Posing a Question with 'รึเปล่า' — Thai Grammar

To turn a statement into a "yes or no" question, you can add the phrase (rʉ́·bplàaorúe·plàorứ·plào) to the end of the sentence. This structure literally translates to "or not?" and is used to ask for confirmation about a fact or a situation.

The phrase is a combination of (rʉ̌ʉrǔerư̌) - or and (bplàaoplàoplào) - no/empty.

Spoken vs. Written Forms

There are two ways to spell and pronounce this particle, depending on the formality of the situation.

1. The Full Form: หรือเปล่า (rʉ̌ʉ·bplàao)

This is the grammatically correct, full version found in formal writing.

คุณเป็นคนไทยหรือเปล่า
kun bpen kon tai rʉ̌ʉ·bplàaokhun pen khon thai rǔe·plàokhun pen khon thai rư̌·plào
Are you Thai?

2. The Spoken Form: รึเปล่า (rʉ́·bplàao)

In almost all spoken conversations, the first syllable is shortened and the tone changes to a high tone. This is the version you will hear and use most often in daily life.

เขามาที่นี่รึเปล่า
káo maa tîi nîi rʉ́·bplàaokháo ma thî nî rúe·plàokháo ma thî nî rứ·plào
Is he coming here?
คุณหิวรึเปล่า
kun hǐu rʉ́·bplàaokhun hǐu rúe·plàokhun hǐu rứ·plào
Are you hungry?

Usage with Verbs and Adjectives

You can place (rʉ́·bplàaorúe·plàorứ·plào) immediately after a verb or an adjective to question that specific action or description.

With Verbs

คุณเข้าใจรึเปล่า
kun kâo·jai rʉ́·bplàaokhun khâo·chai rúe·plàokhun khâo·čai rứ·plào
Do you understand?
เขาชอบอาหารไทยรึเปล่า
káo chɔ̂ɔp aa·hǎan tai rʉ́·bplàaokháo chôp a·hǎn thai rúe·plàokháo čô̦p a·hǎn thai rứ·plào
Does she like Thai food?

With Adjectives

สนุกรึเปล่า
sa·nùk rʉ́·bplàaosa·nùk rúe·plàosa·nùk rứ·plào
Is it fun?
แพงรึเปล่า
pɛɛng rʉ́·bplàaophaeng rúe·plàophe̩ng rứ·plào
Is it expensive?

How to Answer

When someone asks you a question ending in (rʉ́·bplàaorúe·plàorứ·plào), you generally do not answer with a simple "yes" or "no" word.

Answering "Yes"

Repeat the main verb or adjective from the question.

เข้าใจ
kâo·jaikhâo·chaikhâo·čai
(Yes) I understand.
สนุก
sa·nùk
(Yes) It is fun.

Answering "No"

You can use the word (bplàaoplàoplào) on its own to mean "no" or "not really." Alternatively, you can use (mâi) - not followed by the verb or adjective.

เปล่า
bplàaoplàoplào
No.
ไม่หิว
mâi hǐu
(I am) not hungry.

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