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Thai word

แม่

mâae

妈妈

Falling tone

How to pronounce แม่

High Low

Falling tone

Starts high, falls quickly to low

แม่ is written mâae and carries the falling tone. Listen first, then copy the pitch — in Thai the pitch belongs to the word the way a vowel does.

Same syllable, five tones

Thai uses pitch to tell words apart. Below is the same syllable on each of the five tones — nothing changes but the pitch. Say your word (highlighted) on one of the other four and a Thai listener hears a different word, or none at all.

  1. maae

    Mid tone

  2. màae

    Low tone

  3. mâae

    Falling tone

    แม่
  4. mǎae

    Rising tone

  5. máae

    High tone

What does แม่ mean?

Translation

妈妈

แม่ (mâae) means "妈妈" in Thai.

Tone: Falling tone Frequency: #20 neutral

Example sentences

เวลาผมใจร้อน แม่จะเตือนด้วยสุภาษิตว่า ช้าๆได้พร้าเล่มงาม เสมอ

wee-laa phǒm jai-ráawn, mâae jà dteuuan dûai sù-phaa-sìt wâa 'cháa cháa dâai phráa lêm ngaam' sà-mǒoe

每当我心急的时候,我妈妈总是用这句谚语提醒我:‘慢工出细活’。

Test yourself

One word from the same tone group. Its meaning is not on this page — see whether it stuck.

What does this word mean?

ห้า

hâa

More words with the falling tone — the same pitch shape, different words.

Learn more about Thai tones

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