ไงฟะ
ngai-fáMeaning
1InterjectionB2
how?; what the hell?
An informal, somewhat rude Thai expression used in questions to show surprise, confusion, or annoyance, like 'how?', 'what is going on?', or 'what the hell?'
Examples
ทำไมtam-maiทำไมtam-mai1why (question word)2why (expressing disbelief/complaint)งานngaanงานngaan1work; job; employment2task; assignment; duty3event; fair; function4work (product); creation5unit (classifier) for events6work (physics)7ngan (land unit: 400 m², a quarter of a rai)นี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)มันmanมันman1it (thing/animal)2greasy; oily; fatty3fun; thrilling; highly entertaining4he/she (colloquial, impolite)5starchy tuber; tuberous crop6fat; grease7shiny; glossy8creamy; rich (texture/taste)ยากจังyâak-jangยากจังyâak-jangso hard; very difficult (informal)แล้วlɛ́ɛoแล้วlɛ́ɛo1already; now (as of this point)2then; and then; after that3already; completed-action marker4and; and then (linking clauses)ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)3like; as (in the manner of)จะjàจะjà1will; shall (future/intention marker)2about to; going to (near future, often w/ กำลังจะ)3will; would (in conditional results)ทำtamทำtam1[to] do; make2[to] act; behave3[to] cook; prepare food4[to] do; carry out (work)5[to] cause; makeเสร็จsètเสร็จsèt1finished; done2[to] finish; be done3done for; screwed (slang)4[to] reach orgasm; come (informal, euphemistic)ได้ไงdâai-ngaiได้ไงdâai-ngaiHow?; How is that possible?ฟะfáฟะfáinformal final particle for irritation or emphasisเนี่ยnîiaเนี่ยnîia1deictic/emphatic particle (‘this/that here/there’)2focus/emotion particle3discourse marker (framing)
Why is this job so hard? How the hell am I supposed to finish it?
3 more examplesShow less
เมื่อกี้mʉ̂ʉa-gíiยังyangวางwaangกุญแจgun-jɛɛไว้wáiตรงนี้dtrong-níiอยู่yùuเลยləəiแล้วlɛ́ɛoมันmanหายไปhǎai-bpaiได้ไงdâai-ngaiฟะfá
I just put the keys right here a moment ago, how the hell did they disappear?
เขาkăoแก้ปัญหาgâe bpan-hăaนี้néeได้ไงdâi ngaiฟะfáทั้งๆtáng tángที่têeไม่mâiมีประสบการณ์mee bprà-sòp-gaanการทำงานgaan tam ngaanด้านdâanนี้néeเลยloie
How the hell did he solve this problem despite having no work experience in this field at all?
ระบบrá-bòpมาmaaล่มlômตอนdtɔɔnช่วงโปรโมชั่นchûuang-bproo-moo-chânพอดีpɔɔ-diiแล้วlɛ́ɛoแบบนี้bɛ̀ɛp-níiลูกค้าlûuk-káaจะjàไม่mâiด่าdàaเอาaoได้ไงdâai-ngaiฟะfá
The system crashed right during the promotion period; how the hell would the customers not complain?
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 markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableThe vowel ไ hides a final -ย, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
ngai
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Low class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Mid
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
ไงngaiไงngai1hey; yo (very casual attention-getter)2what's up?; how's it going? (casual)3how; in what way (colloq.)4emphatic reminder/identifier (…ไง ‘you know’)hey; yo (very casual attention-getter)Part 1
+
ฟะfáฟะfáinformal final particle for irritation or emphasisinformal final particle for irritation or emphasisPart 2
ไงฟะngai-fáไงฟะngai-fáhow?; what the hell?how?; what the hell?Word