There is a joke students like to play on their Thai speaking teachers, one similar to the ‘who’s on first base’ joke.

Student: What does อะไร mean?
Teacher: What
Student: What does อะไร mean?
Teacher: What
Student: What does อะไร mean?
Teacher: What!!!!!

The joke is that อะไร means ‘what’ . . .

During class the other week a student of mine pointed out that the word a^Mrai^Mอะไร is confusing due to the many ways it can be used. It has two other meanings, roughly translating to ‘something’ and ‘anything’. But in some cases it doesn’t directly translate over very well, so the best way to learn the word would be using the below examples.

 

It is something that I don’t want.

man^M bpen^M a^Mrai^M tee^F pom^R mai^F ow^M

มันเป็นอะไรที่ผมไม่เอา

 

What is it?

man^M kue^M a^Mrai^M

มันคืออะไร?

 

Are [you] ok?

bpen^M a^Mrai^M mai^R

เป็นอะไรไหม?

 

What’s up?

Something you want to say?

Do [you] have anything?

mee^M a^Mrai^M mai^R

มีอะไรไหม?

 

I don’t want anything.

a^Mrai^M a^Mrai^M gaw^F mai^F ow^M

อะไรๆก็ไม่เอา

 

What am I looking for?

pom^R haa^R a^Mrai^M

ผมหาอะไร?

 

I’m looking for something to read.

pom^R haa^R a^Mrai^M aan^L yuu^L

ผมหาอะไรอ่านอยู่

 

Is there something [you] want to eat?

mee^M a^Mrai^M tee^F yaak^L gin^M mai^R

มีอะไรที่อยากกินไหม?

 

There wasn’t anything.

mai^F mee^M a^Mrai^M loy^M

ไม่มีอะไรเลย

 

I don’t need anything.

mai^F dtawng^Fgaan^M a^Mrai^M ka^F

ไม่ต้องการอะไรค่ะ

 

What is it?

a^Mrai^M laaw^R

อะไรเหรอ?

 

What are [you] doing?

tumM a^Mrai^M yuu^L

ทำอะไรอยู่?

 

What color is it?

see^R a^Mrai^M

สีอะไร?

 

What does ‘what’ mean?

a^Mrai^M blaee^M waa^F a^Mrai^M
อะไรแปลว่าอะไร?