เหล้า
lâoMeanings
1NounA2
liquor; spirits
distilled alcoholic beverages such as whiskey, rum, or local spirits; in Thai, often used broadly for strong drink
Examples
ป้าbpâaป้าbpâa1aunt (older sister of father or mother)2auntie; middle‑aged/older woman (address)บอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâaบอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâa1[to] say/tell that; report/declare that2[of text/sign] say/indicate thatเหล้าlâoเหล้าlâo1liquor; spirits2alcoholic drink (general)แรงrɛɛngแรงrɛɛng1strong; intense; severe2force; strength; power3hard; strongly (adverbial use)ดื่มdʉ̀ʉmดื่มdʉ̀ʉm1[to] drink2[to] drink alcoholแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)มึนง่ายmʉn-ngâaiมึนง่ายmʉn-ngâai1easily dizzy or woozy2easily confused or foggy
Auntie says strong liquor makes you dizzy easily.
3 more examplesShow less
Last night he drank a bit of white spirit and went home.
On Uncle’s birthday, they clinked glasses of rum and offered wishes.
แม่mɛ̂ɛเตือนdtʉʉanว่าwâaถ้าtâaจะjàดื่มdʉ̀ʉmเหล้าlâoควรkuuanกินข้าวgin-kâaoก่อนgɔ̀ɔnเพื่อไม่ให้pʉ̂ʉa-mâi-hâiเมาmaoง่ายngâai
Mom warned that if you’re going to drink liquor, you should eat first so you don’t get drunk easily.
2NounA2
alcoholic drink (general)
alcoholic beverages in general; common Thai usage may include beer and wine
Examples
ที่tîiที่tîi1place; spot; seat; space2at; in; to (a place)3classifier: places; seats; individual servings4that/which/who (relative marker)5when; the time that (time marker)6ordinal markerร้านนี้ráan-níiร้านนี้ráan-níithis shop; this storeมีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoเหล้าlâoเหล้าlâo1liquor; spirits2alcoholic drink (general)หลายlǎaiหลายlǎaimany; severalแบบbɛ̀ɛpแบบbɛ̀ɛp1style; type; kind; manner2model; pattern; design; template3form; questionnaire4in a ... way; -ly (pre-head adverbial marker)เช่นchênเช่นchên1for example; such as2like; asเบียร์biiaเบียร์biiabeerกับgàpกับgàp1with; together with2and (informal)3side dish; accompaniment4against; versus5to; toward (recipient/target)6classifier: sets/pairs (spoon and fork)ไวน์waaiไวน์waaiwine
This shop has many alcoholic drinks, such as beer and wine.
3 more examplesShow less
The doctor told me to cut down on alcohol for liver health.
He says he never drinks alcohol while working.
งานเลี้ยงngaan líiangเมื่อคืนmêuua keunมีmeeเหล้าlâoเสิร์ฟsèrpไม่mâiขาดมือkàat meuuทั้งtángไวน์waiเบียร์biiaและláeค็อกเทลkók taylอ่อนònๆ-
At last night’s party, alcohol was constantly served—wine, beer, and light cocktails.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh classLeading หA silent ห before ล puts this syllable in high class.
- Tone markMai tho
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Falling tone
lâo
Starts high, rises a little, then drops clearly.
High 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 | — | — |
Word Breakdown
+
ล้าláaล้าláa1tired; fatigued2[to] be tired; become fatigued3outdated; behind the timestired; fatiguedPart 2
เหล้าlâoเหล้าlâoliquor; spiritsliquor; spiritsWord