Did you know that in Thai we also have a word that has a similar usage to that of the filler word “like” in English? That’s the word “แบบ” [bàep]. The formal meaning of “แบบ” [bàep] is model, style, way, form or pattern. But it’s also used in the same way as the word “like” in English when used as a filler word, that is, it does not carry any meaning but it’s simply used to mark a pause or hesitation in speech. Note that instead of “แบบ” [bàep], sometimes we say “แบบว่า” [bàepwâa]. On top of that, even though the word is spelled with a long vowel, when used as a filler word, people tend to pronounce it with a short vowel.

Examples

1. เธอรู้ไหมว่าเขาแบบ..ไม่ได้ชอบผู้หญิงอ่ะ
[ter rúu mái wâa káo bàep.. mâi dâai châwp pûuyǐng à]
Did you know that he’s like, not attracted to girls?

2. ถ้าฉันขอให้พ่อแบบ..เลิกบุหรี่ได้ก็คงจะดี
[tâa chán kǎw hâi pâw bàep.. lêrk burìi dâai gâw kong ja dii]
I wish I could ask my dad to, like, quit smoking.

3. นายเคยแบบ..ชอบใคร แต่เขามีเจ้าของแล้วป่ะ
[naai koei bàep.. châwp khrai tàe káo mii jâokǎwng léaw pà]
Have you ever, like, had a crush on someone but that person is already taken?

4. ถ้าแกอยากแบบว่า..มีเพื่อนเยอะกว่าหนึ่งคน แกก็ควรจะแบบ..ยิ้มเยอะกว่านี้
[tâa gae yàak bàep wâa.. mii pêaun yér gwàa nèung kon, gae gâw kuan jà bàep…yím yér gwàa níi]
If you want to, like, have more than one friend, you should, like, smile more often.

5. ผมไม่เคย..แบบ..มีความลับอะไรกับคุณเลย แล้วทำไมคุณต้องเชื่อใจคนอื่นมากกว่าผมด้วย
[phǒm mâi koei bàep…mii kwaam láp arai gàp khun loei, léaw tammai khun tâwng chêua jai kon èun mâak gwàa phǒm dûai]
I never, like, hide anything from you. So why do you trust anyone else more than me?

6. เมื่อคืนไปเกะกับเพื่อนมา แต่เพื่อนร้องไปได้เพลงเดียวหลับ ฉันเลยแบบ.. “วันนี้พอแค่นี้แล้วกัน”
[mêua keun pai gè gàp peâun maa tàe pêuan ráwng pai dâai pleeng diao làp, chán loei bàep.. wannii paw kâe níi léaw gan]
Yesterday night, I went to karaoke with a friend but she fell asleep after singing only one song so I was like “Let’s call it a night.”

7. เมื่อวานเครื่องสำอางยี่ห้อที่ฉันชอบใช้ลดราคา แต่ไปซื้อไม่ทัน ไปถึงร้านปิดพอดี ฉันแบบ..เจ็บใจสุดๆ
[mêua waan krêuang sǎmaang yîihâw tîi chán châwp chái lót raakaa tàe pai séu mâi tan, pai těung ráan pìt paw dii, chán bàep.. jèpjai sùd sùd]
Yesterday my favorite makeup brand was on sale. But I couldn’t make it to the store in time. As soon as I got there, it was closed. I was like, so mad at myself.

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