ไผ
pǎiMeanings
1PronounA1
who?
An interrogative pronoun meaning “who?” Used in the Isan/Lao dialect. It is the equivalent of 'ใครใครkrai1who2anyone; whoever' (khrai) in Central Thai.
Examples
เจ้าjâaoเจ้าjâao1lord; master; owner2ruler; prince (royal title)3deity; spirit (title/noun)4prefix: familiar or affectionate term before names or nouns5you (familiar/regional; archaic/literary)6classifier for businesses, suppliers, or individual partiesแม่นไผmɛ̂n-pǎiแม่นไผmɛ̂n-pǎiwho?; who is it?
Who are you?
2PronounA2
anyone; anybody
An indefinite pronoun meaning “anyone” or “anybody,” typically used in negative or conditional sentences. Used in the Isan/Lao dialect. For example, 'บ่มีไผ' (there is no one).
Examples
บ่bòบ่bò1not; no (Isan/Northern particle)2yes–no question particle (Isan/Northern)มีไผmee păiมีไผmee păiis there anyone; who is there (Isan/Lao)อยู่yòoอยู่yòo1[to] live; reside; stay2to be (located); be at3progressive/continuative marker4to exist; remainบ้านbâanบ้านbâan1house; home2home (family unit)3village; hometown4classifier: หลังเลยloieเลยloie1at all; whatsoever (often in negatives)2so; thus; then (immediate result)3completely; absolutely (emphasis)4[to] pass; go beyond; exceed
There is no one at home at all.
3 more examplesShow less
If anyone calls, tell them I'm not here.
บ่ว่าbòr wâaไผpăiจะjàว่าwâaจั่งใด๋jàng dăiข้อยกะkôi gàยังyangสิเฮ็ดsì hétตามdtaamความตั้งใจkwaam dtâng jaiของkŏngข้อยkôiคือเก่าkeu gào
No matter what anyone says, I will still do what I intend to do.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableThe vowel ไ hides a final -ย, so it is live.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Rising tone
pǎi
Dips low first, then rises clearly.
High class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Rising
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 | — | — |