มีไหม
mee mài
In Thai, "do you have" is said as มีไหม (mee mài).
The phrase is used to ask if someone possesses a particular item or if something is available. In a full sentence, the object being asked about is placed between มี and ไหม, such as มีเงินไหม for "do you have money?"
What does it mean word for word?
The word มี (mee) means "to have" or "to exist".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the question มีไหม polite, add ครับ (kráp) if you are male or คะ (ká) if you are female at the end.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase มีไหม can mean both "do you have [it]" and "is there [any]?" depending on the context. To answer "yes" to the question มีไหม, you simply say มี. To answer "no" to the question มีไหม, you say ไม่มี.
How do you pronounce it?
mee mài
Did you know?
- The word มี is also used in the phrase มีใจ to describe having romantic feelings for someone, literally meaning 'to have heart'.
- In casual speech, the question particle ไหม is often shortened or shifted in tone to sound more like มั้ย, which is how most native speakers actually pronounce 'do you have'.
- If you are asking a shopkeeper if they have something, adding a smile and a slight nod while saying มีไหม is a common non-verbal cue to soften the request.
Examples in context
- คุณมีหนังสือเล่มนี้ไหมDo you have this book?
- ร้านนี้มีกางเกงขาสั้นไหมDoes this shop have shorts?
- คุณมีเวลาว่างในเดือนหน้าไหมDo you have free time next month?
- ร้านนี้มีของที่คุณต้องการมั้ยDoes this shop have what you need?
- คุณมีไอติมอร่อยๆให้กินมั้ยDo you have some delicious ice cream to eat?
