Daily Thai Confidence — Using … แล้ว … อีก (… láew … èek)

Idiomatic Expression: … แล้ว … อีก (… láew … èek)
Meaning: …again and again / …time and time again / …over and over again

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the common Thai pattern … แล้ว … อีก (… láew … èek), which expresses repeated actions. By repeating the same verb with แล้ว (láew = already) and อีก (èek = again), Thai speakers emphasise that something happens over and over again. Depending on the context, it can be translated as ‘again and again,’ ‘over and over again,’ or ‘time and time again.’ It is commonly used to talk about repeatedly warning, telling, asking, checking, reading, thinking, and many other actions.

The typical structure usually follows the pattern: verb + แล้ว (láew = already) + same verb + อีก (èek = again). It emphasises that the same action has been performed repeatedly — over and over again / time and time again. Look at the examples below:

• บอกแล้วบอกอีก (bàwk láew bāwk èek) = telling time and time again
• พูดแล้วพูดอีก (p^hûud láew p^hûud èek) = saying the same thing over and over again
• คุยแล้วคุยอีก (k^hūi láew k^hūi èek) = talking it over and over again
• อธิบายแล้วอธิบายอีก (à-t^hí-bāai láew à-t^hí-bāai èek) = explained it over and over again
• เตือนแล้วเตือนอีก (dtēuan láew dtēuan èek) = warned time and time again
• คิดแล้วคิดอีก (k^híd láew k^híd èek) = thinking it over and over again
• ถามแล้วถามอีก (t^hǎam láew t^hǎam èek) = asking over and over again
• ดูแล้วดูอีก (dūu láew dūu èek) = watched it time and time again / looked at it over and over again
• ฟังแล้วฟังอีก (fāng láew fāng èek) = listening to it over and over again
• อ่านแล้วอ่านอีก (àan láew àan èek) = reading it over and over again
• ตรวจแล้วตรวจอีก (dtrùad láew dtrùad èek) = checking and re-checking over and over again
• ทำแล้วทำอีก (t^hām láew t^hām èek) = doing it over and over again
• ซ่อมแล้วซ่อมอีก (sâwm láew sâwm èek) = repaired time and time again

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

ฉันบอกแล้วบอกอีกว่าอย่าลืมกุญแจ

chǎn bàwk láew bàwk èek wâa ^awyàa lēum gūn-jāe
Literal: I tell already tell again that don’t forget key.
I’ve told you over and over again not to forget your keys.

The imperative verb อย่า (^awyàa) means ‘do not’ or ‘don’t’. It is used to tell someone not to do something. It is placed before the main verb that you do not want someone to perform — อย่า (^awyàa) + verb.

เขาอ่านแล้วอ่านอีกแต่ก็ยังไม่เข้าใจ

k^hǎo àan láew àan èek, dtàe gâw yāng mâi k^hâo-jāi
Literal: He read already read again, but also still not understand.
He read it over and over, but still didn’t understand.

The phrase แต่ก็ยังไม่ (dtàe gâw yāng mâi) means ‘but still not…,’ ‘but hasn’t …yet,’ or ‘but still doesn’t…’ It is used when something has happened or someone has made an effort, but the expected result has still not been achieved — clause 1 + แต่ก็ยังไม่ (dtàe gâw yāng mâi) + verb.

เธอถามแล้วถามอีกพยายามทำให้ผมตกลง

t^hēr t^hǎam láew t^hǎam èek, p^há-yāa-yāam t^hām-hâi p^hǒm dtòk-lōng
Literal: She ask already ask again, try make-for me agree.
She asked again and again, trying to get me to agree.

The verb พยายาม (p^há-yāa-yāam) means ‘to try,’ ‘to make an effort,’ ‘to strive,’ or ‘to do one’s best.’ It describes making a conscious effort to achieve something, especially when it requires determination, persistence, or hard work.

เธอตรวจแล้วตรวจอีกก่อนส่งอีเมล

t^hēr dtrùad láew dtrùad èek gàwn sòng email
Literal: She check already check again before send email.
She checked it again and again before sending the email.

The verb ส่ง (sòng) means ‘to send,’ ‘to submit,’ or ‘to deliver,’ or ‘to drop (someone off somewhere)’. The cord idea is moving a person, object, or information from one place or person to another.

Homework (การบ้าน — gāan-bâan)

Practise putting your newly learned Thai word into a sentence by translating the following sentences below.

1. I’ve told you time and time again not to forget to turn off the light.
2. He thought it over again and again before answering.
3. I checked it time and time again to make sure there was no mistakes.
4. He read the email over and over again before pressing send.
5. The teacher explained it time and time again, but some students still didn’t understand.

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