ล่ะ
what about...?
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 what about...?、then?、so...?
- 2 [conversational emphasis]、then; in that case、go ahead and...、come on...
A conversational sentence-final particle that links to the previous context, often making a question, follow-up, conclusion, or prompt sound natural and responsive.
The original pronunciation is lâ, but by convention, it is generally pronounced là.
what about...?、then?、so...?
Used at the end of a question or topic phrase to ask a follow-up, often meaning “what about...?” or “then?” in conversation.
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แล้วคุณล่ะ? lɛ́ɛw khun là And what about you? แล้วคุณล่ะ? details
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ทำไมล่ะ? thammay là Why, then? ทำไมล่ะ? details
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เรื่องงานล่ะ เป็นยังไงบ้าง? rʉ̂aŋ ŋaan là pen yaŋ ŋay bâaŋ What about work? How is it going? เรื่องงานล่ะ เป็นยังไงบ้าง? details
[conversational emphasis]、then; in that case、go ahead and...、come on...
Used at the end of a statement, command, or prompt to add conversational emphasis, a sense of conclusion, or a gentle push to act.
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พอแล้วล่ะ phɔɔ lɛ́ɛw là That’s enough now. พอแล้วล่ะ details
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เอาล่ะ เริ่มกันเลย aw lâ rə̂əm kan ləəy All right, let’s begin. เอาล่ะ เริ่มกันเลย details
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กินข้าวได้แล้วล่ะ kin khâaw dâay lɛ́ɛw là You can eat now. กินข้าวได้แล้วล่ะ details
Learning notes
Explanation
ล่ะ is not a content word; it is a conversational particle that shows how the speaker is responding to the current context. It is especially common in follow-up questions like แล้วคุณล่ะ? “And you?” With question words, as in ทำไมล่ะ?, it asks for an explanation in a natural conversational way. At the end of statements or prompts, it can add a sense of conclusion, confirmation, or moving on to the next action.
Usage
It is common in everyday conversation, messaging, and informal interaction. Use it when returning a question to someone, asking for a reason, checking on a topic, or moving the conversation forward with “so,” “then,” or “all right.”
Caution
It is not usually used in formal writing or formal speeches. For polite situations, adding ครับ/ค่ะ may not be enough by itself; the whole sentence should fit the level of politeness. Also, do not confuse ล่ะ with the similar-looking ละ; learners should first treat ล่ะ as this sentence-final conversational particle.
Differences from similar words
1 what about...? synonyms
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เล่า can also be used as a final particle for follow-up questions or emphasis, but ล่ะ is the more common and natural form in everyday speech.
2 [conversational emphasis] synonyms
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นะ mainly softens a statement or adds a friendly reminder. ล่ะ more strongly connects to the prior context and moves the conversation toward a conclusion, check, or prompt.
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สิ gives a stronger push, often implying that the action is obvious or expected. ล่ะ can prompt action too, but its main role is to tie the prompt to the current context.