Did you know that adding Thai ending particles to your sentences can make you sound more like a native speaker? It’s a cool trick to sound more natural! So our advice? Why not start practicing using Thai ending particles if you’re unfamiliar with many Thai words yet? It’s amazing how using certain words can really change the tone of a sentence—for example, softening your Thai sentence that makes it more polite and convincing.
For beginners learning the Thai language, understanding Thai particles is crucial. These small yet mighty elements significantly influence Thai grammar and communication. Thai particles help convey politeness, emphasis, affirmation, negation, and more nuances. By mastering these, beginners can enhance their ability to express intentions, ask questions, make requests, and engage in meaningful conversations. Feeling pumped and ready to start learning now? If yes, let’s do this!
A Complete List Of Thai Ending Particles
Adding sentence-ending particles couldn’t be any easier! Add it at the end of your sentence, as we said earlier. Here, remember all of these excellent ending particles that can change your words’ vibe!
| Thai Ending Particles | Transliteration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ครับ | Kráp | Polite particle for male |
| ค่ะ | Kâ | Polite particle for female |
| จ๊ะ | Já | Friendly-tone-of-voice particle |
| จ้ะ | Jâ | Friendly-tone-of-voice particle |
| จ้า | Jâa | Friendly-tone-of-voice particle |
| นะ | Ná | Acknowledgment-seeking particle |
| น่ะ / อ่ะ | Nâ/à | Soft tone of voice particle |
| แล้ว | Lɛ́ɛo | Particle used for expressing past tense |
| เลย | Ləəi | Encouragement particle |
| มั้ย / ไหม | Mái / Mǎi | Asking question particle |
| เหรอ / ล่ะ | Rə̌ə/lâ | Asking for confirmation particle |
| เถอะ | Tə̀ | Asking for confirmation of particle |
| ด้วย | Dûai | Request particle |
| หน่อย | Nɔ̀ɔi | Request particle |
| ที | Tii | Request particle |
| หรอก | Rɔ̀ɔk | Particle added to the end of negative sentences |
| เนอะ | Nə́ | Agreement seeking particle |
| ซะ | Sá | Command-Indicating particle |
| สิ | Sì | Particle used to make an order or strongly suggest an action |
Polite Thai Particles
In Thai society, seniority is everything! If you’re younger or have lower status at work, add these polite ending particles to show respect. When communicating, two particles are added as a politeness tag at the end of a sentence, in which females and males use different words. Let’s check out example phrases here.
ครับ (Kráp)
This particle is for a male speaker.
- Hello – สวัสดี ครับ (sà wàt dii kráp)
- Sorry – ขอโทษ ครับ (kɔ̌ɔ tôot kráp)
ค่ะ (Kâ)
This particle is for a female speaker.
- Thank you – ขอบคุณ ค่ะ (kɔ̀ɔp kun kâ)
- Understand – เข้าใจ ค่ะ (kâo jai kâ)
A quick tip! There’s an additional polite particle option for females. If you ask a question, make sure to raise your tone.
คะ (Ká)
- Where are you going? – คุณจะไปไหน คะ (kun jà bpai nǎi ká)
- Did you have your meal? – กิน ข้าว หรือยัง คะ (gin kâao rʉ̌ʉ yang ká)
Thai Particles Used To Create A Friendly Tone Of Voice
In this topic, ending particles are used in casual conversation compared to the previous one. Both males and females can use it.
จ้ะ (Jâ) / จ้า (Jâa) / จ๊ะ (Já)
- Okay – โอเค จ้ะ (oo kee jâ)
- She’s beautiful. – เธอสวยมาก จ้า (təə sǔai mâak jâa)
- Where did you go? – ไปไหนมา จ๊ะ (bpai nǎi maa já)
Acknowledgement-Seeking Thai Particle
One of the most often used Thai ending particles, it can be used in any phrase, both positive and negative, and even demanding someone to do something.
นะ (Ná)
- I miss you. – ฉันคิดถึงคุณ นะ (chǎn kít tʉ̌ng kun ná)
- I’m on the way home. – ฉันกำลังกลับบ้าน นะ (chǎn gam lang glàp bâan ná)
- Be careful! It’s very hot. – ระวัง! มันร้อนมาก นะ (rá wang man rɔ́ɔn mâak ná)
- You can’t so this. – คุณทำแบบนี้ไม่ได้นะ (kun tam bɛ̀ɛp níi mâi dâi ná)
Tips: You Can Make It Politer By Adding “Ka” For Females And “Krap” For Males
Let’s see examples of นะคะ (ná ká) and นะครับ (ná kráp).
- I miss you. – ฉันคิดถึงคุณ นะคะ (chǎn kít tʉ̌ng kun ná ká)
- You can’t so this. – คุณทำแบบนี้ไม่ได้ นะครับ (kun tam bɛ̀ɛp níi mâi dâi ná kráp)
Thai Soften-Tone Particles
You’ll always hear natives using these two ending particles. These words don’t have a specific meaning but make the sentence sound gentler. If you want to avoid coming across as too abrupt, we suggest using some of these ending particles.
น่ะ (Nâ) / อ่ะ (à)
These two particle endings are equivalent in meaning and usage.
- I’m lazy. – ฉันขี้เกียจ น่ะ (chǎn kîi gìat nâ)
- He’s so handsome. – เขาหล่อมาก อ่ะ (kǎo lɔ̀ɔ mâak à)
Thai Particles Used For Making It Past Tense
Interestingly, in Thai, they don’t have to change the word form for present and past tense as we do in English. So you have to add another word to indicate whether it happened in the past. In this case, it’s แล้ว (Lɛ́ɛo).
แล้ว (Lɛ́ɛo)
You can use that word to talk about something that happened in the past or also in a definition of “anymore.”
- Food has already run out. – อาหารหมด แล้ว (aa hǎan mòt lɛ́ɛo)
- The bank has already closed. – ธนาคารปิด แล้ว (tá naa kaan bpìt lɛ́ɛo)
- I don’t love him anymore. – ฉันไม่รักเขา แล้ว (chǎn mâi rák kǎo lɛ́ɛo)
Thai Particles Used For Asking A Question
If you want to ask questions in Thai, you’ll want to know about some common ending particles that can help you. Let’s dive in!
มั้ย (Mái) / ไหม (Mǎi)
- Are you hungry? – คุณหิว มั้ย (kun hǐu mái)
- Are you cold? – คุณหนาว ไหม (kun nǎao mǎi)
มั้ย (mái) sounds similar to when an actual conversation is spoken, but ไหม (mǎi) is a formal version, and you can use it in written form, such as literature.
เหรอ (Rə̌ə) / ล่ะ (lâ)
These two particle endings are equivalent in meaning and usage.
- Where are you going? – คุณกำลังจะไปไหน เหรอ (kun gam lang jà bpai nǎi rə̌ə)
- Where are you going? – คุณกำลังจะไปไหน ล่ะ (kun gam lang jà bpai nǎi lâ)
- Do you not feel like eating carrots? – คุณไม่อยากกินแครอท เหรอ (kun mâi yàak gin kɛɛ rɔ̂ɔt rə̌ə)
Thai Particles Used For Expressing Invitation
เถอะ (Tə̀)
Jumping right in with the first word, “เถอะ (tə̀).” The word works equally well when encouraging someone to do something or when making a suggestion to someone. Let’s see examples.
- Let’s go to the beach. – ไปทะเลกัน เถอะ (bpai tá lee gan tə̀)
- You should take a rest. – คุณพักผ่อน เถอะ (kun pák pɔ̀ɔn tə̀)
ด้วย (Dûai)
The next particle is used at the end of a sentence to indicate that the action was performed in response to an invitation. The word “ด้วย (dûai)” can be literally translated to “together” in English.
- I want to go with you. – ฉันอยากไปกับคุณ ด้วย (chǎn à yâak bpai gàp kun dûai)
- My brother will go with us. – น้องชายของฉันจะไปกับพวกเรา ด้วย (nɔ́ɔng chaai kɔ̌ɔng chǎn jà bpai gàp pûak rao dûai)
Thai Particle Added To The End Of Negative Sentences
หรอก (Rɔ̀ɔk)
In addition to being used at the end of negative sentences, this particle helps soften the speaker’s tone.
- It’s okay. – ไม่เป็นไร หรอก (mâi bpen rai rɔ̀ɔk)
- You don’t have to do (it). – คุณไม่ต้องทำ หรอก (kun mâi dtɔ̂ɔng tam rɔ̀ɔk)
Thai Particle Used To Seek Agreement
This ending particle can be used alone to show agreement when answering someone. You’re trying to get the other person to agree when you add it to the sentence. Let’s take a look at some examples!
เนอะ (Nə́)
- Don’t you think this should be fine? – ไม่เป็นไรหรอก เนอะ (mâi bpen rai rɔ̀ɔk nə́)
- Don’t you think this skirt is adorable? – กระโปรงตัวนี้น่ารักดี เนอะ (grà bproong dtua níi nâa rák dii nə́)
Thai Particle Used To Make An Order Or Strongly Suggest An Action
When you want to add emphasis or a demand, it’s typical to use the particle ซะ (sá) or สิ (sì) following the verb or at the end of the phrase.
ซะ (Sá)
- Get out! – ออกไป ซะ (ɔ̀ɔk bpai sá)
Try the next one if you’d want a more gentle expression of the same idea.
สิ (Sì)
- Get in a car. – ขึ้นรถ สิ (kʉ̂n rót sì)
- Sit down. – นั่งลง สิ (nâng long sì)
What Makes Thai Ending Particles Essential For Learning Thai?
Using Thai ending particles can elevate your language skills and help you sound more like a native speaker! Just a quick tip for you, practicing the tonal voice is super important to nail those tricky words like “นะ (ná)” and “น่ะ (nâ).” Keep at it!
If you want to take your Thai language skills to the next level, we urge you to check out a great app to help you learn more about Thai particles and create better sentences. It’s definitely worth giving it a shot!
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