Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| รถเมล์ | rót-mee | /rot̚˦˥.meː˧/ |
| รถบัส | rót-bát | /rot̚˦˥.bat̚˦˥/ /rot̚˦˥.bas˦˥/ |
| รถ | rót | /rot̚˦˥/ /ra˦˥.tʰa˨˩./ |
| บัส | bát | /bat̚˦˥/ /bas˦˥/ |
The term is used to refer to a bus as a vehicle. Depending on the context and the type of bus you are discussing, different words are used to distinguish between city transit, long-distance travel or general vehicles.
What does it mean word for word?
The term รถเมล์ is a loanword derived from the English word 'mail', which historically refers to vehicles used for carrying mail.
Which one should you use?
รถเมล์ (rót-mee) is the most common way to refer specifically to public city buses. In contrast, รถบัส (rót-bát) often refers to larger, private tour buses or those used for long-distance travel. While รถ (rót) can mean 'bus' in certain contexts, it is the general word for any vehicle or car and is too vague to use on its own when you specifically mean a bus.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting buses, use the classifier คัน (khan) after the number, for example, รถเมล์ 2 คัน (two buses).
How do you pronounce it?
rót-mee (IPA: /rot̚˦˥.meː˧/)
Did you know?
- The word รถ (rót) used for 'bus' is actually a linguistic descendant of the ancient word for a 'chariot'.
- The term รถเมล์ reflects a period in history when the postal service and public transport were deeply integrated in Thailand.
Examples in context
- ขึ้นรถเมล์Take a bus.This sentence is useful for learning the verb phrase for taking a bus using the form รถ.Tatoeba #7765807 by JipThaiTeacher, translation #35369 by CK
- ฉันขึ้นรถเมล์ผิดI was on the wrong bus.This sentence shows how to express being on the wrong bus using the form รถ.Tatoeba #11081319 by Somsak, translation #5900634 by CK
- ทอมขึ้นรถเมล์ผิดคันTom took the wrong bus.This sentence demonstrates how to say someone took the wrong bus using the form รถ.Tatoeba #10986718 by Somsak, translation #1141092 by CK
- ท่ารถประจำทางอยู่ที่ไหนคะWhere is the bus terminal?
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Pimon and Witthawat are discussing how to get to the mall.
- พิมล Pimonเราไปห้างด้วยรถเมล์กันไหมrao pai hang duay rot-me kan maiShall we go to the mall by bus?
- วิทวัส Witthawatได้ครับ รถเมล์สายไหนไปที่นั่นdai krap rot-me sai nai pai thi nanSure, which bus line goes there?
- พิมล Pimonสายแปดจอดหน้าห้างเลยsai paet jort na hang loeiLine eight stops right in front of the mall.
- วิทวัส Witthawatโอเคครับ ไปรอรถเมล์กันเถอะokay krap pai ror rot-me kan thoeOkay, let's go wait for the bus.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bus” translations and entries รถเมล์, รถบัส, รถ, บัส, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries บัส, รถ, รถบัส, รถเมล์, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
