แม่ฮัก
mɛ̂ɛ-hákMeaning
1NounB2
godmother; honorary foster mother
A godmother or honorary foster mother in Northern or Northeastern Thai culture; an older woman who has a caring, mother-like role toward a child, often through social or ritual ties.
Examples
ตอนเด็กๆdton dèk-dèkตอนเด็กๆdton dèk-dèk1when (one) was a child; in childhood2one’s childhood period (noun phrase use)ฉันchănฉันchăn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)ไปbpaiไปbpai1[to] go2away; off (directional complement/particle)3on; onward; continuously (aspect marker)4(aspect) completed; already past5too; excessivelyอยู่yòoอยู่yòo1[to] live; reside; stay2to be (located); be at3progressive/continuative marker4to exist; remainกับgàpกับgàp1with; together with2and (informal)3side dish; accompaniment4against; versus5to; toward (recipient/target)6classifier: sets/pairs (spoon and fork)แม่ฮักmâe hákแม่ฮักmâe hákgodmother; honorary foster motherที่têeที่têe1place; spot; seat; space2at; in; to (a place)3classifier: places; seats; individual servings4that/which/who (relative marker)5when; the time that (time marker)6ordinal markerต่างจังหวัดdtàang jang-wàtต่างจังหวัดdtàang jang-wàt1upcountry; outside the capital2provincial; out-of-townในช่วงnai chûuangในช่วงnai chûuangduring; in the period ofปิดเทอมbpìt termปิดเทอมbpìt term1school break; vacation2[to be] on break; between terms
When I was a child, I went to stay with my honorary foster mother in the province during school breaks.
3 more examplesShow less
His godmother takes care of him very well, as if he were her own child.
ในnaiวัฒนธรรมwát-tá-ná-tamอีสานee-săanการผูกgaan pòokแขนkăaenรับเป็นráp bpenแม่ฮักmâe hákถือtĕuuaเป็นประเพณีbpen bprà-pay-neeที่têeสร้างsâangความผูกพันkwaam pòok panอันดีan deeในnaiชุมชนchum-chon
In Isan culture, the wrist-tying ceremony to become a godmother is a tradition that builds good bonds in the community.
แม้mɛ́ɛจะjàไม่ได้mâi-dâaiมีmiiสายเลือดsǎai-lʉ̂ʉatเดียวกันdiiao-ganแต่dtɛ̀ɛความรักkwaam-rákที่tîiแม่ฮักmɛ̂ɛ-hákมอบให้mɔ̂ɔp-hâiก็gɔ̂มีmiiความบริสุทธิ์kwaam-bɔɔ-rí-sùtไม่mâiต่างจากdtàang-jàakแม่mɛ̂ɛผู้ให้กำเนิดpûu-hâi-gam-nə̀ət
Even without blood ties, the love given by an honorary foster mother is as pure as that of a biological mother.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markMai ek
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Falling tone
mɛ̂ɛ
Starts high, rises a little, then drops clearly.
Low class + Mai ek → 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
แม่mɛ̂ɛแม่mɛ̂ɛ1mother; mom2form of address for a woman (traditional/familiar)3prefix: female; main; basemother; momPart 1
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แม่ฮักmɛ̂ɛ-hákแม่ฮักmɛ̂ɛ-hákgodmother; honorary foster mothergodmother; honorary foster motherWord