In this episode, I teach you how to respond to the questions, "ma-jarg-nai" and "ma-narn-reur-young." 

Ma-jarg-nai means, where did you come from?  When you reply to the question, you take out the word "nai" at the end of the sentence and add a name of a place.  The phrase becomes: ma-jarg-Mexico, ma-jarg-Italy, ma-jarg-Australia, etc.  It means, "come from (a name of a place)."

There are several ways to respond to the question, "ma-narn-reur-young".  Today, I teach you 3.  The first one can be ma-narn-laeow.  The word "ma" means come.  The word "narn" means long length of time.  The word "laeow" means already.  The whole phrase means, "come for long length of time already."  Another way of saying, "Yes, I have been here for a long time."  Ma is the same as "ma".  Narn uses the a sound in "barn".  Laeow use the a sound in "hair". 

The second way to reply is the opposite of the first one.  Ma-mai-narn means, "come not for long length of time."  Another way of saying, "No, I haven't been here for a long time."  Ma is the same as "ma" and means come.  Mai uses the i sound in "bye" and means no, or not.  Narn uses the a sound in "barn" and means long length of time.

The third way to reply to the question is perng-ma.  Perng uses the e sound in "earn" and means "just now."  Ma is the same as "ma" and means "come."  When you put the meanings together, you will get "just now come" or meaning, "I came just now." 

If you have already gone through episodes 1 and 2 with me, I have taught you another 2 tones of "mai."  They pretty much write out the same in English, but they all have different tones.  Something to keep in mind!  Thai language is based on tones.  Each word can have 5 different tones and when you pronounce it with the wrong tone, you will get a different meaning.  This is VERY important!