Daily Thai Confidence: Using พูดถึง (phûud-thěung)

Verb: พูดถึง (p^hûud-t^hěung)
Meaning: to talk about / to mention / to refer to

In this Thai lesson, we learn how to use the verb พูดถึง (p^hûud-t^hěung), which means ‘to talk about,’ ‘to mention,’ or ‘to refer to.’ It is used when someone brings up a topic in speech, writing, or discussion.

This verb phrase is made up of two words:

• พูด (p^hûud) = to speak / to say
• ถึง (p^hûud) = about / concerning / reaching (context-dependent)

Together, พูดถึง (p^hûud-t^hěung) means ‘to speak about something’.

The typical structure usually follows the pattern: subject + พูดถึง (p^hûud-t^hěung) + topic.

For examples (ตัวอย่างเช่น — dtūa-^awyàang chên)

ครูได้พูดถึงการบ้าน

k^hrūu dâi p^hûud-t^hěung gāan-bâan
Literal: Teacher have talk about homework.
The teacher talked about the homework.

When the helping verb ได้ (dâi) is often placed before the main verb, it functions as a helper verb marking that the action has occurred. It add emphasis that the action did happen or has been completed, similar to “did” or “have done” in English — subject + ได้ (dâi) + main verb.

ผู้จัดการได้พูดถึงปัญหานี้ในการประชุม

p^hûu-jàd-gāan dâi p^hûud-t^hěung bpān-hǎa née nāi gāan-bprà-chūm
Literal: Manager have talk about problem this in meeting.
The manager mentioned this issue at the meeting.

The demonstrative adjective นี้ (née) means ‘this’. It points to a specific person, object, place, or situation that is near to the speaker or already understood in the conversation — noun + นี้ (née).

เขาพูดถึงคุณเมื่อวานนี้

k^hǎo p^hûud-t^hěung k^hūn mêua-wāan-née
Literal: He talk about you yesterday.
He talked about you yesterday.

The adverb of time เมื่อวานนี้ (mêua-wāan-née) means ‘yesterday.’ It can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence.

เขาไม่ได้พูดถึงความคืบหน้าของโครงการใหม่เลย

k^hǎo mâi dâi p^hûud-t^hěung k^hwāam-k^hêub-^hnâa k^hǎwng k^hrōng-gāan ^hmài lēuy
Literal: He not have talk about progress of project new at all.
He didn’t mention any progress of the new project at all.

When the helping verb ไม่ได้ (mâi dâi) is often placed before the main verb, it functions as a helper verb marking that the action has occurred. It add emphasis that the action did not happen or has not been completed, similar to “did not” or “have not” in English — subject + ไม่ได้ (mâi dâi) + main verb.

Homework (การบ้าน — gāan-bâan)

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

1. He didn’t mention that matter.
2. We should talk about the travel plan.
3. She mentioned your name during the conversation.
4. We should talk about this issue again.
5. The news reported and talked about this incident.

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