พอ
pɔɔ/pʰɔː˧/
The English word 'enough' is translated to Thai as พอ (pɔɔ). If unsure, use พอ. Wiktionary also lists พอเพียง (pɔɔ-piiang) and เพียงพอ.
Meaning: sufficient (det)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| พอ | pɔɔ | /pʰɔː˧/ |
| พอเพียง | pɔɔ-piiang | /pʰɔː˧.pʰia̯ŋ˧/ |
| เพียงพอ |
The term is used to describe a quantity or degree that is sufficient. In a colloquial sense, you can add แล้ว to create พอแล้ว, which means 'that's enough' or 'I've had enough' when a situation has reached its limit. To express that something is 'just right' or fits perfectly in size or amount, you can add ดี to create พอดี.
Which one should you use?
พอ is the everyday, common word for enough. In contrast, เพียงพอ is a more formal and complete way to say 'sufficient' and พอเพียง is a formal or philosophical term often used in the context of 'sufficiency economy' or living within one's means.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To negate the word 'enough', place ไม่ directly before พอ to create ไม่พอ (not enough).
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /pʰɔː˧/ (pɔɔ).
Did you know?
- The term พอเพียง refers to the 'Sufficiency Economy Philosophy', a national developmental framework introduced by King Bhumibol Adulyadej to promote sustainable living.
- In Thai culture, saying พอ while waving a hand in a small pushing motion is a common non-verbal way to tell a street food vendor to stop pouring sauce or serving rice.
- The word พอ is a cognate shared across several Tai-Kadai languages, appearing in Shan as ပေႃး and in Ahom as 𑜆𑜦𑜡.
Examples in context
- พอแล้ว!Enough!This example shows how to use พอ to say 'Enough!'Tatoeba #8669268 by pastelite, translation #434680 by lukaszpp
- มันไม่พอIt's not enough.This example demonstrates the negation พอ to say 'It's not enough.'Tatoeba #8714349 by pastelite, translation #1855207 by Spamster
- มีเวลาไม่พอThere's just not enough time.This example uses พอ to describe having 'not enough time'.Tatoeba #10130324 by Somsak, translation #5096622 by CK
- ถามพอเถอะ (thǎam pɔ̂ɔ tùh)That's enough questions.
- ฉันกินพอแล้ว (chǎn gin pɔ̂ɔ láew)I've eaten enough.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are at a street food stall.
- พิมล Pimonใส่พริกแค่พอดีนะคะsai phrik khae pho di na khaPut in just enough chili, please.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritได้ครับ พริกเท่านี้พอไหมครับdai khrap phrik thao ni pho mai khrapOkay. Is this much chili enough?
- พิมล Pimonพอแล้วค่ะ ขอบคุณค่ะpho laeo kha khop khun khaThat's enough, thank you.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritรับอย่างอื่นเพิ่มไหมครับrap yang uen phoem mai khrapWould you like anything else?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “enough” translations and entries พอ, พอเพียง, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries พอ, พอเพียง, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
