ภาษา
language
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 language
- 2 wording、language (style or terminology)
- 3 [classifier for languages]
ภาษา means language, including the language someone speaks and the kind of wording they use. It also serves as the classifier for counting languages.
language
A system for communicating meaning, such as Thai or a sign language. The word also extends to systems such as programming languages.
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คำนี้ภาษาอังกฤษว่าอะไร kham níi phaasǎa aŋkrìt wâa aray How do you say this word in English? คำนี้ภาษาอังกฤษว่าอะไร details
wording、language (style or terminology)
The wording or style of expression used in a particular situation or field.
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ภาษากฎหมายเข้าใจยาก phaasǎa kòt mǎay khâwcay yâak Legal language is hard to understand. ภาษากฎหมายเข้าใจยาก details
[classifier for languages]
The classifier used to say how many languages there are or how many someone speaks.
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เธอพูดได้สี่ภาษา thəə phûut dâay sìi phaasǎa She can speak four languages. เธอพูดได้สี่ภาษา details
Learning notes
Explanation
ภาษา is a neutral, everyday word used in both speech and writing. It appears in language names such as ภาษาไทย “Thai,” ภาษาญี่ปุ่น “Japanese,” and ภาษาอังกฤษ “English.” Common combinations include เรียนภาษาไทย “learn Thai,” พูดภาษาไทย “speak Thai,” and ใช้ภาษาไทย “use Thai.” It can also describe how something is expressed: ใช้ภาษาง่าย ๆ means “use simple language.” Its broader uses include ภาษากาย “body language” and ภาษาโปรแกรม “programming language.” ภาษา is also its own counting classifier. พูดได้สองภาษา means “can speak two languages,” and พูดได้กี่ภาษา means “How many languages do you speak?”
Usage
Use it when discussing language learning, asking which languages someone speaks, or communicating while traveling. At school or work, it also comes up when discussing wording, difficult terminology, and differences between speech and writing.
Caution
Use the language name after ภาษา, rather than automatically adding a country's full name. For example, “Japanese” is ภาษาญี่ปุ่น, without ประเทศ “country.” Distinguish ภาษามือ “sign language” from ภาษากาย “body language.” Sign languages are languages with their own grammar.