ค่ะ

See also: คะ

Thai

Etymology

From ข้า (kâa, servant, I/me) in พระเจ้าข้า (lit. my lord) or เจ้าข้า (jâo-kâa, lit. my lord). Compare with other Tai languages in which a self-deprecating pronoun literally meaning "servant" or "slave" can be used as a polite particle and/or to say "yes" such as Lao ຂ້ານ້ອຍ (khā nǭi), ᦃᦾᧉ (ẋoay²), Khün ᨡ᩶ᩣ, and Shan ၶႃႈ (khāa). Also compare with Northern Thai ᨧᩮᩢ᩶ᩣ (lord, you) which has the opposite meaning of ᨡ᩶ᩣ (servant, I/me), a cognate of ข้า (kâa), and can be used as a polite particle or to say "yes."

Pronunciation

Orthographicค่ะ
g ˋ a
Phonemic
ค่ะ
g ˋ a
ขะ
kʰ a
RomanizationPaiboon
Royal Institutekhakha
(standard) IPA(key)/kʰaʔ˥˩/(R)/kʰaʔ˨˩/(R)

Interjection

ค่ะ • ()

  1. (formerly used by noblemen, now often employed by women) used to express affirmation, agreement, or acknowledgment.
  2. (formerly used by noblemen, now often employed by women) used to express annoyance or frustration.

Particle

ค่ะ • ()

  1. (formerly used by noblemen, now often employed by women) used at the end of an indicative expression, request, or wish.

Synonyms