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เอา (ao): the most useful Thai word you're not using enough

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เอา can mean take, want, order, keep, bring and more. Swipe through the 16 ways to use it, with Thai script, pronunciation and examples.

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Cover. The Thai word เอา (ao). One word, 16 ways to use it. The most useful Thai word you're not using enough.
Cover. The Thai word เอา (ao). One word, 16 ways to use it. The most useful Thai word you're not using enough.
The base word. เอา (ao) means to take, to want, I'll have. Use it when ordering, shopping or choosing anything. Example: เอาอันนี้ครับ (ao an-níi khráp), I'll take this one.
The base word. เอา (ao) means to take, to want, I'll have. Use it when ordering, shopping or choosing anything. Example: เอาอันนี้ครับ (ao an-níi khráp), I'll take this one.
The polite no. ไม่เอา (mâi ao) means no thanks, I don't want it. Example: ไม่เอาค่ะ ขอบคุณค่ะ (mâi ao khâ, khòp-khun khâ), No thanks, thank you.
The polite no. ไม่เอา (mâi ao) means no thanks, I don't want it. Example: ไม่เอาค่ะ ขอบคุณค่ะ (mâi ao khâ, khòp-khun khâ), No thanks, thank you.
Direction matters. เอาไป (ao bpai) means take (away): เอาไปด้วยนะ (ao bpai dûai ná), Take it with you. เอามา (ao maa) means bring (here): เอามาให้หน่อย (ao maa hâi nòi), Bring it to me, please. ไป = away from you, มา = towards you.
Direction matters. เอาไป (ao bpai) means take (away): เอาไปด้วยนะ (ao bpai dûai ná), Take it with you. เอามา (ao maa) means bring (here): เอามาให้หน่อย (ao maa hâi nòi), Bring it to me, please. ไป = away from you, มา = towards you.
Save it for later. เอาไว้ (ao wái) means keep it, save it, put it aside. The friendly way to say "not now" without saying no. Example: เอาไว้ก่อนนะ (ao wái gòn ná), Maybe later. Let's leave it for now.
Save it for later. เอาไว้ (ao wái) means keep it, save it, put it aside. The friendly way to say "not now" without saying no. Example: เอาไว้ก่อนนะ (ao wái gòn ná), Maybe later. Let's leave it for now.
Casual talk. เอาไง (ao ngai) means so what are we doing? how do you want it? It is the spoken form of เอายังไง. Example: คืนนี้เอาไงดี (khuen-níi ao ngai dii), So what are we doing tonight?
Casual talk. เอาไง (ao ngai) means so what are we doing? how do you want it? It is the spoken form of เอายังไง. Example: คืนนี้เอาไงดี (khuen-níi ao ngai dii), So what are we doing tonight?
Casual talk. เอาไร (ao rai) means what do you want? what'll it be? It is the spoken form of เอาอะไร. Example: เอาไรดี (ao rai dii), What do you feel like?
Casual talk. เอาไร (ao rai) means what do you want? what'll it be? It is the spoken form of เอาอะไร. Example: เอาไรดี (ao rai dii), What do you feel like?
Matters of the heart. เอาใจ (ao jai) means to please someone, to pamper. Add ใส่ to get เอาใจใส่ (ao jai sài), to really care about, pay attention to. Example: เขาเอาใจแฟนเก่งมาก (khǎo ao jai faen gèng mâak), He's really good at spoiling his girlfriend.
Matters of the heart. เอาใจ (ao jai) means to please someone, to pamper. Add ใส่ to get เอาใจใส่ (ao jai sài), to really care about, pay attention to. Example: เขาเอาใจแฟนเก่งมาก (khǎo ao jai faen gèng mâak), He's really good at spoiling his girlfriend.
In and out. เอาใส่ (ao sài) means put it in: เอาใส่ตู้เย็นนะ (ao sài dtûu-yen ná), Put it in the fridge. เอาออก (ao òk) means take it out: เอาผักชีออกได้ไหม (ao phàk-chii òk dâi mǎi), Can you leave out the coriander?
In and out. เอาใส่ (ao sài) means put it in: เอาใส่ตู้เย็นนะ (ao sài dtûu-yen ná), Put it in the fridge. เอาออก (ao òk) means take it out: เอาผักชีออกได้ไหม (ao phàk-chii òk dâi mǎi), Can you leave out the coriander?
Bonus round. เอาด้วย (ao dûai), count me in! เอาเลย (ao loei), go for it! เอาจริงเหรอ (ao jing rǒe), seriously? เอาแต่... (ao dtàe), keeps doing (only)..., as in เอาแต่เล่นมือถือ (ao dtàe lên muue-thǔue), just scrolls his phone. เอาเถอะ (ao thòe), oh well, never mind. เอาล่ะ (ao lâ), alright then...
Bonus round. เอาด้วย (ao dûai), count me in! เอาเลย (ao loei), go for it! เอาจริงเหรอ (ao jing rǒe), seriously? เอาแต่... (ao dtàe), keeps doing (only)..., as in เอาแต่เล่นมือถือ (ao dtàe lên muue-thǔue), just scrolls his phone. เอาเถอะ (ao thòe), oh well, never mind. เอาล่ะ (ao lâ), alright then...
Your turn. Which เอา do you use most? Save this for your next trip to 7-Eleven. Learn to read Thai: real Thai, from someone who grew up here.
Your turn. Which เอา do you use most? Save this for your next trip to 7-Eleven. Learn to read Thai: real Thai, from someone who grew up here.

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  1. Cover. The Thai word เอา (ao). One word, 16 ways to use it. The most useful Thai word you're not using enough.
  2. The base word. เอา (ao) means to take, to want, I'll have. Use it when ordering, shopping or choosing anything. Example: เอาอันนี้ครับ (ao an-níi khráp), I'll take this one.
  3. The polite no. ไม่เอา (mâi ao) means no thanks, I don't want it. Example: ไม่เอาค่ะ ขอบคุณค่ะ (mâi ao khâ, khòp-khun khâ), No thanks, thank you.
  4. Direction matters. เอาไป (ao bpai) means take (away): เอาไปด้วยนะ (ao bpai dûai ná), Take it with you. เอามา (ao maa) means bring (here): เอามาให้หน่อย (ao maa hâi nòi), Bring it to me, please. ไป = away from you, มา = towards you.
  5. Save it for later. เอาไว้ (ao wái) means keep it, save it, put it aside. The friendly way to say "not now" without saying no. Example: เอาไว้ก่อนนะ (ao wái gòn ná), Maybe later. Let's leave it for now.
  6. Casual talk. เอาไง (ao ngai) means so what are we doing? how do you want it? It is the spoken form of เอายังไง. Example: คืนนี้เอาไงดี (khuen-níi ao ngai dii), So what are we doing tonight?
  7. Casual talk. เอาไร (ao rai) means what do you want? what'll it be? It is the spoken form of เอาอะไร. Example: เอาไรดี (ao rai dii), What do you feel like?
  8. Matters of the heart. เอาใจ (ao jai) means to please someone, to pamper. Add ใส่ to get เอาใจใส่ (ao jai sài), to really care about, pay attention to. Example: เขาเอาใจแฟนเก่งมาก (khǎo ao jai faen gèng mâak), He's really good at spoiling his girlfriend.
  9. In and out. เอาใส่ (ao sài) means put it in: เอาใส่ตู้เย็นนะ (ao sài dtûu-yen ná), Put it in the fridge. เอาออก (ao òk) means take it out: เอาผักชีออกได้ไหม (ao phàk-chii òk dâi mǎi), Can you leave out the coriander?
  10. Bonus round. เอาด้วย (ao dûai), count me in! เอาเลย (ao loei), go for it! เอาจริงเหรอ (ao jing rǒe), seriously? เอาแต่... (ao dtàe), keeps doing (only)..., as in เอาแต่เล่นมือถือ (ao dtàe lên muue-thǔue), just scrolls his phone. เอาเถอะ (ao thòe), oh well, never mind. เอาล่ะ (ao lâ), alright then...
  11. Your turn. Which เอา do you use most? Save this for your next trip to 7-Eleven. Learn to read Thai: real Thai, from someone who grew up here.

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