One word that almost every textbook teaches but isn’t very practical is “และ [láe]” meaning “and” or in some contexts “and then.” And the reason is because we, Thai people, hardly ever use this word when we talk. We only use it when we write. You might hear it from time to time, but most probably from songs. In actual speech, it’s quite rare.

What we use instead of “และ [láe]” is “แล้วก็ [léaw gâw].” If you are one of those Thai learners who use “และ [láe]” when you want to say “and,” from now on, build a new habit of using “แล้วก็ [léaw gâw]” instead and you will be one step closer to sounding natural like a native Thai speaker.

Examples:

ฉันว่างวันพุธแล้วก็วันเสาร์
[chán wâang wan pút léaw gâw wan sǎo]
I’m free on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

ผมไปบ้านแฟนแล้วก็ไปตลาดมา
[phǒm pai bâan fan léaw gâw pai talàad maa]
I went to my girlfriend’s house and then to the market.

ขอกะเพราไข่ดาวแล้วก็เป๊ปซี่ไม่ใส่น้ำแข็งอย่างละที่
[kǎw ga prao kài daao léaw gâw Pepsi mâi sài náam kǎeng yàang lá tîi]
I’ll have one order of basil stir-fry with fried egg and an order of Pepsi with no ice.

Note that “กับ [gap]” is another word that means “and” and is commonly used in the spoken language, as well as the written language.

เขากับฉันไม่ได้เป็นแฟนกัน
[káo gàp chán mâi dâai pen fan gan]
He and I aren’t dating.

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