ดังนั้น
dang-nán/daŋ˧.nan˦˥/
The English phrase 'so' can be translated into Thai as ดังนั้น (dang-nán).
Which one should you use?
In formal writing, ดังนั้น is often paired with จึง to create a 'so… therefore' structure (ดังนั้น [cause] จึง [result]). In contrast, ก็เลย is the common colloquial way to say 'so' in spoken Thai when expressing a consequence and is placed immediately before the main verb of the resulting action.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ดังนั้น is a formal way to say 'so' or 'therefore', typically used in written language or formal presentations. For common colloquial speech, use ก็เลย.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ก็เลย is placed immediately before the main verb of the resulting action.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is [dang-nán].
Did you know?
- The word ดัง in ดังนั้น can also mean 'loud' or 'famous' in other contexts, though it means 'as' or 'like' when used to build this specific phrase.
- While ดังนั้น is the standard translation for 'so', Thai speakers often use a final particle like นะ or ค่ะ to soften the tone, as starting a sentence with a direct logical connector can sound overly blunt or argumentative in social settings.
- In very formal Thai royal language or high-level legal documents, ดังนั้น is often replaced by even more ornate connectors to maintain the strict social hierarchy of the text.
Examples in context
- ฝนตก ฉันก็เลยไม่ไปIt rained, so I didn't go.
- เขาป่วย ดังนั้นเขาจึงไม่ได้มาทำงานkhao puay dang-nan khao cheung mai dai ma tham-nganHe is sick, so he did not come to work.
- วันนี้เป็นวันหยุด ดังนั้นร้านจึงปิดwan-ni pen wan-yut dang-nan ran cheung pidToday is a holiday, so the shop is closed.
Example conversation
Pimon and Theeraphat are talking about a closed restaurant.
- พิมล Pimonร้านอาหารปิดแล้ว ดังนั้นเราไปร้านอื่นกันเถอะraan aa-haan pid laew dang-nan rao pai raan uen kan thoeThe restaurant is closed, so let's go to another one.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatได้ครับ พิมลอยากไปร้านไหนครับdai krap Pimon yaak pai raan nai krapOkay, Pimon, which restaurant do you want to go to?
- พิมล Pimonฉันอยากกินอาหารญี่ปุ่นค่ะchan yaak kin aa-haan yi-pun khaI want to eat Japanese food.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatตกลงครับ ตามนั้นเลยtok-long krap taam nan loeiAgreed, let's do that.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ดังนั้น, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
