เลาๆ
lao-laoMeaning
1AdverbB2
vaguely; indistinctly
vaguely, indistinctly, or hazily (often used to describe remembering, seeing, or hearing something without clear detail)
Examples
ฉันchănฉันchăn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)3like; as (in the manner of)จำได้jam dâiจำได้jam dâi[to] remember [sth]; [to] recall [sth]; [to] recognize [sb/sth]เลาๆlao-laoเลาๆlao-laovaguely; indistinctlyว่าwâaว่าwâa1[to] say; tell2that (clause marker)3[to] think; consider; deem4[to] scold; reproach; criticizeเราraoเราrao1we; us2I; me (informal/regional)เคยkoeiเคยkoei1ever; before (past experience)2used to (past habit or state)3shrimp paste (Southern Thai)เจอกันjer ganเจอกันjer gan1see you; see you later2[to] meet each other; meet upที่têeที่têe1place; spot; seat; space2at; in; to (a place)3classifier: places; seats; individual servings4that/which/who (relative marker)5when; the time that (time marker)6ordinal markerงานเลี้ยงngaan líiangงานเลี้ยงngaan líiangparty; banquet; reception; feast; functionเมื่อmêuuaเมื่อmêuua1when; at the time that2at; in; on (with time expressions)ปีที่แล้วbpee têe láewปีที่แล้วbpee têe láew1last year; the previous year2last year (time marker)
I vaguely remember that we met at a party last year.
3 more examplesShow less
He indistinctly saw someone's shadow in the dark.
ถึงtĕungเรื่องrêuuangจะjàผ่านมาpàan maaสิบsìpปีbpeeแล้วláeoแต่dtàeฉันchănก็gâwยังyangพอporจำjamรายละเอียดraai-lá-ìiatของkŏngอุบัติเหตุù-bàt-dtì-hètครั้งkrángนั้นnánได้dâiเลาๆlao-lao
Even though ten years have passed, I still vaguely recall the details of that accident.
ฉันchănพอจะpor jàรู้เรื่องróo rêuuangการลาออกgaan laa-òkของkŏngประธานบริษัทbprà-taan bo-rí-sàtมาmaaเลาๆlao-laoแต่dtàeก็gâwไม่แน่ใจmâi nâe jaiว่าwâaสาเหตุsăa-hètที่แท้จริงtêe táe jingคือkeuอะไรà-rai
I vaguely knew about the company president's resignation, but I wasn't sure what the real reason was.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is เลาๆ said เลา-เลา?
lao-lao
Thai spelling does not always show how a word sounds. This is how it is said.
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
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
lao
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 | — | — |