Thai blog, Vocabulary
Many (มาก เยอะ หลาย) in Thai
There are three common words that can be used as the word many in Thai language including มาก (mâak), เยอะ (yə́) and หลาย (lǎay). Let’s learn their differences and similarities, and also how to use them correctly.
Table of contents
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 adjective and adverb in a sentence. Therefore, this word becomes very handy. Below you will see how to use มาก (mâak) in three different structures.
Noun + Adjective + มาก (mâak) = Very
– khun sǔay mâak
– You are very beautiful.
– kháw phûut rew mâak
– He speaks very fast.
Noun + มาก (mâak) = Many
ที่นี่ มี นักเรียน มาก
– thîi-nîi mii nák-rian mâak
– There are many students here.
เขา อ่าน หนังสือ มาก
– kháw ʔàan nǎŋ-sɨ̌ɨ mâak
– He/She reads many books.
Noun + Verb + มาก (mâak) = So much, a lot
เขา พูด มาก
– kháw phûut mâak
– He/She speaks a lot.
แม่ ทำงาน มาก
– 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 adjective or adverb. It cannot be used as the word very in English.
Noun + เยอะ (yə́) = Many, a lot
ที่นี่ มี นักเรียน เยอะ
– thîi-nîi mii nák-rian yə́
– There are many students here.
เขา อ่าน หนังสือ เยอะ
– kháw ʔàan nǎŋ-sɨ̌ɨ yə́
– He reads a lot of books.
Noun + Verb + เยอะ (yə́) = A lot, so much
เขา พูด เยอะ
– kháw phûut yə́
– He/She speaks a lot.
แม่ ทำงาน เยอะ
– mæ̂æ tham-ŋaan yə́
– Mom works so much.
หลาย (lǎay) as many and several in Thai
หลาย (lǎay) can be translated as many, several. Even though it gives similar meaning, this word is used differently from the others. It needs to be used with a classifier, which means หลาย (lǎay) should be used with a countable noun.
ที่นี่ มี ครู หลาย คน
– thîinîi mii khruu lǎay khon
– There are many teachers here.
เขา มี หนังสือ หลาย เล่ม
– kháw mii nǎŋ-sɨ̌ɨ lǎay lêm
– He has several books.
The differences and similarities
These three words hold some differences and similarities in term of 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
มาก (mâak), เยอะ (yə́) and หลาย (lǎay), all used to determine a large number of people or things. เยอะ (yə́) is a spoken version of มาก (mâak) when it comes to this usage. However, you use หลาย (lǎay) with a countable noun and its classifier.
As a determiner showing a level of an 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 the words เยอะ (yə́) and หลาย (lǎay) as a word very.
Keep on reading: want (เอา อยาก) in Thai >>