Three common words used as the word many in Thai are มาก (mâak), เยอะ (yə́), and หลาย (lǎay). Let’s learn their differences and similarities and how to use them correctly.
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มาก (mâak) as very, so much, many in Thai
มาก (mâak) can be translated as very, many and so much in Thai. You can use it as both an adjective and an adverb in a sentence. Below you will see how to use มาก (mâak) in three different structures.
Structure(1) : noun + adjective + มาก (mâak) = very
– khun sǔay mâak.
– You are very beautiful.
– kháw phûut rew mâak.
– He speaks very fast.
Structure(2) : noun + มาก (mâak) = many
– thîi-nîi mii nák-rian mâak.
– There are many students here.
– kháw ʔàan nǎŋ-sɨ̌ɨ mâak.
– He/She reads many books.
Structure(3) : noun + verb + มาก (mâak) = a lot, so much
– kháw phûut mâak.
– He/She speaks a lot.
– mæ̂æ tham-ŋaan mâak.
– Mom works so much.
เยอะ (yə́) as many and a lot in Thai
เยอะ (yə́) means many and a lot in Thai. It is used with a noun or a verb but not with an adjective or adverb. It cannot be used as the word very in English.
Structure(1) : noun + เยอะ (yə́) = many, a lot of
– thîi-nîi mii nák-rian yə́.
– There are many students here.
– kháw ʔàan nǎŋ-sɨ̌ɨ yə́.
– He reads a lot of books.
Structure(2) : verb + เยอะ (yə́) = a lot, so much
– kháw phûut yə́.
– He/She speaks a lot.
– mæ̂æ tham-ŋaan yə́.
– Mom works so much.
หลาย (lǎay) as many and several in Thai
หลาย (lǎay) can be translated as many, or several. Even though it gives a similar meaning, it should be used for a countable noun with its classifier.
Structure : noun + หลาย (lǎay) + classifier = many, several
– thîinîi mii khruu lǎay khon.
– There are many teachers here.
– kháw mii nǎŋ-sɨ̌ɨ lǎay lêm.
– He has several books.
The differences and similarities
These three words hold some differences and similarities regarding usage and structure. In some contexts, they are replaceable to one another while some are not.
- As a determiner showing a large number of people or things
All are used to determine a large number of people or things. เยอะ (yə́) is a spoken version of มาก (mâak). And when you use หลาย (lǎay), use it for a countable noun with its classifier.
- As a determiner showing a level of action
มาก (mâak) and เยอะ (yə́) indicates the level of an action but หลาย (lǎay) does not. Therefore, both มาก (mâak) and เยอะ (yə́) can come after a verb.
- As a determiner describing the adjective or adverb
มาก (mâak) is the only word that determines the adjective or adverb. It represents the word very in English. Don’t use เยอะ (yə́) and หลาย (lǎay) for this.