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LessonsLevel 6Chapter 14 · Short story
Chapter 14 · 🙏 Thai Culture

📖 Anna's First Songkran

สงกรานต์แรกของแอนนา

A short bilingual story about Anna's first Songkran in Chiang Mai. Tap any word to hear it, or use the read-along controls to listen sentence by sentence.

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Tap any Thai word to highlight it and hear it spoken.

  1. Anna maa jàak Australia thəə maa thîao chiiang-mài nai dʉan mee-sǎa-yon
    Anna is from Australia. She's visiting Chiang Mai in April.
  2. phʉ̂an khon Thai chʉ̂ʉ Bee chuan thəə bpai lên náam sǒng-graan
    Her Thai friend Bee invites her to play water at Songkran.
  3. gàawn àawk jàak bâan Anna sài sʉ̂a laai dɔ̀ɔk sǐi fáa
    Before leaving the house, Anna puts on a blue flower-pattern shirt.
  4. Bee bàawk wâa cháao níi rao bpai tham-bun thîi wát gàawn ná
    Bee says, this morning we'll go make merit at the temple first.
  5. thîi wát Anna thɔ̀ɔt raawng-tháao láe wâai phrá yàang sù-phâap
    At the temple, Anna takes off her shoes and wais the Buddha politely.
  6. thəə rót náam dam-hǔa khun-yaai khǎawng Bee phʉ̂a khǎaw phaawn
    She pours water on Bee's grandmother's hands to receive a blessing.
  7. khun-yaai yím láeo phûut wâa khǎaw hâi mii khwaam-sùk ná lûuk
    Grandma smiles and says, may you be happy, dear.
  8. dtɔɔn bàai tháng-khûu àawk bpai thîi thà-nǒn khon yə́ mâak láe sà-nùk mâak
    In the afternoon they go out to the street. It's very crowded and lots of fun.
  9. Anna thʉ̌ʉ bpʉʉn chìit náam láe hǔa-ráw sǐang dang
    Anna holds a water gun and laughs loudly.
  10. dèk dèk wîng maa sàat náam thəə thəə bpìak tháng dtua
    The kids run up and splash water on her. She's soaked head to toe.
  11. Bee bàawk wâa náam yen bàaep níi bplae wâa chôok dii dtà-lɔ̀ɔt bpii
    Bee says, cold water like this means good luck all year.
  12. dtɔɔn yen tháng-khûu gin khâao-nǐao má-mûang gan thîi dtà-làat
    In the evening they eat mango sticky rice together at the market.
  13. Anna bàawk wâa nîi khʉʉ wan thîi dii thîi sùt nai chii-wít looei
    Anna says, this is the best day of my life.
  14. thəə yàak glàp maa thîao mʉang Thai ìik thúk bpii
    She wants to come back to Thailand every year.

Glossary

Key words from the story to remember.

  • เที่ยว
    thîao
    to travel / visit
  • ชวน
    chuan
    to invite
  • เล่นน้ำ
    lên náam
    play with water
  • เสื้อลายดอก
    sʉ̂a laai dɔ̀ɔk
    flower-pattern shirt
  • ทำบุญ
    tham-bun
    make merit
  • ไหว้พระ
    wâai phrá
    pay respect to the Buddha
  • รดน้ำดำหัว
    rót náam dam-hǔa
    water-pouring blessing
  • ขอพร
    khǎaw phaawn
    ask for a blessing
  • ปืนฉีดน้ำ
    bpʉʉn chìit náam
    water gun
  • เปียก
    bpìak
    wet
  • โชคดี
    chôok dii
    good luck
  • ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง
    khâao-nǐao má-mûang
    mango sticky rice