กฎหมาย
gòt-mǎai/kot̚˨˩.maːj˩˩˦/
The Thai word for law is กฎหมาย (gòt-mǎai).
กฎหมาย refers to any rule that must or should be obeyed. You can use it in common phrases such as ผิดกฎหมาย to mean something is illegal (wrong/against the law) or ตามกฎหมาย to mean something is according to the law or legally.
Meaning: any rule that must or should be obeyed (noun)
Which one should you use?
While กฎหมาย refers to the concept of law in general, the phrase ข้อกฎหมาย is used when referring to a specific legal point or provision.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is gòt-mǎai. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- Thai law is deeply influenced by the Thammasat, an ancient Buddhist legal treatise from India that shaped the moral and judicial foundations of Southeast Asia for centuries.
- The word กฎหมาย literally translates to 'to mark down' and 'to indicate', suggesting that a law is something that has been physically inscribed or noted down.
- The word กฎหมาย is part of a linguistic family shared with Lao, where it is written and pronounced as ກົດໝາຍ, making it a recognizable term across the Mekong region.
Examples in context
- เราต้องปฏิบัติตามกฎ (rao dtông bpà-dtì-bàt dtaam got)We must follow the law.
- เราต้องเคารพกฎหมาย.rao ttaung khao-rop kot-mai.We must respect the law.
- กฎหมายข้อนี้สำคัญมาก.kot-mai kho ni sam-khan mak.This law is very important.
- เขาเรียนวิชากฎหมายอยู่ที่มหาวิทยาลัย.khao rian wi-cha kot-mai yu thi ma-ha-wit-tha-ya-lai.He studies law at the university.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new traffic regulation.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatพิมลรู้เรื่องกฎหมายใหม่ไหมPhimon ru rueang kotmai maiPimon, do you know about the new law?
- พิมล Pimonยังไม่รู้เลยค่ะ ธีรภัทรyang mai ru loei kha ThiraphatI don't know yet, Thiraphat.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatมันเป็นกฎหมายเกี่ยวกับจราจรman pen kotmai kiaokap charachonIt is a law about traffic.
- พิมล Pimonฉันจะลองไปอ่านดูค่ะchan cha long pai an du khaI will try to read it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “law” translations and entries กฎหมาย, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries กฎหมาย, CC BY-SA 4.0.
