ไลต์

lái

Meanings

1AdjectiveB1

light/lite (reduced strength/calories)

Having reduced calories, alcohol, fat, or overall intensity; from English “light/lite” (e.g., เบียร์ไลต์).

Examples

ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)เลือกlʉ̂ʉakเลือกlʉ̂ʉak1[to] choose; select; pick2[to] elect3picky; choosy; selectiveเบียร์biiaเบียร์biiabeerไลต์láiไลต์lái1light/lite (reduced strength/calories)2lite; simplified/basic version (branding)เพราะprɔ́เพราะprɔ́1because2because of; due to3melodious; pleasant-soundingแคลอรี่น้อยkɛɛ-lɔɔ-rîi-nɔ́ɔiแคลอรี่น้อยkɛɛ-lɔɔ-rîi-nɔ́ɔilow in calories; low-calorieกว่าgwàaกว่าgwàa1than (comparative marker)2more than; over
I chose a light beer because it has fewer calories.
3 more examples
เขาkǎoดื่มdʉ̀ʉmนมไลต์nom-láiเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaลดlótปริมาณbpà-rí-maanไขมันkǎi-manที่tîiได้รับdâi-rápในnaiแต่ละdtɛ̀ɛ-láวันwan
He drinks light milk to reduce the amount of fat he consumes each day.
ถ้าtâaชอบchɔ̂ɔpรสชาติrót-châatแต่dtɛ̀ɛไม่mâiอยากyàakหนักnàkท้องtɔ́ɔngลองlɔɔngน้ำอัดลมnáam-àt-lomแบบbɛ̀ɛpไลต์láiดูสิduu-sì
If you like the flavor but don’t want it heavy on your stomach, try the light version of the soda.
ในnaiงานสังสรรค์ngaan-sǎng-sǎnฉันchǎnมักเลือกmák-lʉ̂ʉakค็อกเทลไลต์kɔ́k-teen-láiเพื่อไม่ให้pʉ̂ʉa-mâi-hâiปริมาณแอลกอฮอล์bpà-rí-maan-ɛn-gɔɔ-hɔɔเกินgəən
At gatherings, I usually choose a light cocktail so the alcohol content doesn’t go overboard.
2NounB1

lite; simplified/basic version (branding)

A simplified or basic version of a product/service with fewer features; from English branding use.

Examples

แอปเวอร์ชันɛ́p-wəə-chânแอปเวอร์ชันɛ́p-wəə-chânapp versionไลต์láiไลต์lái1light/lite (reduced strength/calories)2lite; simplified/basic version (branding)ใช้cháiใช้chái1[to] use; employ2[to] spend (money); pay; expend3[to] require; take (time/effort/amount)4[to] tell [sb] to do [sth]; assign; orderพื้นที่pʉ́ʉn-tîiพื้นที่pʉ́ʉn-tîi1area; space; surface; land area2region; zone; locality; area3space; arena (figurative)น้อยnɔ́ɔiน้อยnɔ́ɔi1few; little; small (amount/number)2less; to a lesser degree3young; junior (name/title use)4seldom; rarelyและlɛ́และlɛ́and (coordinating)โหลดlòotโหลดlòot1[to] download; load (digital)2[to] load [sth] (onto/in)3load (burden/capacity)ไวwaiไวwai1fast; quick; rapid2early; soon; ahead of time3sensitive; reactive
The lite version of the app uses less space and loads quickly.
3 more examples
ถ้าtâaเครื่องkrʉ̂ʉangสเปกsà-bpéekต่ำdtàmแนะนำให้nɛ́-nam-hâiลงlongโปรแกรมbproo-grɛɛmตัวdtuuaไลต์láiก่อนgɔ̀ɔn
If your device has low specs, it's recommended to install the lite version first.
แพ็กเกจไลต์pɛ́k-gèet-láiจะjàตัดdtàtฟีเจอร์fii-jə̂əขั้นสูงkân-sǔungออกɔ̀ɔkเหลือlʉ̌ʉaแค่kɛ̂ɛการใช้งานgaan-chái-ngaanพื้นฐานpʉ́ʉn-tǎan
The lite package removes advanced features, leaving only basic functionality.
หลายlǎaiแบรนด์brɛɛnออกɔ̀ɔkผลิตภัณฑ์ไลต์pà-lìt-dtà-pan-láiเพื่อให้pʉ̂ʉa-hâiเข้าถึงkâo-tʉ̌ngผู้ใช้pûu-cháiใหม่màiที่ต้องการtîi-dtɔ̂ng-gaanลองlɔɔngฟังก์ชันfang-chânหลักlàkก่อนgɔ̀ɔn
Many brands release lite products to reach new users who want to try the core functions first.

Tones

See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.

Why is ไลต์ said ไล้?

lái

  • Silent letterต์ is silent: the ◌์ mark cancels its sound.Spoken toneSaid with a High tone in everyday Thai, as if written ไล้ (lái). The spelling rule would give a Mid tone.

The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.

How the tone is decided

  1. Consonant classLow class
  2. Tone markNo tone mark
  3. Syllable endingLive syllableThe vowel ไ hides a final -ย, so it is live.

Low class consonants

คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ

ResultSpoken tone

High tone

lái

Starts high and keeps climbing.

Spelling rule: Low class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Mid

Spoken tone Said with a High tone in everyday Thai. The spelling rule would give a Mid tone, but this loanword follows how it's actually pronounced. Say it as if written ไล้ (lái).

ต์ is silent here.

Tone chart

Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.

Mid classHigh classLow class
No mark + liveMidRisingMid
No mark + dead shortLowLowHigh
No mark + dead longLowLowFalling
Mai ekLowLowFalling
Mai thoFallingFallingHigh
Mai triHigh——
Mai chattawaRising——

The chart shows the spelling rule. In everyday Thai, this syllable is said with a High tone instead.

Related Words

1light/lite (reduced strength/calories)