สาม
3
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- 1 3
This is the basic numeral for the number or quantity three. It is used when counting people and things and in expressions for time, age, order, and many other numerical contexts.
3
It represents the number or quantity three. In the form ที่สาม, it indicates third place or the third item in an order.
Learning notes
Explanation
สาม is the basic numeral for the quantity three. Its Thai numeral is ๓, although the Arabic numeral 3 is also widely used today. When counting, the usual pattern is “noun + สาม + classifier.” For example, นักเรียนสามคน means “three students,” and หนังสือสามเล่ม means “three books.” If the item is already clear, the noun can be omitted, as in ขอสามอัน, “Three, please.” For an ordinal meaning, ที่ is normally added: ที่สาม means “third.” For example, ครั้งที่สาม means “the third time,” and ได้ที่สาม means “to come in third.”
Usage
It is used constantly in everyday counting, shopping and ordering, and when stating times, ages, numbers of occurrences, or rankings. It is common in both speech and writing.
Caution
When counting people or objects, Thai normally requires the appropriate classifier: หมาสามตัว means “three dogs,” while หนังสือสามเล่ม means “three books.” Use ที่สาม, not สาม alone, for “third.” Also, although สามารถ (“can; be able to”) begins with the same letters, it should not be analyzed as the numeral สาม plus another element.