ก่อน
gɔ̀ɔn/kɔːn˨˩/
The Thai word for "before" is ก่อน (gɔ̀ɔn).
ก่อน can function as both a conjunction to mean "before X happens" and as an adverb to mean "previously" or "beforehand," depending on its position in a sentence.
Meaning: in advance of the time when (conj)
Which one should you use?
While ก่อน is the general term, ก่อนที่ is used when referring specifically to a point in time before another specific event. The phrase ก่อนหน้านี้ is another way to indicate "before." Additionally, the expression มาก่อน represents the idea of "coming before" or arriving ahead of someone or something.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use "before" as a conjunction to introduce a verb phrase, it is common to add the particle จะ after ก่อน to indicate a future action or a conditional state. To express that something has happened "before" in the sense of "previously" or "in the past," the word ก่อน is often paired with the verb มา to form มาก่อน.
How do you pronounce it?
gɔ̀ɔn
Did you know?
- In Thai, placing ก่อน at the end of a sentence often softens a request or command, making it sound more like a suggestion than an order.
- While ก่อน means 'before', it is used in the phrase เดี๋ยวก่อน to mean 'wait a minute' or 'hold on'.
- In Thai, the word ก่อน is a close relative of the word for 'first' in several other Tai-Kadai languages, such as Proto-Kam-Sui *kuːn⁵, highlighting a deep-rooted connection between sequence and time.
Examples in context
- แปรงฟันก่อนเข้านอนBrush your teeth before going to bed.This example shows how to use ก่อน with a verb phrase.Tatoeba #10334004 by Somsak, translation #268911 by CK
- ผมเคยโดนหลอกมาก่อนI've been fooled before.This example uses the form มาก่อน to refer to an action in the past.Tatoeba #10487232 by Somsak, translation #8401292 by CK
- ฉันอาบน้ำก่อนนอนเสมอI always take a bath before going to bed.This example shows how to use ก่อน to describe a routine.Tatoeba #8670338 by pastelite, translation #254902 by CK
- เขามาก่อนฉัน (khǎo maa gàawn chǎn)He came before me.
- ก่อนเดินทาง (gàawn dern thāang)Before the trip.
- ก่อนที่เราจะไปทะเล (gàawn thîi rao jà bpai talay)Before we go to the beach.
- ก่อนที่ฤดูกาลจะสิ้นสุด (gàawn thîi rídūukaan jà sǐn sùt)Before the season ends.
- มาก่อนฉัน (maa gàawn chǎn)Come before me.
- มาก่อนเวลา (maa gàawn waeh-laa)Come before the time.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a meeting time.
- วิทวัส Witthawatเราต้องประชุมก่อนบ่ายสองนะครับrao tong prachum kon bai song na krapWe have to meet before 2 PM.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanได้ค่ะ ฉันจะเตรียมเอกสารให้เสร็จก่อนdai ka chan cha triam ekkasarn hai set konOkay, I will finish preparing the documents before then.
- วิทวัส Witthawatขอบคุณมากครับ แล้วเจอกันkhop khun mak krap laew jer ganThank you very much. See you then.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanค่ะ แล้วเจอกันค่ะka laew jer gan kaYes, see you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ก่อน, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ก่อน, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
