The Many Usages of 'แล้ว' — Thai Grammar

The word (lɛ́ɛoláeolé̩o) is one of the most versatile and frequently used particles in the language. While it is often equated with the English word already, its function is broader. It primarily indicates that an action is complete, or that a situation has changed from a previous state.

Indicating Completion (Already)

The most common usage of (lɛ́ɛoláeolé̩o) is to show that an action has finished. In this context, it functions like the perfect tense in English or the word already. It is placed at the very end of the sentence or clause.

ผมกินข้าวแล้ว
pǒm kin kâao lɛ́ɛophǒm khin khâo láeophǒm khin khâo lé̩o
I have eaten already.
งานเสร็จแล้ว
ngaan sèt lɛ́ɛongan sèt láeongan sèt lé̩o
The work is finished.
เขาไปแล้ว
kǎo pai lɛ́ɛokhǎo phai láeokhǎo phai lé̩o
He has gone already.

Change of State (Now)

(lɛ́ɛoláeolé̩o) does not always refer to the past. It is frequently used to indicate a change in the current situation. In these cases, it translates closer to now. It implies that the statement was not true before, but it is true at this moment.

For example, if you say "I understand" with (lɛ́ɛoláeolé̩o), it implies "I didn't understand before, but I understand now."

เข้าใจแล้ว
kâo·jai lɛ́ɛokhâo·chai láeokhâo·čai lé̩o
I understand (now).
ฝนตกแล้ว
fǒn tòk lɛ́ɛofǒn thòk láeofǒn thòk lé̩o
It is raining (now/it has started raining).
ดึกแล้ว
dèuk lɛ́ɛodèuk láeodèuk lé̩o
It is late (now).

Negative Change of State (Not Anymore)

When (lɛ́ɛoláeolé̩o) is combined with the negative word (mâi), the meaning changes to not anymore or no longer. This structure indicates that an action or state that used to happen has stopped.

The structure is: (mâi) + [Verb/Adjective] + (lɛ́ɛoláeolé̩o).

ผมไม่หิวแล้ว
pǒm mâi hǐu lɛ́ɛophǒm mâi hǐu láeophǒm mâi hǐu lé̩o
I am not hungry anymore.
เขาไม่ทำงานที่นี่แล้ว
kǎo mâi tam·ngaan tîi nîi lɛ́ɛokhǎo mâi tham·ngan thî nî láeokhǎo mâi tham·ngan thî nî lé̩o
He does not work here anymore.

As a Conjunction (And Then)

When placed at the beginning of a clause or between two actions, (lɛ́ɛoláeolé̩o) acts as a conjunction meaning and then or after that. It connects two events in a sequence. It is often paired with (kɔ̂ɔkhôkhô̦) to form (lɛ́ɛo kɔ̂ɔláeo khôlé̩o khô̦), which flows more naturally in speech.

อาบน้ำแล้วนอน
àap·náam lɛ́ɛo nɔɔnàp·nám láeo nonàp·nám lé̩o no̦n
Take a shower and then sleep.
กินแล้วก็ไป
kin lɛ́ɛo kɔ̂ɔ paikhin láeo khô phaikhin lé̩o khô̦ phai
Eat and then go.

Shifting the Topic (What about...?)

Finally, (lɛ́ɛoláeolé̩o) is used at the start of a question to shift the focus to a new topic or to ask "What about X?". This is commonly used to bounce a question back to the listener. In this context, it is often followed by the particle (lâ).

แล้วคุณล่ะ
lɛ́ɛo kun lâláeo khun lâlé̩o khun lâ
And what about you?
แล้วพรุ่งนี้ล่ะ
lɛ́ɛo prûng·níi lâláeo phrûng·ní lâlé̩o phrûng·ní lâ
And what about tomorrow?

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Thai course

35 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 8. A few of them, with the words “The Many Usages of 'แล้ว'” is about in bold:

ฉันไม่ได้เจอเธอมาเก้าปีแล้ว!
chǎn mâi·dâi jəə təə maa gâao bpii lɛ́ɛo!chǎn mâi·dâi choe thoe ma kâo pi láeo!čǎn mâi·dâi čơ thơ ma kâo pi lé̩o!
I haven't seen you for nine years!
Lesson 175
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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