กะ
estimate
Native recording
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- 1 estimate、make a rough guess、reckon
- 2 intend to、plan to、be thinking of doing
- 3 work shift、duty period、turn
- 4 with [casual spelling]、together with [casual spelling]
กะ mainly means to estimate roughly or to plan/intend to do something. It is also used as a noun for a work shift, and in casual speech or chats it can stand in for กับ, meaning “with” or “and.”
estimate、make a rough guess、reckon
This means to make a rough judgment of time, amount, distance, or likelihood without measuring exactly.
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กะเวลา kà weelaa estimate the time กะเวลา details
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กะระยะให้ดี kà ráyá hâydii judge the distance carefully กะระยะให้ดี details
intend to、plan to、be thinking of doing
This means to have an intention or tentative plan. It is closer to “I’m thinking of doing...” than to a fixed schedule.
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กะว่าจะไปพรุ่งนี้ kà wâa cà pay phrûŋníi I’m planning to go tomorrow. กะว่าจะไปพรุ่งนี้ details
work shift、duty period、turn
As a noun, กะ means a work shift or duty period in jobs with rotating schedules.
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เข้ากะ khâw kà go on shift เข้ากะ details
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วันนี้ฉันทำงานกะดึก wan níi chǎn tham ŋaan kà dʉ̀k I’m working the night shift today. วันนี้ฉันทำงานกะดึก details
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แบ่งเป็น 2 กะ bɛ̀ŋ pen sɔ̌ɔŋ kà divide into two shifts แบ่งเป็น 2 กะ details
with [casual spelling]、together with [casual spelling]
In casual speech and informal writing, กะ can be used like กับ, meaning “with.” In standard writing, กับ is the safer form.
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ไปกะเพื่อน pay kà phʉ̂an go with a friend ไปกะเพื่อน details
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คุยกะเขา khuy kà khǎw talk with him/her คุยกะเขา details
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ให้ไปกะเขาเนี่ยนะ hây pay kà khǎw nîa ná You’re telling me to go with him? ให้ไปกะเขาเนี่ยนะ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The verb กะ has the feel of making a rough call before things are fully fixed. It covers estimating time, distance, or amount, and also having a tentative plan to do something. As a noun, it means a work shift, as in กะเช้า, กะบ่าย, and กะดึก. In casual speech-like writing, กะ may appear in place of กับ for “with” or “and,” but learners should mainly recognize this rather than use it in careful writing.
Usage
You will hear กะ in everyday talk when people estimate time, distance, or amount, or when they mention a tentative plan. In workplace contexts, it is common when talking about shifts. In chats and social media, it can also appear as an informal spelling used like กับ.
Caution
The meaning changes strongly by context: กะเวลา means “estimate the time,” กะว่าจะไป means “plan to go,” and กะดึก means “night shift.” When กะ is used like กับ, it is informal, so use กับ in standard writing, professional communication, and polite contexts.
Differences from similar words
1 estimate synonyms
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คะเน also means to estimate or infer, but it sounds a bit more formal. กะ is more natural in everyday speech.
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ประมาณ is a broad word for “approximately” or “to estimate.” กะ feels more like judging roughly by instinct or experience.
2 intend to synonyms
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วางแผน means to make a plan, often more concretely. กะ is more casual and tentative, like “I’m thinking of...”
3 work shift synonyms
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คาบ can mean a period or class slot. For a rotating work shift, กะ is the normal word.