.
3 more examplesShow less
เขาkăoหาเงินhăa ngernจากjàakวิธีwí-teeที่têeเทาtaoๆ-ซึ่งsêungใครkraiๆ-ก็gâwสงสัยsŏng săiว่าwâaโปร่งใสbpròng săiหรือเปล่าrĕu bplàao
He makes money in a gray way that everyone doubts is transparent.
กฎระเบียบgòt-rá-bìiapยังyangคลุมเครือklum-krʉʉaทำให้tam-hâiแพลตฟอร์มplɛ̂ɛt-fɔɔmนี้níiอยู่ในyùu-naiโซนsoonเทาtaoระหว่างrá-wàangถูกกฎหมายtùuk-gòt-mǎaiกับgàpผิดกฎหมายpìt-gòt-mǎai
The regulations are still vague, placing this platform in a gray zone between legal and illegal.
บริษัทbò-rí-sàtหลีกเลี่ยงlèek lîangภาษีpaa-sĕeด้วยdûuayวิธีการwí-tee-gaanเทาtaoๆ-อาศัยaa-săiช่องโหว่chông wòhกฎหมายgòt-măaiแม้máeจะjàไม่mâiผิดpìtชัดเจนchát-jenแต่dtàeก็gâwน่ากังขาnâa gang-kăa
The company avoids taxes using gray methods, exploiting legal loopholes; it’s not clearly illegal but is questionable.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableThe vowel เ-า hides a final -ว, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
tao
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Low 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 | — | — |