พูดว่าอย่างไร
In Thai, "how to say" is expressed as พูดว่าอย่างไร.
You can use this phrase to inquire about the expression of a specific word or phrase by placing the target word before it. For example, '[Word] พูดว่าอย่างไร' means 'How do you say [Word]'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase พูดว่าอย่างไร is composed of พูด (to speak/say), ว่า (that/as) and อย่างไร (how).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase พูดว่ายังไง is a more colloquial and common way to say "how to say" in everyday spoken Thai. In contrast, พูดว่าอย่างไร is more formal and พูดอย่างไร is also considered a formal way to ask "How do you say?"
How does it change in a sentence?
You can change the meaning of the phrase by replacing อย่างไร (how) with อะไร (what). Using พูดว่าอะไร changes the phrase from "how to say" to "what to say" or "what is said".
Did you know?
- The term อย่างไร is derived from อย่าง meaning 'kind' and ไร which is a shortened form of อะไร meaning 'what'. Literally, it asks 'in what kind of way'.
- If you add the particle คะ or ครับ to the end of พูดว่ายังไง, it changes the tone from a blunt inquiry to a polite request. Without these particles, the phrase can sound demanding or rude to native speakers.
- Thai speakers often omit the phrase พูดว่าอย่างไร entirely when pointing to an object. They simply say อันนี้เรียกว่าอะไร which means 'this is called what'.
Examples in context
- ภาษาอังกฤษพูดว่าอย่างไรpha-saa ang-grit phuut waa yang raiHow do you say it in English?
- ประโยคนี้พูดว่าอย่างไรคะpra-yohk nii phuut waa yang rai khaHow do you say this sentence?
Example conversation
A student is asking a teacher for help with a vocabulary word.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritสวัสดีครับคุณครู คำนี้พูดว่าอย่างไรครับsa-wat-dee khrap khun khru, kham nii phuut waa yang rai khrapHello teacher, how do you say this word?
- สิรินทร์ Sirinคำนี้พูดว่า 'ขอบคุณ' ค่ะkham nii phuut waa 'khop khun' khaThis word is pronounced 'khop khun'.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritอ๋อ ขอบคุณมากครับoh, khop khun maak khrapOh, thank you very much.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinยินดีค่ะyin-dee khaYou're welcome.
