Thai adjectives and adverbs can be tricky for new learners. Especially since the Thai language’s grammar rules are different from English, there can be some confusion when first learning about how to use these types of words. Adjectives and adverbs are important for any Thai language learner to master. They’re used to make sentences more descriptive, add more details to the conversation, and give context when needed.
By learning how to use these Thai adjectives and adverbs, you’ll level up your conversation skills in no time. So, read on!
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A First Look At Thai Adjectives And Adverbs
In Thai, adjectives and adverbs function similarly to their English counterparts, but with one difference: their placement in a sentence
To give a brief overview of Thai sentence structure, Thai follows a subject-verb-object word order. This means the subject comes first, followed by the verb, and then the object that receives the action. If this might sound familiar, it’s because English uses this structure too!
Now, where do adjectives and adverbs fit into this order?
We’ll get into more detail in the sections below, with example phrases and vocabulary tables of the most common Thai adjectives and adverbs you can use immediately.
Adjectives In Thai
Adjectives in Thai are called kam kun ná sàp (คำคุณศัพท์) .
Much like English adjectives, they are used in written and spoken language to describe or give characteristics to a noun. According to Thai grammar rules, the placement of an adjective is always after the noun they’re describing.
Here’s an example:
Thai: aa hǎan tai à rɔ̂ɔi (อาหารไทยอร่อย)
English: Thai food is tasty.
Meaning: aa hǎan (อาหาร) means ‘food,’ tai (ไทย) means ‘Thai,’ and à rɔ̂ɔi (อร่อย) is the adjective for ‘tasty’
So, you can see that there is a clear pattern of adjective placement. In fact, in the example above, there are two Thai adjectives being used: tai (ไทย) and à rɔ̂ɔi (อร่อย). Both of these Thai words go after the noun aa hǎan (อาหาร).
When constructing Thai sentences, most beginners make the mistake of putting adjectives before the noun, which is grammatically incorrect.
Although you could place the adjective before the noun, it’s more common to separate the two with a comma, forming two entirely separate sentences.
Thai: à rɔ̂ɔi aa hǎan níi (อร่อย, อาหารนี้)
English: Tasty, this food is.
By doing this, you make two different sentences, almost like you’re elaborating on what you’re describing. This is pretty uncommon and considered improper in Thai, so you do risk having Thai people around you looking puzzled!
Common Thai Adjectives
To help you expand your Thai vocabulary, here are 11 examples of the most common Thai adjectives you should know:
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big/large | ใหญ่ | yài | |
| Small/little | เล็ก | lék | |
| Beautiful | สวย | sǔai | |
| Handsome | หล่อ | lɔ̀ɔ | |
| Good | ดี | dii | |
| Old (objects) | เก่า | gào | |
| New | ใหม่ | mài | |
| Hot | ร้อน | rɔ́ɔn | |
| Cold | เย็น | yen | |
| Fast | เร็ว | reo | |
| Slow | ช้า | cháa |
Adverbs In Thai
Thai adverbs, similar to adjectives, are used to modify specific words. In this case, those words are verbs, adjectives, and even adverbs.
Adverbs have their placement after the words that they modify.
They describe how, when, and where something is done, as well as the intensity of an action. These are similar to English words like ‘quickly,’ ‘slowly,’ ‘strongly,’ etc.
See this example below:
Thai: dtua àk sɔ̌ɔn tai mii mâak maai (ตัวอักษรไทยมีมากมาย)
English: The Thai alphabet has a lot of characters.
Meaning: dtua àk sɔ̌ɔn (ตัวอักษร) means ‘alphabet,’ tai (ไทย) is an adjective meaning ‘Thai,’ mii (มี) is the verb ‘to have,’ and mâak maai (มากมาย) is the adverb ‘a lot’
In this case, the quantifying Thai adverb mâak maai (มากมาย, a lot) goes after the verb mii (มี, to have). This changes the verb’s meaning to ‘have a lot of.’
Now that they’re paired up, they can then be used to modify nouns, such as the one in the example, dtua àk sɔ̌ɔn (ตัวอักษร, alphabet).
Common Thai Adverbs
To start modifying verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs, we’ve prepared a list of the most commonly used Thai adverbs you’re sure to hear being used around:
Tips On Using Thai Adjectives And Adverbs
Knowing these Thai adjectives and adverbs is just the start.
To be more confident in Thai grammar and eventually get comfortable talking with Thai people, try out some of the tips we’ve prepared for you below!
- Unlike in English, Thai adjectives and adverbs always follow the word they describe. In general, any describing word comes after the noun.
- Regular lessons with online language learning apps like the Ling app are a great way to practice using Thai adverbs and adjectives while learning and practicing Thai grammar and vocabulary.
- Find a language exchange group or practice speaking Thai with friends or family. Talking with a native speaker who is willing to help you learn is the best way to become familiar and confident with Thai word order.
- When using Thai adverbs, you can repeat the adverb to intensify the meaning. For example, you can place the adverb bɔ̀ɔi bɔ̀ɔi (บ่อย ๆ) after the verb if you want to emphasize that you do something every day. It has the same basic meaning as the singular version, except it is much more emphasized.
- To memorize verbs, nouns, adverbs, and adjectives, try using flashcards and spaced repetition. Practicing 15 minutes per day with this system can help you memorize the most important words.
Try out these tips and see how much your knowledge of Thai adjectives and adverbs improves!
Frequently Asked Questions About Thai Adjectives And Adverbs
1. What Is An Adjective In Thai Language?
In Thai, an adjective is called kam kun ná sàp (คำคุณศัพท์). Adjectives in Thai are used to describe or modify nouns, such as a person, place, or thing, just like English adjectives. For example, the phrase pûu yǐng sǔai ngaam (ผู้หญิงสวยงาม, beautiful women) uses the common Thai adjective sǔai ngaam (สวยงาม, beautiful) to describe the noun pûu yǐng (ผู้หญิง, women).
2. How Does The Thai Sentence Structure Work?
Thai sentence structure is quite similar to English, which follows the subject-verb-object word order to construct basic sentences. Other sentence components build on this basic structure, fitting between the subject, verb, or object. Adjectives follow the subject or object, while adverbs come after the verb they modify.
3. How Do You Explain Adjectives And Adverbs?
Adjectives are words that modify nouns and are used to describe the characteristics of a noun. An example of an English adjective is “old” in the phrase “an old man. On the other hand, an adverb is used to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Some examples of adverbs would be ‘gently,’ ‘extremely,’ and ‘quickly.’
Master The Thai Adjectives And Adverbs
So, there you have it! All you need to know about using the different Thai adjectives and adverbs in conversation and writing.
Along with the five tips we’ve prepared, the most important bit is to keep practicing and using them whenever you speak or write in Thai.
This will help you become more descriptive, allowing you to move beyond simple sentences and truly impress both other people learning Thai and native speakers. Being more descriptive in your speech is always a plus!
Learn And Practice More Thai Grammar And Vocabulary!
Learning about Thai adjectives and adverbs is just one small step to really mastering Thai grammar rules and expanding your vocabulary.
Whether you’re learning the Thai language for a trip to Thailand, for work, or just for personal interest, building confidence in your abilities can be easier said than done—especially with many people leading busy lives.
However, along with sparing just 15 minutes of your day to practice, a great way to practice Thai consistently and conveniently is by using Thai vocabulary, and speaking apps like the Ling app can introduce you to topics related to the Thai language. The Thai course includes numerous situation-specific lessons, like Thai for school and work and more general knowledge units.
For those looking to learn and practice more Thai adjectives and adverbs, units 8 and 14 are perfect for learning things like personality traits, making complex sentences, and much more.
If you’re serious about learning Thai, try the Ling app and watch your skills improve!
