Plural Pronouns with 'พวก' — Thai Grammar

The word (pûakphûakphûak) literally means "group", "party", or "gang". In Thai grammar, it functions as a pluralizer. While Thai nouns and pronouns do not strictly require plural forms (context is often enough), adding (pûakphûakphûak) explicitly indicates that you are talking about more than one person or thing.

Pluralizing Personal Pronouns

Most Thai pronouns can be interpreted as singular or plural depending on the situation. However, to be precise and refer to a specific group of people, you place (pûakphûakphûak) before the pronoun.

(kǎokhǎokhǎo) means "he" or "she". Adding (pûakphûakphûak) turns it into "they".
(kunkhunkhun) means "you". Adding (pûakphûakphûak) turns it into "you guys" or "you all".
(man) means "it". Adding (pûakphûakphûak) turns it into "they" (used for animals or objects).

พวกเขา เป็น คน ไทย
pûak·kǎo pen kon taiphûak·khǎo phen khon thaiphûak·khǎo phen khon thai
They are Thai people.
พวกคุณ จะ ไป ไหน
pûak·kun jà pai nǎiphûak·khun chà phai nǎiphûak·khun čà phai nǎi
Where are you guys going?

The "We" vs. "Us" Distinction

The pronoun (rao) is unique because it is often used to mean "I" in casual speech, but it also means "we". To avoid confusion and emphasize that you are speaking on behalf of a group ("us"), you should use (pûak·raophûak·raophûak·rao).

พวกเรา หิว มาก
pûak·rao hǐu mâakphûak·rao hǐu mâkphûak·rao hǐu mâk
We are very hungry.
เขา ไม่ รู้จัก พวกเรา
kǎo mâi rúu·jàk pûak·raokhǎo mâi rú·chàk phûak·raokhǎo mâi rú·čàk phûak·rao
He does not know us.

Demonstratives: These and Those

You can also use (pûakphûakphûak) with demonstrative adjectives like "this" and "that" to create the plural forms "these" and "those". This is very common when pointing at a collection of items.

(níiníní) is "this". (pûak·níiphûak·níphûak·ní) means "these" or "this group".
(nán) is "that". (pûak·nánphûak·nánphûak·nán) means "those" or "that group".

พวกนี้ ราคา เท่าไหร่
pûak·níi raa·kaa tâo·ràiphûak·ní ra·kha thâo·ràiphûak·ní ra·kha thâo·rài
How much are these?
ผม ไม่ ชอบ พวกนั้น
pǒm mâi chɔ̂ɔp pûak·nánphǒm mâi chôp phûak·nánphǒm mâi čô̦p phûak·nán
I do not like those.

Using with Nouns

Finally, you can place (pûakphûakphûak) before common nouns referring to people to mean "the group of...". This highlights the collective nature of the people you are describing.

พวก เด็ก กำลัง เล่น
pûak dèk kam·lang lênphûak dèk kham·lang lênphûak dèk kham·lang lên
The group of children are playing.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Thai course

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

ผมรักพวกเขาและพวกเขาก็รักผม
pǒm rák pûak kǎo lɛ́ pûak kǎo gɔ̂ɔ rák pǒmphǒm rák phûak khǎo láe phûak khǎo kô rák phǒmphǒm rák phûak khǎo lé̩ phûak khǎo kô̦ rák phǒm
I love them and they love me.
Lesson 32
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

Comments

Loading comments…