แล้ว
lɛ́ɛoMeanings
1ParticleA2
already; now (as of this point)
Indicates that an action is completed or that a new state now holds true (often clause-final).
Examples
ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)กินข้าวgin-kâaoกินข้าวgin-kâao1[to] have a meal; eat (general)2[to] eat rice (literal)แล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)
I have eaten already.
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He went home just now.
The work is done now; I can rest peacefully tonight.
I have already finished eating.
He’s awake now.
2AdverbA2
then; and then; after that
Shows temporal sequence or the next step in a series of actions.
Examples
ตื่นนอนdtʉ̀ʉn-nɔɔnตื่นนอนdtʉ̀ʉn-nɔɔn[to] wake up (stop sleeping)แล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)แปรงฟันbprɛɛng-fanแปรงฟันbprɛɛng-fan[to] brush (one's) teethต่อdtɔ̀ɔต่อdtɔ̀ɔ1[to] continue; go on2per; each (rate/unit)3[to] connect; attach; join4[to] bargain; haggle5[to] renew; extend
Wake up, then brush your teeth.
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Go to the market first, then come back to cook.
Finish your homework, then go out to play.
เขาkǎoจะjàประชุมbprà-chumก่อนgɔ̀ɔnแล้วlɛ́ɛoค่อยkɔ̂iสรุปsà-rùpส่งsòngอีเมลii-meenให้hâiทุกคนtúk-konตอนบ่ายdtɔɔn-bàai
He will have a meeting first, then summarize and send an email to everyone in the afternoon.
3ParticleA2
already; completed-action marker
Follows a verb or verb phrase to indicate completion or a change of state.
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)ไปกินข้าวbpai-gin-kâaoไปกินข้าวbpai-gin-kâao[to] go eatแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)
He has already gone to eat.
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I have already called my mom.
บริษัทbɔɔ-rí-sàtแล้วlɛ́ɛoเปลี่ยนbplìianนโยบายná-yoo-baaiแล้วlɛ́ɛoพนักงานpá-nák-ngaanต้องdtɔ̂ngปรับตัวbpràp-dtuua
The company has already changed its policy; employees must adapt.
4ConjunctionB1
and; and then (linking clauses)
Links two clauses where the second follows as a result or next event (colloquial narrative use).
Examples
ฝนfǒnฝนfǒn1rain2[to] file; grind; honeหยุดyùtหยุดyùt[to] stop; haltแล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)เราraoเราrao1we; us2I; me (informal/regional)ออกɔ̀ɔkออกɔ̀ɔk1[to] go out; exit; leave2out; outward3[in sports] out of bounds4[to] come out; appear; be issued5[to] produce; emit; put out6[to] pay; spend; disburse7[to] quit; resign8[to] issue; publish9successfully; out (indicating comprehension or discovery)ไปซื้อของbpai-sʉ́ʉ-kɔ̌ɔngไปซื้อของbpai-sʉ́ʉ-kɔ̌ɔng[to] go shoppingต่อdtɔ̀ɔต่อdtɔ̀ɔ1[to] continue; go on2per; each (rate/unit)3[to] connect; attach; join4[to] bargain; haggle5[to] renew; extend
The rain stopped, and then we went out to shop.
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เขาkǎoลืมlʉʉmเอาaoกุญแจgun-jɛɛมาmaaแล้วlɛ́ɛoต้องdtɔ̂ngโทรtooให้hâiเพื่อนpʉ̂ʉanลงมาlong-maaเปิดbpə̀ətประตูbprà-dtuu
He forgot to bring the key, and then had to call a friend to come down and open the door.
I submitted the report late, and then the professor deducted points.
รถไฟrót-faiดีเลย์dii-leeหลายlǎaiชั่วโมงchûua-moongแล้วlɛ́ɛoการประชุมgaan-bprà-chumต้องdtɔ̂ngเลื่อนlʉ̂ʉanไปเป็นbpai-bpenพรุ่งนี้prûng-níi
The train was delayed for hours, and then the meeting had to be postponed to tomorrow.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markMai tho
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
High tone
lɛ́ɛo
Starts high and keeps climbing.
Low class + Mai tho → High
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 | — | — |