The word โทรศัพท์ (thoorasàp) does not only mean a telephone, it is also used as a verb to phone in Thai. Let’s learn how to use this word.
โทรศัพท์ (thoorasàp) – telephone in Thai
Use โทรศัพท์ (thoorasàp) as the word telephone. โทรศัพท์มือถือ (thoorasàp mɨɨ-thɨ̌ɨ) for a mobile phone. However, you can use either โทรศัพท์ (thoorasàp) or มือถือ (mɨɨ-thɨ̌ɨ) to refer to the mobile phone.
– kháw ca pay sɨ́ɨ thoorasàp mày yen níi.
– She will go to buy a new phone this evening.
– khun hěn mɨɨ-thɨ̌ɨ phǒm máy.
– Do you see my mobile phone?
– chán ca ʔaw thoorasàp mɨɨ-thɨɨ̌ pay sɔ̂m.
– I will bring my mobile phone to get fixed.
โทรศัพท์ (thoorasàp) – to phone in Thai
โทรศัพท์ (thoorasàp) is a verb that means to make a phone call or to phone in Thai. It has a shortened version which is โทร (thoo).
Structure: โทร (thoo) + [ไป (pay)] + หา (hǎa) + a person = to call someone
– chán ca thoo [pay] hǎa khun khɨɨn níi.
– I will call you tonight.
– khun ca thoo (pay) hǎa kháw máy.
– Will you call him?
Structure: โทร (thoo) + [มา (maa)] + หา (hǎa) + a person = someone calls you
– mɨ̂a-waan-níi rooŋ-phayaabaan thoo [maa] hǎa chán.
– The hospital called me yesterday.
– khun ca thoo [maa] hǎa phǒm máy.
– Will you call me?
Note: The words ไป (pay) and มา (maa) can be omitted. They are there to tell the direction of the phone call whether the call goes out or the call comes in.
Structure: โทร (thoo) + ไป (pay) + หา (hǎa) + a place
– khun chûay thoo pay hǎa rooŋ-rian dâay-máy.
– Can you call the school?
– phǒm ca thoo pay bɔrisàt phrûŋníi.
– I will call the company tomorrow.
– fææn phǒm thoo hǎa rooŋ-rææm phrɔ́ raw yàak cɔɔŋ hɔ̂ŋ phák.
– My partner called the hotel because we want to book a room.
รับโทรศัพท์ – to answer a phone call
รับ (ráp) means to receive. It is used as the word to answer in the context of a phone call. This word is commonly used with either the word โทรศัพท์ (thoorasàp) or the word สาย (sǎay). สาย (sǎay) in this context means a phone line.
– chán thoo pay, thammay mây ráp.
– I called you, why didn’t you answer?
– phǒm ráp sǎay khun lǽæw, tæ̀æ mây dâay-yin ʔaray.
– I already answered your call, but I did not hear anything.
– yàa lɨɨm ráp thoorasàp lûuk-kháa ná.
– Don’t forget to answer a phone call from the customer.