Learn Thai – To & From

จาก  jàak – And Since

ตั้งแต่ dtáng dtɛ̀ɛ

Hi everyone. In this Thai language lesson, we will learn the word ‘from’ in Thai . Unlike in the English language where from can mean both coming from a destination or describing a period of time (Since) in Thai language there are two distinct words to describe each instance. Try this and do remember which ‘from’ is which 🙂

Coming from

The word ‘from’ can most frequently be translated by ‘จาก /jàak/’ – Coming from

For example:

เขามาจากประเทศอังกฤษ /káo maa jàak bprà-têet ang-grìt/

She come from England.

พวกเขานั่งรถทัวร์จากกรุงเทพฯไปเชียงใหม่ /pûak-káo nâng rót-tua jàak grung-têep bpai chiang-mài/

They went from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by bus.

ฉันได้รับพัสดุไปรษณีย์จากเพื่อนที่อเมริกาเมื่อเช้านี้ /chán dâai ráp pát-sà-dù jàak pʉ̂an tîi à-mee-rí-gaa mʉ̂a cháo níi/

I got a parcel post from my friend in America.

From – Since

When ‘from’ identifies the begining of a period of time, ‘ตั้งแต่ /dtáng dtɛ̀ɛ/ (since)’ is used, either in the pattern ‘ตั้งแต่ /dtáng dtɛ̀ɛ/ + Time Word + ถึง /tʉ̌ng/ + ตั้งแต่ /dtáng dtɛ̀ɛ/ + Time Word + มา /maa/’.

For example:

เขายังไม่ได้กินอะไรเลยตั้งแต่เช้า /káo yang mâi gin à-rai ləəi dtáng-dɛ̀ɛ cháo/

She hasn’t eaten anything since this morning.

ตั้งแต่วันนั้นมา เราก็ไม่เจอเขาอีกเลย /dtáng-dɛ̀ɛ wan nán maa rao gɔ̂ mâi jəə káo ìik ləəi/

We haven’t seen him since then.

Practice with your Thai friends. It is difficult to start with but once you have tried a few times you will remember which from is which. Please comment if you enjoyed this Thai lesson below.

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I look forward to seeing you next time.

By Prae
Thai Language Teacher