เมื่อคืน
mʉ̂ʉa-kʉʉn/mɯa̯˥˩.kʰɯːn˧/
In Thai, "last night" is said as เมื่อคืน (mʉ̂ʉa-kʉʉn).
The phrase เมื่อคืน can function as both a noun, meaning the previous evening or night and an adverb, meaning during the night before today. It can be used in a sentence without changing its form.
Meaning: previous evening or night (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of เมื่อ, which means "when" and คืน, which means "night" or "nighttime".
Which one should you use?
While เมื่อคืน is the standard way to say "last night", you can add นี้ (this) to the end to create เมื่อคืนนี้. This version is often used to act as a more formal noun phrase or to emphasize "this very last night".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase remains the same whether it is used as a noun or an adverb.
How do you pronounce it?
It consists of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word คืน can also mean 'to return' something, a homonym that can lead to confusing wordplay in songs or poems if used alongside 'night'.
- If you are talking about 'last night' in a very formal or poetic way, you might replace คืน with ราตรี, a word borrowed from Sanskrit that carries a much more elegant, literary weight.
- If you were to say 'the night before last' in Thai, you wouldn't simply add a word for 'before', but would use a different temporal structure entirely.
Examples in context
- เมื่อคืนฉันเหนื่อยมากI was very tired last night.This sentence is useful for describing your physical state during เมื่อคืน.Tatoeba #8675682 by pastelite, translation #244736 by CK
- เมื่อคืนทอมทำงานจนดึกTom worked until late last night.This sentence is useful for describing an activity that lasted late into เมื่อคืน.Tatoeba #10116397 by Somsak, translation #6772450 by CK
- เมื่อคืนคุณอยู่บ้านไหม?Were you at home last night?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's location during เมื่อคืน.Tatoeba #8671182 by pastelite, translation #244748 by CK
- เมื่อคืนฉันนอนหลับหลายชั่วโมงI slept for several hours last night.
- เมื่อคืนเราจัดงานเลี้ยงครอบครัวWe organized a family gathering last night.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting about their recent activities.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritเมื่อคืนคุณไปไหนมาครับ?muea khuen khun pai nai ma khrap?Where did you go last night?
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanฉันไปกินข้าวกับเพื่อนมาค่ะchan pai kin khao kap phuean ma khaI went to eat with friends.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritร้านอาหารที่นั่นอร่อยไหมครับ?ran a-han thi nan a-roi mai khrap?Was the food there delicious?
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanอร่อยมากค่ะ ขอบคุณที่ถามนะคะa-roi mak kha khop khun thi tham na khaIt was very delicious, thanks for asking.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “last night” translations and entries เมื่อคืน, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
