Thai

Adjective

แม่ • ‎(mɛ̂ɛ) ‎(abstract noun ความแม่)

1. producing or allowing the production of a child or children or the like.
   • กฎหมายแม่

     (literally) Mother law ― Referring to a law that authorises the issuance of subordinate laws.

2. bearing a relation like that of a mother, as in being the origin, source, or protector.
   • บริษัทแม่

     Mother company.

Noun

แม่ • ‎(mɛ̂ɛ)

1. a female parent, mother
2. a woman regarded as a female parent.
3. a woman exercising control, influence, or authority like that of a mother; a woman exercising protecting care over someone or something.
   • แม่แห่งแผ่นดิน

     (literally) Mother of the nation. ― Referring to a queen, female sovereign, etc.

   • แม่ฟ้า

     (literally) Mother of the heavens. ― Referring to a queen, female sovereign, etc.

4. any woman.
5. a term of address for or title given to the following:
   1. a female parent.
   2. a woman, especially a young or beloved one.
      • โฉมแม่จักฝากฟ้า เกรงอินทร หยอกนา อินทรท่านเทอกโฉมเอา สู่ฟ้า

        My darling dear, I can't put you in the care of the heavens, as the god Indra might flirt with you and he might take you away to his celestial abode.

   3. a woman regarded as a female parent.
      • แม่ลีนจะกลับไปเวกัสแล้วค่า!

        Mommy 'Line [Celine Dion] is returning to Vegas!

      • "แม่เอาเงินนี้ไปเถิด" เขาพูดกับสุภาพสตรีคนนั้น

        "Mother, please accept this money", he said to that lady.

   4. a woman exercising control, influence, or authority like that of a mother; a woman exercising protecting care over someone or something.
   5. a female deity.
      • แม่ธรณี

        Mother Earth.

      • แม่คงคา

        Mother Ganga.

   6. any woman.
      • แล้วแม่พลอยเขาคิดอย่างไรล่ะ

        How does Phloi think?

        (literally) How does Mae [title] Phloi think?

      • แม่นากพระขโนง

        Nak of Phra Khanong.

        (literally) Mae [title] Nak of Phra Khanong.

6. an agentive for the following:
   1. a woman in charge of someone or something.
      • แม่ครัว

        Female chef.

        (literally) Mae of the kitchen.

      • แม่ค้า

        Female merchant.

        (literally) Mae of trade.

      • แม่บ้าน

        Female housekeeper.

        (literally) Mae of the house.

      • แม่นม

        Wet nurse.

        (literally) Mae of breastfeeding.

   2. a person in charge of someone or something, irrespective of the gender.
      • แม่ทัพ

        Military commander.

        (literally) Mae of the troops.

      • แม่กอง

        Division chief.

        (literally) Mae of the division.

   3. a female animal that has a child or children.
      • แม่ไก่

        Mother hen.

      • แม่งู

        Mother snake.

      • แม่แมว

        Mother cat.

   4. a river.
      • แม่สาย

        Sai River.

      • แม่ปิง

        Ping River.

      • แม่ยม

        Yom River.

   5. a principal thing; a thing that is the source of others of the same kind or that produces other things.
      • แม่กุญแจ

        Master key.

        (literally) Mother key.

      • แม่แรง

        Jackscrew.

        (literally) Mother of strength.

      • แม่แบบ

        Template; model; etc.

        (literally) Mother pattern / mother mold.

7. (grammar) the type of the sound that ends a syllable:
   1. if the syllable is ended with the sound [k] (represented by ก ‎(gɔɔ), ข ‎(kɔ̌ɔ), ค ‎(kɔɔ), ฆ ‎(ká)), the syllable is categorised into the type แม่กก ‎(mae kok), as in บก ‎(bòk) [bok̚˩], พลิก ‎(plík) [pʰlik̚˥], แหก ‎(hɛ̀ɛk) [hɛːk̚˨˩], etc.;
   2. if the syllable is ended with the sound [ŋ] (represented by ง ‎(ngá)), the syllable is categorised into the type แม่กง ‎(mae kong), as in เครื่อง ‎(krʉ̂ʉang) [kʰrɯːä̃ŋ˥˩], ตรง ‎(dtrong) [trõŋ˧], สิง ‎(sǐng) [sĩŋ˩˥] etc.;
   3. if the syllable is ended with the sound [t] (represented by จ ‎(jà), ฉ ‎(chɔ̌ɔ), ช ‎(chá), ซ ‎(sá), ฌ ‎(chá), ฎ ‎(dà), ฏ ‎(dtà), ฐ ‎(tà), ฑ ‎(tá), ฒ ‎(tá), ด ‎(dà), ต ‎(dtà), ถ ‎(tà), ท ‎(tá), ธ ‎(tɔɔ), ศ ‎(sà), ษ ‎(sà), ส ‎(sà)), the syllable is categorised into the type แม่กด ‎(mae kot), as in เกียรติ ‎(gìiat) [kiät̚˩], ตด ‎(dtòt) [tot̚˩], เปรต ‎(bprèet) [preːt̚˩], etc.;
   4. if the syllable is ended with the sound [n] (represented by ญ ‎(yá), ณ ‎(nɔɔ), น ‎(ná), ร ‎(rá), ล ‎(lá), ฬ ‎(lá)), the syllable is categorised into the type แม่กน ‎(mae kon), as in ควร ‎(kuuan) [kʰuːä̃n˧], จาน ‎(jaan) [t͡ɕä̃ːn˧], บิน ‎(bin) [bĩn˧], etc.;
   5. if the syllable is ended with the sound [p] (represented by บ ‎(bɔɔ), ป ‎(bpɔɔ), พ ‎(pɔɔ), ฟ ‎(fɔɔ), ภ ‎(pɔɔ)), the syllable is categorised into the type แม่กบ ‎(mae kop), as in กรอบ ‎(grɔ̀ɔp) [krɔːp̚˨˩], เทียบ ‎(tîiap) [tʰiːäp̚˥˩], ลาบ ‎(lâap) [laːp̚˥˩], etc.;
   6. if the syllable is ended with the sound [m] (represented by ม ‎(má)), the syllable is categorised into the type แม่กม ‎(mae kom), as in ดม ‎(dom) [dõm˧], เทียม ‎(tiiam) [tʰiːä̃m˧], ห้าม ‎(hâam) [hä̃ːm˥˩] etc.;
   7. if the syllable is ended with the sound [j] (represented by ย ‎(yá)), the syllable is categorised into the type แม่เกย ‎(mae koei), as in ควาย ‎(kwaai) [kʰwäːj˧], ซวย ‎(suai) [suːäj˧], เหี้ย ‎(hîia) [hiːä˥˩] etc.;
   8. if the syllable is ended with the sound [w] (represented by ว ‎(wá)), the syllable is categorised into the type แม่เกอว ‎(mae koew), as in กาว ‎(gaao) [käːw˧], มั่ว ‎(mûua) [muä˥˩], เสียว ‎(sǐao) [siːäw˩˥] etc.;
   9. if the syllable is open, the syllable is categorised into the type แม่ ก กา ‎(mae ko ka), as in กล้า ‎(glâa) [kläː˥˩], โม้ ‎(móo) [moː˦˥], เหงื่อ ‎(ngʉ̀ʉa) [ŋɯːä˨˩], ec.

Derived terms

Synonyms

Related terms