แทบ
tɛ̂ɛpMeanings
1AdverbA2
almost; nearly
used to indicate that something is very close to happening or being true
Examples
ฝนfǒnฝนfǒn1rain2[to] file; grind; honeเมฆmêekเมฆmêekcloudครึ้มkrʉ́mครึ้มkrʉ́m1overcast; gloomy (sky)2cheerful; in high spirits3lush; dense (foliage)จนjonจนjon1poor2until; up to3so ... that; to the point ofแทบจะtɛ̂ɛp-jàแทบจะtɛ̂ɛp-jà1almost; nearly2hardly; scarcely (with ไม่)ตกdtòkตกdtòk1[to] fall; drop2(rain/snow) fall3[to] fail (an exam/test)4[to] drop; decline; decrease5[to] cost; come to6[to] fall to; devolve upon; be allotted to7[to] be left out; miss one’s turnแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)
The clouds are so dark that it’s almost about to rain.
3 more examplesShow less
Our team is leading to the point that we’re almost winning.
งานngaanคืบหน้าkʉ̂ʉp-nâaแทบtɛ̂ɛpเสร็จสมบูรณ์sèt-sǒm-buunเหลือlʉ̌ʉaแค่kɛ̂ɛตรวจทานdtrùuat-taanอีกìikนิดเดียวnít-diiao
The work is almost complete, only a little proofreading remains.
ข่าวลือkàao-lʉʉแพร่กระจายprɛ̂ɛ-grà-jaaiจนjonแทบtɛ̂ɛpกลายเป็นglaai-bpenความจริงkwaam-jingในnaiสายตาsǎai-dtaaคนทั่วไปkon-tûua-bpai
The rumor spread to the point that it almost became the truth in the eyes of the public.
2AdverbB1
virtually; practically
intensifier meaning ‘for all practical purposes’; emphasizes extent (often with a negative or extreme adjective)
Examples
อาหารaa-hǎanอาหารaa-hǎan1food; nourishment2dish; meal3diet; what one eatsจานjaanจานjaan1plate; dish (tableware)2classifier for plates/servings3dish antenna; satellite dishนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)เผ็ดpètเผ็ดpèt1spicy; hot (pungent)2figuratively fierce/bitingแทบtɛ̂ɛpแทบtɛ̂ɛp1almost; nearly2virtually; practicallyกินginกินgin1[to] eat2[to] drink (colloquial/with some nouns)3[to] consume; use up4[to] corrode; erode; eat into5[to] take (a bribe); pocketไม่ไหวmâi-wǎiไม่ไหวmâi-wǎi[to] be unable (to [do sth]); cannot
This dish is so spicy it’s practically inedible.
3 more examplesShow less
ห้องhɔ̂ngเงียบngîiapแทบtɛ̂ɛpเป็นbpenสุสานsù-sǎanจนได้jon-dâaiยินyinเสียงsǐiangนาฬิกาnaa-lí-gaaดังdangชัดchát
The room was practically a graveyard, so quiet that the clock’s ticking was clear.
There was so much work today that there was practically no time to breathe.
หลังlǎngฝนตกfǒn-dtòkถนนลื่นtà-nǒn-lʉ̂ʉnแทบtɛ̂ɛpเป็นbpenกระจกgrà-jòkสะท้อนsà-tɔ́ɔnไฟรถfai-rótสว่างจ้าsà-wàang-jâa
After the rain, the road was practically a mirror, reflecting the car lights brightly.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingDead syllableLong vowelEnds in -บ, a stop, so it is dead.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Falling tone
tɛ̂ɛp
Starts high, rises a little, then drops clearly.
Low class + No tone mark + Dead syllable · Long vowel → 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 | — | — |