The Thai language is the official and most widely spoken language in Thailand, which is the most visited tourist country in Southeast Asia. If you are thinking about visiting this Southeast Asian nation, one of the words you are likely going to hear regularly is “Ka”. As a result of this, you may be wondering what Ka means and why Thais say Ka.
Simply put, Thais say Ka as a way of expressing their politeness. The word is placed at the end of a Thai sentence to show that they are polite to the person that they are talking to. This one-syllable word can alter the whole tone of a whole sentence. Therefore, if you hear the word “Ka”, you can be certain that the person is showing respect and politeness.
It is noteworthy that “Ka” is often used by Thai women whereas Thai men utilize “Krub” for the same reason in Thailand. Thai people can even use this ending in written or spoken English sentences in some cases; hence, you cannot escape seeing these endings in the Land of Smiles. So, don’t find it strange if you receive a work email that contains “Ka” or “Krub”. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about using these words in the Thai language.
What does Ka mean?
Before shedding more light on why Thais say “Ka”, it is quite essential to explain the meaning of the word. According to the Thai Royal Institute Dictionary, both “Ka” and “Krub” are just ending words that suggest politeness. Other platforms such as Ilovelanguages.com refer to Ka and Krub as filler words that do not have any particular meaning. They are just added at the end of a sentence to show politeness.
It should be noted that “Ka” can also be replaced with “Ja” by females. However, “Ka” is more formal and commonly used than “Ja”. Also, you should only use “Ja” when you are talking to children, friends, or someone of lower social status. But if you want to talk to your boss, parent, and other people with higher social status, you should rather use “Ka”. “Krap” can also be used instead of “Krub” by males to mean the same thing.
Why do Thais say ka?
Having known the meaning of ka, why do Thais say ka? Here are the reasons Thais say ka:
- To express politeness
As stated by Thaiwithgrace.com, Ling-app.com, and other sources, the most common reason Thais say ka is to sound polite. It is a simple word for changing the tone of a sentence and getting rid of any tension between two individuals or groups. When you add this word to a sentence, you may the sentence sound less rude and show respect to the person you are talking to.
For instance, when a lady wants to greet you, she can say “Sa-wat-dee ka, instead of “Sa-wat-dee” which is less polite. Notably, a guy will say use “krap or krub” in the place of “ka”. When this is done, the person will sound more polite.
From childhood, Thai children are made to learn these words (ka or krap). It is considered a social etiquette that everyone in the country must master. So, if you are a foreigner in the land of smiles, you should not hesitate to learn how and where to use these words when talking in Thailand.
- To indicate yes
If you are asked whether you understand something or not, you can just say “Ka” or “Krap”. In this case, this word is like saying “yes” or “understood”. You can just simply nod your head and say the word.
- To maintain the flow of a conversation
If someone is discussing with you and you want to maintain the flow of a conversation, you can simply add “Ka” or “Krap” to the sentence (depending on your gender). Once you have said any of these words, it shows the other person that you are giving attention to the conversation.
This happens in many day-to-day conversations among the locals. Similarly, TV or radio talk show hosts often use these words so many times to keep conversations flowing for as long as possible. Even a foreigner with little or no knowledge of the Thai language can use it in this instance.
- For any reason you want
Of course, all the points above are the most specific reasons for saying ‘Ka” or “Krap”. Nevertheless, you can say the same word for no reason whatsoever. You can just utter the word whenever and wherever you feel like doing so. In other words, you don’t have to find any reason before saying “Ka” or “Krap”. Finish any sentence you want with the word.
The complexities of politeness in the Thai language
While Thais are very polite people, you should understand that politeness can be quite complex for them. Politeness is not done randomly for everybody. In other words, it is often based on various occasions as well as the social status of the persons involved. According to Thethailandlife.com, the complexity of politeness in the Thai language can be classified into three levels – very formal, formal, and informal.
Therefore, as you are learning the Thai language, it is equally essential for you to master the right level of words to say to each person. However, as a foreigner, if you make any mistake while using the words, there is no problem. This is because most locals will not have any issue with you. In fact, they will just overlook the misuse of Thai words and probably joke about it.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, Thais usually use “Ka” or “Krap” to show their politeness and respect to the other persons they are talking to. Also, the word can be used to mean “yes” or keep the flow of a conversation going. Even in some cases, Thais use the word when they are discussing anything in other languages such as the English language. Therefore, don’t be surprised if you hear the word during your discussion with a Thai.
