Daily Thai Confidence — Using มี (mēe)

Verb: มี (mēe)
Meaning: to have / to own / to possess

In this Thai lesson, we will learn how to use the verb มี (mēe), which means ‘has,’ ‘have,’ ‘to own,’ or ‘to possess’. This verb is one of the most common and essential verbs in Thai, and it appears in everyday conversations from a very early stage of learning. This verb is used to talk about what someone has — such as objects, people, time, money, ideas, or feelings. It helps us express possession in a simple and direct way, without changing the verb for tense or subject. Instead Thai relies on context and time words to show when something happens.

Since มี (mēe) is a verb, it is placed right after the subject of the sentence (ประธานของประโยค — bprà-t^hāan k^hǎwng bprà-yôok), followed by the object of the sentence (กรรมของประโยค — gāam k^hǎwng bprà-yôok).

The typical structure usually follow the pattern: subject + มี (mēe) + object (a thing, a person, or an abstract noun) (+ complement — a word or phrase that gives more information about the object of the sentence).

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

k^hǎo mēe k^hrâwb-k^hrūa t^hêe òb-ùn
Literal: He has family that warm and loving.
He has a warm and loving family.

The main clause เขามีครอบครัว (k^hǎo mēe k^hrâwb-k^hrūa = he has a family) is structurally complete on its own. The speaker provides additional information about what kind of family he has by adding a relative clause ที่อบอุ่น (t^hêe òb-ùn = that is warm and loving). Please note: The adjective อบอุ่น (òb-ùn) means ‘is warm,’ ‘is cosy,’ or ‘is warm and loving’. It can be used to describe physical warmth (temperature) or emotional warmth (feeling, relationships, or atmosphere. When it is used to describe emotional warmth, it suggests comfort, care, closeness, and emotional safety.

t^hēr mēe k^hwāam-òd-t^hōn sǔung
Literal: She has perseverance high.
She has a high level of perseverance.

The main clause เธอมีความอดทน (t^hēr mēe k^hwāam-òd-t^hōn = she has perseverance/patience) is structurally complete on its own. The speaker provides additional information by adding the adjective สูง (sǔung = is high / is tall) to describe the level of her perseverance or patience. Please note: The abstract noun ความอดทน (k^hwāam-òd-t^hōn) can be translated as ‘perseverance,’ ‘endurance,’ or ‘patience’. It describes the ability to stay calm, persistent, or tolerate difficulties without giving up.

p^hûak-rāo mēe p^hǎen-gāan t^hêe-jà bpāi t^hêe-nân āa-t^híd ^hnâa
Literal: We have plan that-will go there week next.
We have a plan to go there next week.

The main clause พวกเรามีแผนการ (p^hûak-rāo mēe p^hǎen-gāan = we have a plan) is structurally complete on its own. The speaker adds additional information by adding an infinitive clause ที่จะไปที่นั่นอาทิตย์หน้า (t^hêe-jà bpāi t^hêe-nân āa-t^híd ^hnâa = to go there next week) indicating the future intention. Please note: The word ที่จะ (t^hêe-jà) can be translated as ‘to’ and is often used to introduce the action or event when expressing a future intention, plan, or purpose, similar to the English ‘to-infinitive’. It is often shortened to just จะ (jà), which means ‘will’ or ‘going to’ do something. Because of this, it’s important to recognise how จะ (jà) is being used in a sentence — as part of ที่จะ (t^hêe-jà) to introduce an infinitive clause that describes a plan, purpose, or intended action; or on its own as a helping verb indicating future tense (what the subject will do).

chǎn mēe rêuang t^hêe-jà bàwk k^hūn
Literal: I have matter that-will tell you.
I have a story to tell you.

The main clause ฉันมีเรื่อง (chǎn mēe rêuang = I have a story / I have something) is structurally complete on its own. The speaker adds additional information by adding an infinitive clause ที่จะบอกคุณ (t^hêe-jà bàwk k^hūn = to tell you) indicating who the speaker intends to tell the story to.

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

1. I have a car.
2. They have two children.
3. He has a friend who lives in Bangkok.
4. She has money to buy a new phone.
5. We have a problem that needs to be solved.

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Urai Khomkham

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