Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ไม่ | mâi | /maj˥˩/ |
| ไฮ้ | hái | /haj˦˥/ |
| เปล่า | bplàao | /plaːw˨˩/ |
The word ไม่ is primarily used as a negation particle placed before a verb or an adjective to mean 'not'. In Thai, you rarely use a single word for 'no' to answer a yes/no question. Instead, you usually repeat the verb used in the question with the negation particle ไม่. For example, the phrase ขอโทษค่ะ/ครับ ไม่ได้ means 'I'm sorry, I can't'. Additionally, the informal phrase อย่างไรก็ไม่ได้ means 'No matter what, it's not possible'.
Which one should you use?
While ไม่ is used to negate verbs and adjectives, the colloquial form เปล่า is often used as a standalone response to a question like 'Is that so?' or 'Did you do X?' to mean 'No, it's not like that' or 'Nothing'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word เปล่า is a colloquial form. To display respect in conversation, females can use the particle ค่ะ and males can use the particle ครับ.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'there is no' or 'to not have', you combine ไม่ with the verb มี (to have/to exist) to form ไม่มี.
How do you pronounce it?
mâi (/maj˥˩/)
Did you know?
- In Thai culture, saying a direct ไม่ can sometimes be perceived as too blunt or harsh. To soften the blow, speakers often add polite particles or use indirect phrasing to avoid a stark 'no'.
- The colloquial word เปล่า for 'no' originates from a Proto-Tai word meaning 'empty'. This creates a conceptual link where saying 'no' is akin to saying the situation is 'empty' of the action mentioned.
- Thai speakers may use a slight head shake or a hesitant smile while saying ไม่ to signal that they are disagreeing politely. The facial expression often conveys more of the 'no' than the word itself.
Examples in context
- ไม่นะ!Oh no!This sentence uses ไม่ to express an exclamation.Tatoeba #7784254 by pastelite, translation #1299275 by CK
- ไม่มีน้ำThere is no water.This sentence uses ไม่ to express the absence of something.Tatoeba #8720101 by pastelite, translation #270745 by CK
- ไม่มีทาง!No way!This sentence uses ไม่ to express the impossibility of something.Tatoeba #7784271 by pastelite, translation #2175 by CM
- ไม่ได้ค่ะ ห้ามเล่น (mâi-dâai kâ, hâam lên)No, you cannot play. It's forbidden.
- มาปาร์ตี้ด้วยกันเถอะสิครับ (maa paa-dtîi dûay gan thèrùh sì kráp)Let's party together, okay?
- ขอโทษครับ ไม่ได้ (kɔ̌ɔ-thôot kráp, mâi-dâai)I'm sorry, I can't.
- 51 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man asks a woman if she wants to go to the cinema.
- วิทวัส Witthawatพิมลอยากไปดูหนังไหม?Phimon yak pai du nang mai?Phimon, do you want to see a movie?
- พิมล Pimonไม่ค่ะ ฉันไม่ว่างMai kha, chan mai wangNo, I am not free.
- วิทวัส Witthawatไม่เป็นไรครับMai pen rai khrapThat is okay.
- พิมล Pimonขอโทษด้วยนะคะKho thot duai na khaI am sorry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no” translations and entries ไม่, ไฮ้, เปล่า, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries เปล่า, ไม่, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
