แต๋ว

dtɛ̌ɛo

Meanings

1NounB2

effeminate gay man; kathoey

A slang word for an effeminate gay man or kathoey; it can sound mocking or offensive depending on context.

Examples

สมัยก่อนsà-mǎi-gɔ̀ɔnสมัยก่อนsà-mǎi-gɔ̀ɔn1formerly; in the past; back then2the old days; former timesคนkonคนkon1person; human2classifier: people3[to] stir; mix by stirringมักจะmák-jàมักจะmák-jà1often; usually (habit/frequency)2tend to; be apt/prone to (general tendency)เรียกrîiakเรียกrîiak1[to] call [sb/sth] (by name); name2[to] call out; summon; hail3[to] ask for; charge; demand4[to] draw attention; bring out a reactionผู้ชายpûu-chaaiผู้ชายpûu-chaai1man; male (person)2boyfriend; male romantic partner (informal)ที่tîiที่tîi1place; spot; seat; space2at; in; to (a place)3classifier: places; seats; individual servings4that/which/who (relative marker)5when; the time that (time marker)6ordinal markerมีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoลักษณะlák-sà-nàลักษณะlák-sà-nà1characteristic; trait; feature2form; shape; appearance3manner; mode; way4nature; character (abstract quality)5classifier: types/kinds/forms/featuresตุ้งติ้งdtûng-dtîngตุ้งติ้งdtûng-dtîng1effeminate; camp2dangling ornament; pendant3dangling; swayingว่าwâaว่าwâa1[to] say; tell2that (clause marker)3[to] think; consider; deem4[to] scold; reproach; criticizeเป็นbpenเป็นbpen1to be (identity/category/state)2to become3[to] know how; be able to (skill)4alive; living5[to] have; suffer from; be in (a condition)แต๋วdtɛ̌ɛoแต๋วdtɛ̌ɛo1effeminate gay man; kathoey2effeminate; camp
In the past, people often called men with effeminate characteristics a "taew".
3 more examples
กลุ่มglùmแต๋วdtɛ̌ɛoที่tîiเรียนriianอยู่yùuโรงเรียนroong-riianเดียวกันdiiao-ganชอบchɔ̂ɔpชวนchuuanกันganไปbpaiประกวดbprà-gùuatเต้นdtênคัฟเวอร์káp-wəə
The group of effeminate gay boys from the same school likes to invite each other to enter cover dance competitions.
การใช้คำgaan-chái-kamว่าwâaแต๋วdtɛ̌ɛoเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaเรียกrîiakกลุ่มคนglùm-konที่tîiมีmiiความหลากหลายทางเพศkwaam-làak-lǎai-taang-pêetอาจàatฟังfangดูเป็นduu-bpenการล้อเลียนgaan-lɔ́ɔ-liianและlɛ́ไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂iสุภาพsù-pâapนักnákในปัจจุบันnai-bpàt-jù-ban
Using the word "taew" to refer to LGBTQ+ individuals can sound mocking and is not very polite nowadays.
ถึงแม้tʉ̌ng-mɛ́ɛคนkonแถวบ้านtɛ̌ɛo-bâanจะjàชอบนินทาchɔ̂ɔp-nin-taaว่าwâaเขาkǎoเป็นbpenแต๋วdtɛ̌ɛoแต่dtɛ̀ɛเขาkǎoก็gɔ̂ไม่เคยmâi-kəəiสนใจsǒn-jaiและlɛ́ตั้งใจdtâng-jaiทำงานtam-ngaanหาเงินhǎa-ngənเลี้ยงครอบครัวlíiang-krɔ̂ɔp-kruua
Even though people in the neighborhood like to gossip that he is a "taew", he never cares and focuses on working to earn money to support his family.
2AdjectiveB2

effeminate; camp

Effeminate or camp in behavior or manner; slang and sometimes mocking or offensive.

Examples

เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillพยายามpá-yaa-yaamพยายามpá-yaa-yaam[to] try; attemptจะjàจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3will; would (in conditional results)ทำท่าทางtam-tâa-taangทำท่าทางtam-tâa-taang1[to] gesture; make gestures2[to] act as if; strike a poseให้hâiให้hâi1[to] give; provide2[to] allow; let; permit3to; for [sb] (recipient)4[to] have [sb] do; cause to5for (benefit of)6so that; in order to7until; to the point that (result)ดูแมนduu-mɛɛnดูแมนduu-mɛɛnmasculine-looking; manly (colloquial)ขึ้นkʉ̂nขึ้นkʉ̂n1[to] go up; rise; ascend2[to] increase3[to] board; get on4result complement: upward/better5postverbal particle: onset or occurrence6[to] sprout; grow; appear7northward/up-country8waxing phase (of the moon)เพราะprɔ́เพราะprɔ́1because2because of; due to3melodious; pleasant-soundingไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)อยากyàakอยากyàak1[to] want; desire2to crave; to long forให้hâiให้hâi1[to] give; provide2[to] allow; let; permit3to; for [sb] (recipient)4[to] have [sb] do; cause to5for (benefit of)6so that; in order to7until; to the point that (result)ใครkraiใครkrai1who2anyone; whoeverมองว่าmɔɔng-wâaมองว่าmɔɔng-wâa1[to] think/consider (that ...)2[to] regard/see [sb]/[sth] as ...เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillดูduuดูduu1[to] look; watch; see2[to] examine; check; inspect3[to] seem; appear4try; have a go5[to] divine; tell fortune6[to] look after; watch; mindแต๋วdtɛ̌ɛoแต๋วdtɛ̌ɛo1effeminate gay man; kathoey2effeminate; camp
He tries to act more manly because he doesn't want anyone to think he looks effeminate.
3 more examples
ผู้ชายpôo chaaiคนkonนั้นnánมีmeeบุคลิกbùk-ká-líkที่têeดูdooแต๋วdtăewนิดๆnít nítแต่dtàeจริงๆjing jingแล้วláeoเขาkăoแต่งงานdtàeng ngaanและláeมีmeeลูกlôokแล้วláeo
That man has a slightly effeminate personality, but he is actually married with children.
นักแสดงnák sà-daengชายchaaiคนนี้kon néeต้องdtôngมาmaaรับบทráp bòtที่têeแสดงsà-daengกิริยาท่าทางgì-rí-yaa tâa taangแต๋วๆdtăew dtăewซึ่งsêungถือเป็นtĕu bpenการท้าทายgaan táa taaiความสามารถkwaam săa-mâatของเขาkŏng kăoมากmâak
This male actor has to take on a role demonstrating campy mannerisms, which is considered a great challenge to his abilities.
บางครั้งbaang krángการใช้เสียงgaan chái sĭiangสองsŏngหรือrĕuทำท่าทางtam tâa taangแต๋วdtăewมากเกินไปmâak gern bpaiก็gâwอาจàatทำให้tam hâiคนkonที่têeเพิ่งเริ่มpêrng rêrmคุยด้วยkui dûuaiรู้สึกrúu-sèukแปลกๆbplàek bplàekได้dâi
Sometimes using a high-pitched voice or acting too campy can make someone you've just started talking to feel a bit weird.

Tones

See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.

How the tone is decided

  1. Consonant classMid class
  2. Tone markMai chattawa
  3. Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.

Mid class consonants

กจฎฏดตบปอ

Result

Rising tone

dtɛ̌ɛo

Dips low first, then rises clearly.

Mid class + Mai chattawa → Rising

Tone chart

Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.

Mid classHigh classLow class
No mark + liveMidRisingMid
No mark + dead shortLowLowHigh
No mark + dead longLowLowFalling
Mai ekLowLowFalling
Mai thoFallingFallingHigh
Mai triHigh——
Mai chattawaRising——
Work out any syllable's tone in the tone calculator