แก่
gɛ̀ɛMeanings
1AdjectiveA2
old (age)
having lived for a long time; not young; elderly
Examples
คุณปู่kun bpòoคุณปู่kun bpòopaternal grandfather; father's fatherแก่gàeแก่gàe1old (age)2to; toward (recipient/affected party)3dark (color); strong (drink)4mature; fully grown; old (plant parts or produce)5for; with regard toแล้วláeoแล้วláeo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)และláeและláeand (coordinating)ชอบchôpชอบchôp1[to] like; be fond of2tend to; usually3be proper; be fitting (formal)นั่งnângนั่งnâng1[to] sit; sit down2[to] take; ride [sth] (vehicle)อ่านหนังสือàan năng-sĕuอ่านหนังสือàan năng-sĕu[to] read; [to] studyเงียบๆngîiap ngîiapเงียบๆngîiap ngîiap1quietly; discreetly; low‑key2quiet; subdued; unassuming3quiet!, hush!
Grandpa is old and likes to sit quietly reading.
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My dog is very old, so it walks slower than before.
แม้mɛ́ɛเขาkǎoจะjàแก่gɛ̀ɛแต่dtɛ̀ɛยังคงyang-kongออกกำลังกายɔ̀ɔk-gam-lang-gaaiและlɛ́ทำสวนtam-sǔuanทุกวันtúk-wan
Even though he is elderly, he still exercises and gardens every day.
2PrepositionB1
to; toward (recipient/affected party)
marking the person or entity who receives something or is affected by an action (e.g., speak to, give to)
Examples
ครูkruuครูkruu1teacher2master; mentor (respectful)3classifier: คน; ท่าน (respectful)พูดpôotพูดpôot1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutช้าๆcháa cháaช้าๆcháa cháaslowly; unhurriedlyแก่gàeแก่gàe1old (age)2to; toward (recipient/affected party)3dark (color); strong (drink)4mature; fully grown; old (plant parts or produce)5for; with regard toเด็กนักเรียนdèk nák riianเด็กนักเรียนdèk nák riianschoolchild; pupil; school studentต่างชาติdtàang châatต่างชาติdtàang châat1foreign; from abroad2a foreigner; foreign national
The teacher spoke slowly to the foreign students.
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I gave this gift to my mother on her birthday.
Congratulations to all the award recipients.
ทางtaangคณะká-náจะjàชี้แจงchíi-jɛɛngรายละเอียดraai-lá-ìiatแก่gɛ̀ɛผู้เข้าร่วมประชุมpûu-kâo-rûuam-bprà-chumภายหลังpaai-lǎng
The committee will clarify the details to the meeting participants later.
3AdjectiveB1
dark (color); strong (drink)
dark or deep in color; strong or concentrated in flavor (e.g., tea, coffee)
4AdjectiveB2
mature; fully grown; old (plant parts or produce)
fully developed or no longer young or tender, as fruit, leaves, or vegetables; not necessarily ripe or overripe
Examples
ทุเรียนtú-riianทุเรียนtú-riian1durian (fruit)2durian treeลูกlûukลูกlûuk1child; son; daughter2offspring (of animals); young3ball; spherical object4fruit5classifier: fruits, balls, and certain other objectsนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)แก่จัดgɛ̀ɛ-jàtแก่จัดgɛ̀ɛ-jàt1fully mature; very mature2very old; advanced in ageกลิ่นแรงglìn-rɛɛngกลิ่นแรงglìn-rɛɛngstrong/pungent smellแต่dtɛ̀ɛแต่dtɛ̀ɛ1but; however (contrast)2only; just (restriction)3from; since (starting point)เนื้อnʉ́ʉaเนื้อnʉ́ʉa1meat; flesh2flesh; pulp (of fruit)3texture; grain (surface of materials)4human body (skin and flesh)5content; substantive matter6core/body of an objectหวานมันwǎan-manหวานมันwǎan-mansweet and rich/creamy (taste)
This durian is very ripe; it smells strong but the flesh is rich and sweet.
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The oranges left for a long time have become very overripe, and their peels have softened.
ไวน์waaiขวดkùuatนี้níiหมักmàkจนjonรสจัดrót-jàtแก่จัดgɛ̀ɛ-jàtควรkuuanดื่มdʉ̀ʉmคู่กับkûu-gàpเนื้อย่างnʉ́ʉa-yâang
This bottle of wine has aged to an intensely mature, robust flavor; it should be paired with grilled meat.
กล้วยน้ำว้าglûuai-náam-wáaแก่gɛ̀ɛกำลังดีgam-lang-diiเนื้อnʉ́ʉaนุ่มnûmหวานwǎanเหมาะmɔ̀ทำtamกล้วยบวชชีglûuai-bùuat-chii
These Namwa bananas are perfectly ripe; the flesh is soft and sweet, ideal for making banana in coconut milk.
5PrepositionB2
for; with regard to
indicating relevance or applicability to someone or something (formal/literary)
Examples
ข้อเสนอkɔ̂ɔ-sà-nə̌əข้อเสนอkɔ̂ɔ-sà-nə̌ə1proposal; suggestion2offer; bid (business)ครั้งนี้kráng-níiครั้งนี้kráng-níi1this time; this occasion2this time (around); on this occasionไม่เป็นธรรมmâi-bpen-tamไม่เป็นธรรมmâi-bpen-tamunfair; unjustแก่gɛ̀ɛแก่gɛ̀ɛ1old (age)2to; toward (recipient/affected party)3dark (color); strong (drink)4mature; fully grown; old (plant parts or produce)5for; with regard toผู้ประกอบการpûu-bprà-gɔ̀ɔp-gaanผู้ประกอบการpûu-bprà-gɔ̀ɔp-gaanentrepreneur; business owner/operatorรายเล็กraai-lékรายเล็กraai-lék1small player; minor operator2small-scale; minor (entity)
This proposal is not fair to small business operators.
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บทความbòt kwaamนี้néeมีประโยชน์mee bprà-yòtแก่gàeผู้ที่pôo têeกำลังgam-langศึกษาsèuk-săaประวัติศาสตร์bprà-wàt-sàatท้องถิ่นtóng tìn
This article is beneficial to those studying local history.
ระเบียบrá-bìiapดังกล่าวdang-glàaoใช้บังคับchái-bang-kápแก่gɛ̀ɛเจ้าหน้าที่jâao-nâa-tîiทุกtúkระดับrá-dàpและlɛ́ต้องdtɔ̂ngปฏิบัติตามbpà-dtì-bàt-dtaamโดยเคร่งครัดdooi-krêeng-krát
The regulations apply to officials at all levels and must be strictly followed.
การอนุญาตgaan-à-nú-yâatนี้níiกระทำgrà-tamแก่gɛ̀ɛผู้pûuยื่นyʉ̂ʉnคำขอkam-kɔ̌ɔเท่านั้นtâo-nánไม่mâiผูกพันpùuk-panแก่gɛ̀ɛบุคคลภายนอกbùk-kon-paai-nɔ̂ɔk
This permission is granted to the applicant only and is not binding on third parties.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classMid class
- Tone markMai ek
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Mid class consonants
กจฎฏดตบปอ
Result
Low tone
gɛ̀ɛ
Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.
Mid class + Mai ek → Low
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 | — | — |