ไลท์
láiMeanings
1AdjectiveA2
light (lightweight)
describing something as not heavy in weight
Examples
กระเป๋าgrà-bpǎoกระเป๋าgrà-bpǎo1bag; handbag; purse2pocket3wallet4classifier: ใบใบbaiใบbai1leaf2sheet; slip; card; ticket; bill; receipt3classifier for leaves, paper items, containers, and certain other objects4license; permit; certificate5bladeนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)ไลท์láiไลท์lái1light (lightweight)2light (not dark; pale/bright)3light (reduced-calorie/milder)ถือtʉ̌ʉถือtʉ̌ʉ1[to] hold; carry (by hand)2[to] regard; consider; deem3[to] observe; keep (rules, precepts, fast)4[to] be strict/particular aboutไปไหนbpai-nǎiไปไหนbpai-nǎi1Where are you going?; Where did you go?; Where to?2[to] go anywhere (in negative or free-choice constructions)ก็gɔ̂ก็gɔ̂1also; too2then; so (sequence/result)3conditional marker (if… then…)4well; after all (emphasis/justification)5topic/resumption markerไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)เมื่อยmʉ̂ʉaiเมื่อยmʉ̂ʉai1sore; achy; stiff2to feel sore/ache
This bag is light; carrying it anywhere doesn’t make me tired.
3 more examplesShow less
กระติกน้ำgrà-dtìk-náamอันนี้an-níiไลท์láiมากmâakใส่sàiกระเป๋าเป้grà-bpǎo-bpêeแล้วlɛ́ɛoแทบtɛ̂ɛpไม่mâiรู้สึกrúu-sʉ̀k
This water bottle is very light; I barely feel it in my backpack.
เวลาwee-laaเดินทางไกลdəən-taang-glaiผมpǒmพยายามpá-yaa-yaamแพ็กpɛ́kของkɔ̌ɔngที่tîiไลท์láiที่สุดtîi-sùtเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaลดlótภาระpaa-ráไหล่làiและlɛ́หลังlǎng
When traveling far, I try to pack the lightest items to reduce the burden on my shoulders and back.
2AdjectiveA2
light (not dark; pale/bright)
describing something with a lot of light or a pale color; the opposite of dark
Examples
ห้องนี้hɔ̂ng-níiห้องนี้hɔ̂ng-níithis roomตกแต่งdtòk-dtɛ̀ngตกแต่งdtòk-dtɛ̀ng1[to] decorate; adorn2[to] retouch; touch up; embellishด้วยdûuaiด้วยdûuai1with; together with2also; too; as well3by; by means of; using4because of; due to5because; since (formal/literary)6request particle; please; tooสีsǐiสีsǐi1color2paint3[to] rub; scrub; polishโทนtoonโทนtoon1tone; color tone; tint2overall mood/styleไลท์láiไลท์lái1light (lightweight)2light (not dark; pale/bright)3light (reduced-calorie/milder)เพื่อให้pʉ̂ʉa-hâiเพื่อให้pʉ̂ʉa-hâiso that; in order thatดูduuดูduu1[to] look; watch; see2[to] examine; check; inspect3[to] seem; appear4try; have a go5[to] divine; tell fortuneสว่างsà-wàangสว่างsà-wàang1bright; well-lit2[to] become bright; be illuminated3clear; evident (figurative)
This room is decorated with light-tone colors to look bright.
3 more examplesShow less
Yesterday I painted the wall with a light tone to make it brighter.
พรุ่งนี้prûng-níiเขาkǎoจะjàเลือกlʉ̂ʉakม่านmâanสีsǐiไลท์láiเพื่อให้pʉ̂ʉa-hâiห้องhɔ̂ngดูduuไม่mâiมืดmʉ̂ʉt
Tomorrow he will choose light-colored curtains so the room doesn’t look dark.
ฉันchǎnชอบchɔ̂ɔpแต่งห้องdtɛ̀ng-hɔ̂ngด้วยdûuaiเฟอร์นิเจอร์fəə-ní-jə̂əสีsǐiไลท์láiเพราะprɔ́ทำให้tam-hâiบรรยากาศban-yaa-gàatโปร่งbpròongและlɛ́ตัดกับdtàt-gàpของkɔ̌ɔngสีเข้มsǐi-kêmได้ดีdâai-dii
I like decorating rooms with light-colored furniture because it creates an airy feel and contrasts well with dark items.
3AdjectiveB1
light (reduced-calorie/milder)
describing something with fewer calories, less sugar, or milder intensity; often in product names (e.g., beer, snacks)
Examples
ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)เลือกlʉ̂ʉakเลือกlʉ̂ʉak1[to] choose; select; pick2[to] elect3picky; choosy; selectiveน้ำอัดลมnáam-àt-lomน้ำอัดลมnáam-àt-lomcarbonated soft drink; soda; fizzy drinkสูตรsùutสูตรsùut1recipe; set of instructions2formula; equation; expression3method; standard procedure4sutra; Buddhist discourseไลท์láiไลท์lái1light (lightweight)2light (not dark; pale/bright)3light (reduced-calorie/milder)เพราะprɔ́เพราะprɔ́1because2because of; due to3melodious; pleasant-soundingน้ำตาลnám-dtaanน้ำตาลnám-dtaan1sugar2brown (color)น้อยกว่าnɔ́ɔi-gwàaน้อยกว่าnɔ́ɔi-gwàa1less than; fewer than2under; below
I choose the light soda because it has less sugar.
3 more examplesShow less
ถ้าtâaอยากyàakควบkûuapคุมน้ำหนักkum-nám-nàkลองlɔɔngเปลี่ยนเป็นbplìian-bpenโยเกิร์ตyoo-gə̀ətไลท์láiดูสิduu-sì
If you want to control your weight, try switching to light yogurt.
เบียร์biiaไลท์láiยี่ห้อนี้yîi-hɔ̂ɔ-níiดื่มง่ายdʉ̀ʉm-ngâaiรสrótไม่mâiหนักnàkและlɛ́แคลอรีต่ำkɛɛ-lɔɔ-rii-dtàm
This light beer is easy to drink, with a milder taste and lower calories.
ขนมขบเคี้ยวkà-nǒm-kòp-kíiaoสูตรsùutไลท์láiอาจàatให้hâiพลังงานpá-lang-ngaanน้อยลงnɔ́ɔi-longแต่dtɛ̀ɛควรkuuanอ่านàanฉลากโภชนาการchà-làak-poo-chá-naa-gaanให้hâiชัดเจนchát-jeenก่อนgɔ̀ɔnซื้อsʉ́ʉ
Light snack formulas may provide fewer calories, but you should read the nutrition label carefully before buying.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is ไลท์ said ไล้?
lái
- Silent letterท์ 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
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- 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).
ท์ is silent here.
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 | — | — |
The chart shows the spelling rule. In everyday Thai, this syllable is said with a High tone instead.