ช้า
cháa/t͡ɕʰaː˦˥/
The Thai word for slow is ช้า (cháa).
ช้า is an adjective used to describe something that is not quick in motion. To express that something is 'very slow', you can add the word มาก (mâak) after the adjective, resulting in ช้ามาก.
Meaning: not quick in motion (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
You can create a verb meaning 'to slow down' by adding the word ลง (long), which means 'down', after ช้า to form ช้าลง.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as cháa (/tɕʰaː˦˥/).
Did you know?
- When describing a slow-paced life or 'slow living', Thais use the English loanword 'slow life' rather than just the word ช้า.
- In Thai culture, being 'slow' or 'relaxed' can sometimes be a compliment to one's temperament, whereas in many English contexts, being 'slow' is purely a criticism.
- Repeating the word as ช้าๆ (cháa cháa) doesn't just mean 'slowly', but often implies a desire for clarity and precision, such as when asking a foreigner to speak slowly.
Examples in context
- ช้าลงหน่อยSlow down.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase ช้าลง to mean 'slow down'.Tatoeba #8718062 by pastelite, translation #2187252 by CK
- นาฬิกาของคุณช้าสิบนาทีYour watch is ten minutes slow.This sentence shows how to use ช้า to indicate that a clock is slow.Tatoeba #8692198 by pastelite, translation #17107 by CN
- คุณสามารถทำการทดสอบเว็บไซต์ได้ช้ากว่านี้ไหมครับ/ค่ะ?Can you perform the website test more slowly than this, please?
- เค้าเดินไปช้าๆ เลยค่ะThey walk very slowly.
- เขาเดินช้ามากkhao doen cha makHe walks very slowly.
Example conversation
Kanokwan and Thanakrit are walking together.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanทำไมคุณเดินช้าจังtham-mai khun doen cha changWhy are you walking so slowly?
- ธนกฤต Thanakritผมเหนื่อยนิดหน่อยครับphom nueai nit noi khrapI am a little tired.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanงั้นเราพักกันก่อนไหมngan rao phak kan kon maiThen should we take a break first?
- ธนกฤต Thanakritดีเลยครับ ขอบคุณนะdi loei khrap khop khun naThat sounds great, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slow” translations and entries ช้า, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
