มันคืออะไร
man khue a-rai
In Thai, the phrase "what is it?" is translated as มันคืออะไร (man khue a-rai).
This phrase is used to ask for the identity or name of an object. Be aware that using it to ask about a person or a situation can sound slightly blunt or impersonal.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of มัน (it), คือ (is/to be) and อะไร (what).
Which one should you use?
In casual conversation, the pronoun มัน is often dropped, leaving just คืออะไร.
How do you pronounce it?
man khue a-rai
Did you know?
- While มัน means 'it', using it to refer to a person can sound condescending or imply the person is being treated like an animal or an object.
- In many Thai dialects, such as Isan, the word for 'what' might change from อะไร to อีหยัง, which sounds quite different to a standard Thai speaker.
- If you are asking 'What is it?' in a way that expresses confusion about a person's behavior, you might use the word อะไรกัน to add a sense of 'what on earth'.
Examples in context
- ขอถามคุณหน่อยค่ะ มันคืออะไรคะ?Excuse me, what is it?
- สิ่งนี้คืออะไรวะWhat is this?
- มันคืออะไรman khue araiWhat is it?
- ฉันไม่รู้ว่ามันคืออะไรchan mai ru wa man khue araiI don't know what it is.
Example conversation
Teerapat and Pimol are looking at a strange object on the table.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatมันคืออะไรครับman khue arai khrapWhat is it?
- พิมล Pimonมันคือของขวัญค่ะman khue khong khwan khaIt is a gift.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatของใครครับkhong khrai khrapWhose is it?
- พิมล Pimonของพิมลเองค่ะkhong Pimol eng khaIt is Pimol's.
