Plural Particle 'กัน' — Thai Grammar

The particle (gankankan) is a versatile word used to modify verbs to indicate that multiple people are involved in an action. It serves three primary functions: indicating that an action is performed together, indicating reciprocal action (doing something to each other), or forming an invitation.

Doing Actions Together

When placed after a verb, (gankankan) acts as an adverb meaning together. It emphasizes that the subject (which is usually plural) is performing the action as a group rather than individually. This is very common in daily conversation to show unity in an activity.

เราทำงานกัน
rao tam·ngaan ganrao tham·ngan kanrao tham·ngan kan
We work together.
พวกเขาไปกัน
pûuak·kǎo bpai ganphûak·khǎo pai kanphûak·khǎo pai kan
They go together.
กินข้าวกัน
gin·kâao gankin·khâo kankin·khâo kan
Eat (food) together.

Reciprocal Actions (Each Other)

With verbs that involve interaction or feelings directed at someone else, (gankankan) translates to each other or one another. This usage indicates that the action is mutual between the parties involved. Common verbs used in this context include "love," "talk," "meet," or "know."

เรารักกัน
rao rák ganrao rák kanrao rák kan
We love each other.
เขาคุยกัน
kǎo kui gankhǎo khui kankhǎo khui kan
They are talking to each other.
เจอกัน
jəə ganchoe kančơ kan
Meet each other (See you).

Making Invitations (Let's)

When (gankankan) is placed at the very end of a short phrase or sentence, it functions as a persuasive particle to suggest an activity. This is the standard way to say Let's... in English. It turns a statement or a verb into a proposal for the speaker and the listener to do something jointly.

ไปกัน
bpai ganpai kanpai kan
Let's go.
กลับบ้านกัน
glàp bâan ganklàp bân kanklàp bân kan
Let's go home.
ดูหนังกัน
duu nǎng gandu nǎng kandu nǎng kan
Let's watch a movie.

Sentence Placement

The position of (gankankan) is strictly after the verb or the verb phrase. If the verb has a direct object (like "food" or "books"), (gankankan) is placed after that object, not between the verb and the object.

อ่านหนังสือกัน
àan nǎng·sʉ̌ʉ ganàn nǎng·sǔe kanàn nǎng·sư̌ kan
Read books together.
เราเรียนภาษาไทยกัน
rao riian paa·sǎa tai ganrao rian pha·sǎ thai kanrao rian pha·sǎ thai kan
We study Thai language together.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Thai course

29 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 6. A few of them, with the words “Plural Particle 'กัน'” is about in bold:

รู้จักสิ กินอาหารจีนกันเถอะ
rúu·jàk sì · gin aa·hǎan jiin gan tə̀rú·chàk sì · kin a·hǎn chin kan thòerú·čàk sì · kin a·hǎn čin kan thờ
Yes. Let's eat Chinese food.
Lesson 127
ไร้สาระจัง พวกคุณผิดกันทั้งคู่เลย
rái sǎa·rá jang · pûak kun pìt gan táng·kûu ləəirái sǎ·rá chang · phûak khun phìt kan tháng·khû loeirái sǎ·rá čang · phûak khun phìt kan tháng·khû lơi
How ridiculous. You are both wrong.
Lesson 163
นายมีลูกสองคนที่น่ารักมาก พวกเขาอายุเท่าไหร่กันแล้วล่ะ?
naai mii lûuk sɔ̌ɔng kon tîi nâa·rák mâak pûak kǎo aa·yú tâo·rài gan lɛ́ɛo lâ?nai mi lûk sǒng khon thî nâ·rák mâk phûak khǎo a·yú thâo·rài kan láeo lâ?nai mi lûk sǒ̦ng khon thî nâ·rák mâk phûak khǎo a·yú thâo·rài kan lé̩o lâ?
You have two very beautiful children. How old are they?
Lesson 264

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