Word Study

Point 1. Ordinal numbers. These are numbers which tell the order of something, such as 'first,' 'second,' 'third,' and so on. Thai examples:

You will see at once that Thai ordinal numbers are just like the regular numbers except that they are preceded by thi^i. All of the rest of the ordinal numbers are made in exactly the same way. With large numbers many people pronounce the thi^i as a separate word, e.g.,

But with the smaller numbers the thi^i is ordinarily run together with the regular number, as in thi^inf$N, thi^isO&ON, so that the two parts are spoken as a single word. Another important phrase containing thi^i is thi^i tha^wray, which may be translated literally 'the how manyeth,' as in:

Questions like this are usually answered by an ordinal number, but sometimes by a regular number, e.g.,

Point2. Omission of rf&f. In the Basic Sentences of this unit you learned the phrase

which, when translated into English, has the word 'or' but in Thai lacks the equivalent word rf&f. Between numbers, as in the phrase above, rf&f may be omitted or inserted without any difference in meaning, provided the sentence is a statement. Therefore you may also say:

If the sentence is a question, however, the rf&f cannot be left out, e.g.,

Point 3. The word tha@N. This word, which means 'all, all of, the whole of, ' is used very frequently with numbers, e.g.,

Expressions like those just given are used with pronouns and with nouns. They are sometimes followed by a classifier, sometimes not, but this fact makes no difference in the meaning. Examples:

The word tha@N also occurs in expressions like tha@N ?aathi@t 'all week' in which the number-word is omitted but the classifier is required. However, the number-word omitted here is nf$N 'one' and this expression is therefore just like those you learned about in Unit 7 (Point 1). When the quantity intended is more than 'one' the proper number-word must of course be used to make this clear. Memorize the following phrases:

Examples in sentences:

Point 4. The word ?aw and phaa.  The word ?aw 'to take' is used to refer to small things, while phaa 'to take, accompany' is used to refer to people or larger things. In-between things may be referred to by either ?aw or phaa. Both words are frequently used in combination with the words pay 'to go' and maa 'to come' with a corresponding difference in meaning. Thus ?aw pay and phaa pay mean 'to take,' while ?aw maa and phaa maa mean 'to bring.' Examples:

In these examples you will notice that the word for the object (in this case what is taken or brought) is placed between ?aw or phaa and pay or maa. In the illustrations above the object is shown in boldface letters.

Point 5. Some Thai words of similar meaning.

a. rooNrEEm and hooten. Both of these words have exactly the same meaning, namely 'hotel,' but the first one is an original Thai word while the second one is simply the word 'hotel' pronounced in Thai fashion. Both words are used widely.

b. kin and ra@ppra$thaan. As far as their meaning is concerned these two words can be used interchangeably, for both refer to consuming food or drink. However, of the two words, ra@ppra$thaan is the more formal and is therefore used when speaking to elders or superiors. It is also often used among equals for the sake of politeness. Note particularly that ra@ppra$thaan is used to refer to people only. When speaking of lower beings (animals, fish, fowl), it is necessary to use kin.

Example:

c. ru@u and sa^ap. The word ru@u refers specifically to knowledge, as in

Consequently, when knowledge is referred to it is necessary to use the word ru@u. In the commonly used expressions 'do you know?' or 'I don't know,' on the other hand, the words ru@u and sa^ap may be used interchangeably as far as meaning is concerned. To use sa^ap, however, sounds somewhat more polite or elegant than to use ru@u. Examples:

c. kha&w and khun. When used as a pronoun, the word kha&w always means 'he, she, they.' The word khun, however, which you had previously learned in the meaning 'you,' may also be used to mean 'he, she, they' when you wish to show respect to someone. When the hotel clerk uses the word in this sense in the Basic Sentences of this unit, it is because he wishes to be deferential to the guests of the hotel. What he says is:

If, instead of khun, he had used kha&w, it would be about like saying in English, 'Boy, take these two men to Room 218.'

Point 6. Some classifiers.

a. baan. This word is used for doors, windows, and mirrors. Examples:

b. tua. You have previously learned that this word is used for animals and for coats. In this unit it is found to have still another use, namely for tables and chairs. Examples:

When, as in the last example, two nouns have the same number-word plus classifier phrase may be used for both.

c. Some nouns are also their own classifiers. Two such words are hO^N 'room' and tiaN 'bed.' Examples:

In the phrases where the classifier ordinarily follows the noun, the classifier may be omitted (as in the second and fourth examples above).

Point 7. Some special phrases.

Point 8. Some compounds.