แล้วคุณล่ะ
The English phrase "what about you?" is translated into Thai as แล้วคุณล่ะ.
This phrase is used to return a question back to the person you are speaking to, mirroring the English "what about you?" or "and you?"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of แล้ว (and/then), คุณ (you) and the particle ล่ะ which is used to form a question or indicate a change in topic.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the phrase polite when spoken by a male, add ครับ to the end: แล้วคุณล่ะครับ. To make it polite when spoken by a female, add คะ to the end: แล้วคุณล่ะคะ.
How does it change in a sentence?
Replacing the polite pronoun คุณ with เธอ makes the phrase more informal or intimate: แล้วเธอล่ะ.
Did you know?
- In very intimate or romantic relationships, แล้วคุณล่ะ is rarely used. Couples often use nicknames or the word ตัวเอง (literally 'oneself') to ask the same question.
- If you are speaking to a monk, using คุณ is inappropriate. You would use a specialized pronoun like ท่าน to form the phrase แล้วท่านล่ะ, as monks hold a distinct social status.
- Depending on the relationship, คุณ can be replaced by a kinship term like พี่ (older sibling) or น้อง (younger sibling) instead of a pronoun. This transforms แล้วคุณล่ะ into a more affectionate and culturally appropriate phrase.
Examples in context
- กินแล้วครับ คุณล่ะYes, I have. How about you?
- ฉันชอบกินเผ็ด แล้วคุณล่ะchan chop kin phet, laeo khun laI like eating spicy food, what about you?
- วันนี้ฉันเหนื่อยมาก แล้วคุณล่ะwan ni chan nueai mak, laeo khun laI am very tired today, what about you?
- ฉันจะไปทะเล แล้วคุณล่ะchan cha pai tha-le, laeo khun laI am going to the sea, what about you?
Example conversation
Nicha and Chonsit are discussing their favorite drinks at a cafe.
- ณิชา Nichaฉันอยากดื่มกาแฟเย็น แล้วคุณล่ะ ชลสิทธิ์chan yak duem ka-fae yen, laeo khun la, chonsitI want to drink iced coffee, what about you, Chonsit?
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitผมชอบดื่มชาเขียวครับphom chop duem cha-khiao khrapI like drinking green tea.
- ณิชา Nichaชาเขียวก็อร่อยนะcha-khiao ko a-roi naGreen tea is delicious too.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitใช่ครับchai khrapYes, it is.
