อะไร
à-rai/ʔa˨˩.raj˧/
In Thai, "what" can be expressed as อะไร (à-rai) or ยังไง depending on the context.
Meaning: what? (interrogative pronoun) (pron)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| อะไร | à-rai | /ʔa˨˩.raj˧/ |
| ยังไง | yang-ngai | /jaŋ˧.ŋaj˧/ |
The form อะไร is used to ask about things or objects, whereas ยังไง is used to ask about the manner or way something is done.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In relaxed or casual settings, you may hear the phrase อะไรนะ used to mean "What?" and the expression ว่าไง to mean "What's up?" or "What's going on?"
How does it change in a sentence?
In Thai, the interrogative อะไร typically follows the verb it modifies, such as in the phrase ทำอะไร (do what).
How do you pronounce it?
à-rai (/ʔa˨˩.raj˧/)
Did you know?
- The word อะไร actually hides a hidden history of 'item' or 'piece' within its contraction of the older words อัน and ไร.
- In Thai, อะไร can be used as an indefinite pronoun to mean 'anything' or 'something' in a statement, not just as a question.
- In very informal speech, the word อะไร is often shortened to ไร in texting and chatting among young people.
Examples in context
- คุณทำอะไร?What do you do?This sentence shows how to use อะไร when asking about an action.Tatoeba #7878756 by pastelite, translation #17125 by CK
- เพื่ออะไร?What for?This sentence shows how to use อะไร to ask for a reason or purpose.Tatoeba #7878974 by pastelite, translation #24867 by CK
- เธอมีอะไร?What does she have?This sentence shows how to use อะไร when asking about possession.Tatoeba #8703071 by pastelite, translation #312812 by CK
- เธอรู้สิ่งที่เขาพูดไหม?Do you know what he is saying?
- คุณกำลังค้นหาอะไรอยู่?What are you looking for?
- ว่าไงครับ?What's up?
- 113 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a cafe, Teerapat is looking at the menu.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatณิชา สั่งอะไรดี?Nicha sang arai di?Nicha, what should we order?
- ณิชา Nichaฉันอยากกินอะไรก็ได้ค่ะchan yak kin arai ko dai kha.I can eat anything.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatแล้วคุณอยากดื่มอะไร?laeo khun yak duem arai?Then what do you want to drink?
- ณิชา Nichaขอเป็นชาเขียวค่ะkho pen cha khiao kha.I'll have green tea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “what” translations and entries อะไร, ยังไง, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ยังไง, อะไร, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
