Jingjok
How to say to be (a …)
in Thai
เป็น
bpen
to be (a …)
bpen mid
Links a person to what they are: เป็นคนไทย 'is Thai', เป็นเพื่อน 'is a friend'. Never before adjectives: ดี alone already means 'is good'.
- Part of speech
- verb
- Remember it
- I want to BE a PEN pal.
In a sentence
- ผมเป็นคนอังกฤษpǒm bpen kon ang-grìtI'm English.
- เขาเป็นแฟนฉันkǎo bpen faaen chǎnHe's my boyfriend.
From the same situation: Who's who
- พี่older brother or sister; you (to someone a bit older)
- น้องyounger brother or sister; you (to someone younger)
- ลุงuncle (older man)
- ป้าauntie (older woman)
- น้าauntie or uncle (younger than your parents)
- อาauntie or uncle (father's younger sibling)
- คนperson, people
- ฝรั่งWesterner (white foreigner)
All 65 words and phrases in “Who's who” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Jingjok teaches เป็น with audio, the tone drawn on screen, and a check on your own voice. Answer the three questions every Thai asks a foreigner, ask them back, and address people with the right family word.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.