VIDEO: The Most Important Thai Word “ก็ /gâw/”

The word “ก็ gâw” is one of the most commonly used words in spoken Thai.If you listen to a Thai talking you will probably hear a few “ก็ gâw” in one conversation. If you want speak like a Thai , you must understand this tiny but crucial word.

It is arguably the most ambiguous word in the Thai language. Did you know that this tiny little word has staggering 33 meanings and usages!!

To put it simply, ก็ /gâw/   is a word that connect two things, concepts, or ideas together in the way that they compliment each other.

In this lesson, we talk about 5 common usage of “ก็ gâw” in everyday life.

 

[1] ก็ได้ /gâw-dâai/

Thai people use ก็ได้ /gâw-dâai/ when accepting a suggestion or the alternative/option. As English speakers would say ” that’s fine“.

Example:

วันนี้กินอะไรดี /wan-níi gin à-rai dii/ What shall we eat today?

ส้มตำมั้ย /sôm dtam mái?/ Shall we eat Somtam?

เบื่ออ่ะ  /bùea à/ I’m bored (of Som Tam).

อาหารอิตาลีหล่ะ /aa-hăan ì-dtaa-lîi là?/ What about Italian food?

อาหารอิตาลีก็ได้ /aa-hăan ì-dtaa-lîi gâw-dâai/ Italian is fine.

 

ก็ได้ /gâw-dâai/ can be put after a question word to form these phrases:

อะไรก็ได้ /à-rai gâw-dâai/ = anything is fine

ที่ไหนก็ได้ /tîi năi gâw-dâai/ = anywhere is fine.

เวลาไหนก็ได้ /way-laa năi gâw-dâai/ = anytime is fine (referring to the hour)

เมื่อไหร่ก็ได้ /mûea-rài gâw-dâai/ = anytime is fine

ยังไงก็ได้ /yang-ngai gâw-dâai/ = any mean is fine.

ใครก็ได้ /krai gâw-dâai/ = anyone is fine.

 

 

[2] ก็แล้วกัน /gâw láew gan/

This phrase is used to express a compromise: “well…let’s agree to this”.

 

Example:

A: วันศุกร์ไปเที่ยวกันไหม /wan sùk bpai tîao gan mái/

Shall we go out this Friday?

B: วันศุกร์ติดงาน วันเสาร์ก็แล้วกัน / wan sùk dtìt ngaan, wan săo gâw láew gan/

I have work on Friday. Let’s agree on Saturday.

 

 

[3] ก็ is used to make an excuse!

A: ทำไมไม่โทรมา /tam-mai mâi too maa/

Why didn’t you call?

B: ก็งานยุ่ง /gâw naan yûng/

I’ve been busy.

or

ก็ไม่มีเวลา /gâw mâi mii way-laa/

I didn’t have time.

 

[4] ก็ /gâw/ + adjective + ดี/dii/

This structure is used to describe that something is “not bad”, or “alright”.

 

Example1:

A: พัทยาเป็นยังไงบ้าง
/Pattaya bpen yang-ngai bâang?/
How is Pattaya?

B: ก็สวยดี

/gâw sŭai dii/

It is quite nice/ not bad.

 

Example2:

A: อาหารอร่อยไหม

/aa-hăan à-ròi mái?/

B: ก็อร่อยดี

/gâw à-ròi dii/

It is quite good.

 

[5] ก็ /gâw/  is for “then” to connecting phrases together

Example:

พอเขามา ฉันก็จะไป

/paw káo maa, chán gâw jà bpai/

As soon as he arrives, I will leave.

 

ถ้าเขาได้งานใหม่ เขาก็จะย้ายบ้าน

/tâa káo dâai ngaan mài, káo gâw jà yáai bâan/

If he gets a new job, he will move. 

 

แค่คิด ก็ปวดหัวแล้ว

/kâe kít, gâw bpùad hŭa láew/

Just start thinking about it, I “then” have a headache already.

 

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