Thai for Everyday Life: Three Ways to Use “แล้ว /láew/”

If you are familiar with Thai language, you definitely hear the word “แล้ว /láew/” often. Have you ever wondered why sometimes you hear it in the beginning of the sentence, but many times it is added at the end or even in the middle? Because there are three different ways to use “แล้ว /láew/“. Let’s go through all of them today.

1. แล้ว /láew/ means “already”

Structure: a sentence + แล้ว /láew/

Examples:

ผมอาบน้ำแล้ว

pŏm àab-náam láew/

I showered already.

ผมเจอเขาแล้ว

/ pŏm jer káo láew/

I  met him already.

ผมกินข้าวเช้าแล้ว

/ pŏm gin kâao-cháao láew/

I had breakfast already.

2. แล้ว /láew/ + someone/ something  + หล่ะ /là/ = What about…?

Example 1:

ผมชื่อเจมส์

/ pŏm chûe James/

My name is James.

แล้วคุณหล่ะ

/láew kun là?/

What about you?

Example 2:

A: วันนี้ไปดูหนังกันไหม

/wan-níi bpai duu năng gan mái/

Shall we go to watch a movie today?

B: วันนี้ไม่ว่าง

/wan-níi mâi wâang/

Today I’m not free.

แล้วพรุ่งนี้หล่ะ

/láew prûng-níi là/

What about tomorrow?

3. แล้ว /láew/ = and then

The full term for “and then” is แล้วก็ /láew gâw/ but many times you will only hear แล้ว /láew/.

Example 1:

ผมอาบน้ำแล้วก็จะโทรหาคุณ

/ pŏm àab-náam láew-gâw jà too hăa kun/

I’ll shower and then I’ll call you.

Example 2:

วันนี้ผมจะเรียนภาษาไทยแล้วก็ไปซื้อของ

/wan-níi pŏm jà rian paa-săa tai láew-gâw bpai súe kăwng/

I will have Thai lesson and go shopping.

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