สอน
sɔ̌ɔn/sɔːn˩˩˦/
To teach in Thai is สอน (sɔ̌ɔn).
The verb สอน is used for both formal instruction (like a teacher in a classroom) and informal guidance (like teaching a friend a trick or a life lesson).
Meaning: to pass on knowledge (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
When teaching a specific skill or action, the pattern 'สอน + [person] + ให้ + [verb]' is commonly used.
How do you pronounce it?
/sɔːn˩˩˦/
Did you know?
- The phrase สอนมวย literally means 'to teach boxing', but it is used idiomatically to describe someone trying to give unsolicited advice to an expert.
- Thai culture places such high value on the act of teaching that there is a formal 'Wai Khru' ceremony where students perform a ritual bow to honor their teachers.
- While สอน refers to the act of teaching, the Thai word for 'teacher' ครู is derived from a Sanskrit root meaning 'one who makes a sound' or 'one who chants'.
Examples in context
- ฉันจะสอนคุณI'll teach you.This sentence shows how to use สอน to express the intention of teaching someone.Tatoeba #8669436 by pastelite, translation #3736884 by CK
- โปรดสอนภาษาฝรั่งเศสให้ฉันPlease teach me French.This sentence demonstrates how to use สอน when requesting instruction in a specific language.Tatoeba #8703231 by pastelite, translation #2451638 by CK
- ฉันสอนชีววิทยาและภาษาฝรั่งเศสI teach biology and French.This sentence illustrates how to use สอน to describe the subjects one teaches.Tatoeba #8675733 by pastelite, translation #791251 by CK
- ครูสอนเราวิชาคณิตศาสตร์The teacher teaches us mathematics.
- เขาสอนฉันเทคนิคการถ่ายรูปHe teaches me photography techniques.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man asks a woman to help him learn a new skill.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitช่วยสอนผมหน่อยได้ไหมครับchuai son phom noi dai mai khrapCan you teach me, please?
- ณิชา Nichaได้ค่ะ อยากให้ณิชาสอนอะไรคะdai kha. yak hai nicha son arai khaYes. What do you want Nicha to teach you?
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitสอนผมเล่นกีตาร์หน่อยครับson phom len guitar noi khrapPlease teach me how to play the guitar.
- ณิชา Nichaยินดีค่ะ เริ่มกันเลยนะคะyin di kha. roem kan loei na khaMy pleasure. Let's get started.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “teach” translations and entries สอน, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
