Thai Adverns

Thai Adverbs    

The simple definition of an adverb is a word that modifies a verb. That is they describe how the action is performed. Adverbs are similar to adjectives. Adjectives describe nouns; adverbs describe how a verb is performed. In fact, adverbs can also modify adjectives or other adverbs but let’s keep it simple.

For example, 'slow' is an adjective. You can describe something as slow, e.g. 'it is a slow bus'. If you want to use 'slow' as an adverb to describe a verb, you would change it to 'slowly', e.g. 'he walks slowly'.

Adding 'ly' to the end of an adjective is a common way for the English Language to turn an adjective into an adverb. It is not the only way to form an adverb but it is the most common.

Thai has a similar technique to change adjectives into adverbs, you repeat the word twice. Let’s look at a few examples.

slow       cháh  ช้า                   slowly    cháh cháh ช้าช้า

fast        reo  เร็ว                     quickly   reo reo  เร็วเร็ว  

                                                              

gentle    bow เบา                         gently    bow bow  เบาเบา

strong  raeng แรง                strongly raeng raeng แรงแรง               

loud       dang ดัง                     loudly    dang dang ดัง

quiet    ngîap เงียบ               quietly ngîap ngîap เงียบเงียบ               

correct  tòok       ถูก                 correctly  tòok tòok ถูกถูก

incorrect   pìt      ผิด                 incorrectly   pìt pìt  ผิดผิด 

                                            

easy       ngâai ง่าย                   easily     ngâai ngâai ง่ายง่าย

                                              

clear      chát ชัด                       clearly   chát chát  ชัดชัด

good      dee  ดี                         well  dee dee ดีด  

                                           

beautiful sŭay สวย                    beautifully  sŭay sŭay สวยสวย

Thai grammar rules for adverbs are the same as for adjectives. that is they should always come after the word that you are modifying

: 

măa dtooa née reo-  นี้เป็นสุนัขที่รวดเร็ว This is a quick dog.

măa wîng reo reo – สุนัขทำงานได้อย่างรวดเร็ว  The dog runs quickly.

lom bao – ลมที่อ่อนโยน Gentle wind

tam bow bow - ทำเบาๆ ทำ  Do it gently

 

krêuang sĭang dang – เครื่องเสียงดัง  Loud machine

pôot dang dang -  พูดเสียงดัง  Speak loudly

aa hăan dee – อาหารที่ดี Good food

gin dee dee – กินดีดี Eat well

koon sŭay – คุณสวย You are beautiful

koon yim sŭay sŭay  - คุณยิ้มสวยสวย  You smile beautifully

This duplicating the word rule is not strictly adhered to in everyday Thai speech. Thais will often say the word only once even when they are using it as an adverb. They will also often repeat words just for the sake of emphasis, rather than because they are using it as an adverb. It is a matter of slowly becoming familiar with Thai speaking habits.