ซ้าย
sáai/saːj˦˥/
The Thai word for "left" is ซ้าย (sáai).
The word ซ้าย refers to the west side of the body when one is facing north. It can function as both an adjective and an adverb.
Meaning: west side of the body when one is facing north (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sáai and the IPA is /saːj˦˥/.
Did you know?
- In traditional Thai culture, the left hand is historically associated with hygiene and cleaning the body, making it considered 'unclean'.
- The word ซ้าย is a linguistic relative of the Chinese word for 'left' 左.
- While 'left' is a simple spatial term, in traditional Thai culture, certain directions and sides are often imbued with different levels of auspiciousness or bad luck.
Examples in context
- เลี้ยวซ้ายTurn left.This example shows how to use ซ้าย with the verb for turning.Tatoeba #8675741 by pastelite, translation #464284 by lukaszpp
- ทางออกอยู่ทางซ้ายThe exit is on the left.This example demonstrates using ซ้าย to indicate a location.Tatoeba #8669016 by pastelite, translation #8618987 by CK
- เขาหักแขนซ้ายของเขาHe broke his left arm.This example shows how to use ซ้าย as an adjective describing a body part.Tatoeba #8670815 by pastelite, translation #296680 by CK
- ฉันเลี้ยวซ้ายI turn left
- โปรดเลี้ยวซ้ายที่ไฟแดงPlease turn left at the red light
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sirin and Teerapat are looking at a map in a cafe.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinทางด้านซ้ายคือทะเลใช่ไหมthang dan sai khue thale chai maiIs the sea on the left side?
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatใช่ครับ ทางซ้ายคือทะเลchai khrap thang sai khue thaleYes, the left side is the sea.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinแล้วทางขวาคืออะไรlaeo thang khwa khue araiAnd what is on the right?
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatทางขวาคือภูเขาครับthang khwa khue phukhao khrapThe right side is the mountains.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “left” translations and entries ซ้าย, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ซ้าย, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
