มา
maa/maː˧/
The Thai verb for "come" is มา (maa).
The verb มา is used to describe arriving or appearing, specifically to indicate movement towards the speaker or the person being addressed.
Meaning: to arrive, to appear (verb)
Which one should you use?
While มา indicates movement towards the speaker, the word ไป means "to go," which indicates movement away from the speaker.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can modify มา to change the timing of the action. Adding กำลัง before มา indicates that the action of coming is currently in progress (is coming). Adding แล้ว after มา indicates that the action of coming has already been completed (has come or already arrived).
How do you pronounce it?
/maː˧/
Did you know?
- While มา usually means 'come', the same spelling and sound can be a borrowed word from Pali meaning 'moon'.
- The distinction between มา and ไป is strictly based on the speaker's position, meaning if you are joining someone at a third location, you might use ไป where an English speaker would say 'I am coming'.
- When using มา to ask someone to come here, you might notice it is often paired with a particle like หน่อย to soften the command. Without it, telling someone มา can sound unexpectedly blunt or bossy.
Examples in context
- ผมอาจจะมาI may come.This sentence is useful for expressing possibility with มา.Tatoeba #10351062 by Somsak, translation #6358739 by CK
- มาข้างหน้าCome forward.This sentence is useful for directing someone to move forward using มา.Tatoeba #8720192 by pastelite, translation #2111931 by CK
- คุณจะมาไหมWill you come?This sentence is useful for asking a question about whether someone will มา.Tatoeba #10662302 by Somsak, translation #4764608 by Stalwartlover
- คุณสามารถมาที่บ้านของฉันได้ (kun săa-mâat maa tîi bâan kŏng chăn dâi)You can come to my house.
- 42 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sirin and Wittawat are meeting at a coffee shop.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinวิทวัส มา ถึง หรือ ยัง คะWitthawat ma thueng rue yang khaWittawat, have you arrived yet?
- วิทวัส Witthawatผม เพิ่ง มา ถึง ครับphom phoeng ma thueng krapI just arrived.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinดี เลย ค่ะ มา นั่ง ตรง นี้ สิdee loei kha ma nang trong nee siGreat, come sit here.
- วิทวัส Witthawatครับ ขอบคุณ ครับkrap khob khun krapOkay, thank you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry มา, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries มา, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
