เพลา
plaoMeanings
1NounB2
axle; shaft
a rod or bar that supports and transmits rotation in a machine or vehicle; axle/shaft
Examples
ช่างchângช่างchâng1artisan; mechanic; technician2crafts-; technical (prefix)3never mind; let it be4how (exclamatory)5[to] be inclined to; be given toตรวจพบdtrùuat-pópตรวจพบdtrùuat-póp[to] detect; discover (through examination/testing)ว่าwâaว่าwâa1[to] say; tell2that (clause marker)3[to] think; consider; deem4[to] scold; reproach; criticizeเพลาplaoเพลาplao1axle; shaft2time; occasion (poetic/archaic)3[to] lessen; ease off; abateล้อหน้าlɔ́ɔ-nâaล้อหน้าlɔ́ɔ-nâafront wheelมีรอยmii-rɔɔiมีรอยmii-rɔɔi[to] be marked; [to] have a markสึกsʉ̀kสึกsʉ̀k1[to] wear; wear down; erode2[to] disrobe (from monkhood)ทำให้tam-hâiทำให้tam-hâi1[to] make; cause [sb/sth] to [do/be sth]; render2[to] do/make [sth] for [sb]รถrótรถrót1vehicle (general)2car; automobileสั่นsànสั่นsàn1[to] shake; tremble; vibrate2shaky; trembling3to shake [sth]
The mechanic found wear on the front axle, causing the car to shake.
3 more examplesShow less
ถ้าtâaเพลาplaoเครื่องจักรkrʉ̂ʉang-jàkคดkótเครื่องkrʉ̂ʉangจะjàทำงานtam-ngaanเสียงดังsǐiang-dangและlɛ́กินไฟgin-faiมากขึ้นmâak-kʉ̂n
If the machine’s shaft is bent, it will run noisily and consume more power.
เราraoควรkuuanหล่อลื่นlɔ̀ɔ-lʉ̂ʉnเพลาplaoตามdtaamรอบrɔ̂ɔpบำรุงรักษาbam-rung-rák-sǎaเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaป้องกันbpɔ̂ng-ganการสึกหรอgaan-sʉ̀k-rɔ̌ɔที่tîiจุดjùtรองรับrɔɔng-rápแรงบิดrɛɛng-bìt
We should lubricate the shaft according to the maintenance schedule to prevent wear at torque-bearing points.
วิศวกรwít-sà-wá-gɔɔnเปลี่ยนbplìianเพลาขับplao-kàpและlɛ́ปรับสมดุลbpràp-sǒm-dunจึงjʉngลดlótการสั่นสะเทือนgaan-sàn-sà-tʉʉanของkɔ̌ɔngสายพานsǎai-paanส่งกำลังsòng-gam-langได้dâaiอย่างชัดเจนyàang-chát-jeen
The engineer replaced the drive shaft and balanced it, which significantly reduced vibration in the power transmission belt.
2NounC1
time; occasion (poetic/archaic)
time or occasion in literary or archaic Thai; often seen in set phrases
Examples
เพลาplaoเพลาplao1axle; shaft2time; occasion (poetic/archaic)3[to] lessen; ease off; abateนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)ข้าพเจ้าkâa-pá-jâaoข้าพเจ้าkâa-pá-jâaoI; me (formal/written)มีธุระmii-tú-ráมีธุระmii-tú-rá[to] have something to attend to; be tied upไม่อาจmâi-àatไม่อาจmâi-àat[to be] unable to; cannotไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already pastร่วมงานrûuam-ngaanร่วมงานrûuam-ngaan1[to] attend an event2[to] work together; collaborate3[to] join a workplace/team; be employed withได้dâaiได้dâai1okay; sure; agreed2[to] get; obtain; receive3can; [to] be able to; may4[to] manage to; succeed in5actualized-action marker
At this time, I have business and cannot attend the event.
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When the afternoon time arrived, a gentle rain began to fall.
ในnaiเพลาplaoวิกาลwí-gaanเมืองmʉʉangทั้งtángเมืองmʉʉangสงบงันsà-ngòp-nganมีmiiเพียงpiiangแสงsɛ̌ɛngตะเกียงdtà-giiangล้อlɔ́ɔเงาngaoอยู่yùuตามdtaamระเบียงrá-biiangเรือนrʉʉan
In the late-night hours, the entire town fell silent, with only lamplight casting shadows along the verandas.
ครั้นkránถึงtĕungเพลามงคลpay-laa mong-konเจ้าภาพjâo pâapจึงjeungเชิญchernแขกkàekผู้ใหญ่pôo yàiประกอบพิธีbprà-gòp pí-teeตามdtaamขนบโบราณkà-nòp boh-raan
When the auspicious time arrived, the host invited the dignitaries to perform the ceremony according to ancient tradition.
3VerbC1
[to] lessen; ease off; abate
to reduce the intensity or amount of [sth], or to become less intense; also used in everyday speech
Examples
เขาkăoเขาkăo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillพยายามpà-yaa-yaamพยายามpà-yaa-yaam[to] try; attemptเพลาplaoเพลาplao1axle; shaft2time; occasion (poetic/archaic)3[to] lessen; ease off; abateคำพูดkam pôotคำพูดkam pôot1what someone says; remarks2one's word; promise3wording; phrasingแรงๆraeng raengแรงๆraeng raeng1forcefully; hard; intensely; loudly2very strong; intense; harsh; potentลงlongลงlong1[to] go down; descend2[to] get off (vehicle)3down; downstream4[to] put; apply; record5[to] decrease; go down6[to] land; alightเพื่อไม่ให้pêuua mâi hâiเพื่อไม่ให้pêuua mâi hâiso that not; in order not to; to prevent [sth]เพื่อนpêuuanเพื่อนpêuuan1friend2classmate; colleague (peer)3companion; fellowเสียใจsĭia jaiเสียใจsĭia jai1[to] be sad; feel sorry2[to] regret3my condolences
He tried to tone down his harsh words so his friend wouldn’t feel hurt.
3 more examplesShow less
เมื่อmʉ̂ʉaหัวหน้าhǔua-nâaเริ่มrə̂əmเพลาplaoความกังวลkwaam-gang-wonลงlongบรรยากาศban-yaa-gàatในnaiการประชุมgaan-bprà-chumก็gɔ̂ดีขึ้นdii-kʉ̂n
When the boss eased his worries, the atmosphere in the meeting improved.
ขอkɔ̌ɔได้โปรดdâai-bpròotเพลาplaoความโกรธkwaam-gròotก่อนgɔ̀ɔnแล้วlɛ́ɛoเราraoค่อยkɔ̂iพูดคุยpûut-kuiเหตุผลhèet-pǒnกันganอย่างสงบyàang-sà-ngòp
Please calm your anger first, and then we can discuss the reasons calmly.
ด้วยdûuaiเกรงใจgreeng-jaiผู้ใหญ่pûu-yàiเขาkǎoจึงjʉngเพลาplaoท่าทีtâa-tiiแข็งกร้าวkɛ̌ng-grâaoแล้วlɛ́ɛoหันมาhǎn-maaเจรจาjee-rá-jaaอย่างyàangสุภาพsù-pâap
Out of respect for his elders, he softened his harsh stance and turned to negotiate politely.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow classConsonant clusterIn the cluster พล, the first consonant พ sets the 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
plao
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 | — | — |
Word Breakdown
+
ลาlaaลาlaa1donkey2[to] say goodbye; take one’s leave3leave (from work/school)4[to] take leave; request leavedonkeyPart 2
เพลาplaoเพลาplaoaxle; shaftaxle; shaftWord