Help With A Thai Word Or 2

[changintimes]

I just got off the phone with my friends brother.

He does not know much English.

I asked him where my friend is. He kept saying something that sounded like:

Nin Tomb

or

Nin Towm

does anybody know what that means in Thai ? is she in the bathroom or something ??

[SteeleJoe]

I may be overlooking something (probably something obvious) and it's always difficult with do-it-yourself transliteration even if we are confident in precisely what we heard, but that doesn't sound like any Thai phrase I've heard in decades of using and listening.

Are you sure he wasn't saying something in English that was not only really badly pronounced but not even the right phrase?

I'm curious to see if someone more learned -- or just a bit quicker on the uptake -- than me can work this one out...

[changintimes]

that's interesting,

maybe he was trying to say something like, not home, nin towm,

kind of makes sense,

thanks alot,

do you know how i can ask her brother what time she will be home ?

what is the Thai word for time ?

[SteeleJoe]

I'll get jumped on this -- for my transliteration if nothing else -- by self-righteous and pompous Thai language pedants among foriegners who speak the language but:

The colloquial Thai phrase used to ask "What time?" would be kee mong

But without more context, he might not know what you are asking which means you'd have to try a longer sentence:

start with your friend's name and say, "_____ gahp kee mong, Khrap?"

(You could arguably leave off the last word --as a foriegner it's not likely to be noticed or minded if you are less than formal)).

EDIT to ADD:

Mentioning self-righteous and pompous Thai language pedants reminded me that there is a Thai language forum on TV; I've not checked it out but I'm sure there are people there more knowledgeable than me that would be all over this topic.

In case the OP gets moved there: no offense meant about "self-righteous and pompous Thai language pedants"...but if the shoe fits

[PattayaParent]

As you say his English is bad, or your hearing is.

He was telling you his girlfriend is 'in town'

Which means she's gone to town shopping, to eat, meet friends or whatever.

[changintimes]

thanks SteeleJoe,

that's very helpful,

i am going to use that phrase,

[changintimes]

thanks PattayaParent,

makes sense, she could be shopping, she is going to be traveling in a few days, and she was shopping yesterday,

[Trembly]

I (dead)reckon that SteeleJoe is on the right track.

Nueng thoom (1 thoom = 7pm) might be the time that you're supposed to ring back.

[SteeleJoe]

I (dead)reckon that SteeleJoe is on the right track.

Nueng thoom (1 thoom = 7pm) might be the time that you're supposed to ring back.

I thought of that but he asked where she was rather than what time she'd be back -- but if I'd been thinking a bit better I'd have realized that the brother (?) might have tried to cut to the chase rather than try and explain where she was and just say the time she'd be back...(I can even imagine her saying, "If he calls just say I'll be back at 7!"...)

[PattayaParent]

I (dead)reckon that SteeleJoe is on the right track.

Nueng thoom (1 thoom = 7pm) might be the time that you're supposed to ring back.

I thought of that but he asked where she was rather than what time she'd be back -- but if I'd been thinking a bit better I'd have realized that the brother (?) might have tried to cut to the chase rather than try and explain where she was and just say the time she'd be back...(I can even imagine her saying, "If he calls just say I'll be back at 7!"...)

That's a very vivid imagination you've got there.

[SteeleJoe]

Uhmm...it is?

True or not, doesn't seem all that remarkable of a scenario to me. Perhaps she's expecting his call (maybe even regular, scheduled calls from abroad) and she is unable or unwilling to wait for the call (or answer it?) so she tells her brother (?) to tell him to call back at 7...

Doesn't require a great deal of imagination to come up with that. As for being "vivid" -- I didn't picture what she was wearing or hear the sound of her voice...

[Trembly]

Uhmm...it is?

True or not, doesn't seem all that remarkable of a scenario to me. Perhaps she's expecting his call (maybe even regular, scheduled calls from abroad) and she is unable or unwilling to wait for the call (or answer it?) so she tells her brother (?) to tell him to call back at 7...

Doesn't require a great deal of imagination to come up with that. As for being "vivid" -- I didn't picture what she was wearing or hear the sound of her voice...

I did. May as well . . .

[SteeleJoe]

Uhmm...it is?

True or not, doesn't seem all that remarkable of a scenario to me. Perhaps she's expecting his call (maybe even regular, scheduled calls from abroad) and she is unable or unwilling to wait for the call (or answer it?) so she tells her brother (?) to tell him to call back at 7...

Doesn't require a great deal of imagination to come up with that. As for being "vivid" -- I didn't picture what she was wearing or hear the sound of her voice...

I did. May as well . . .

Indeed.

And of course as soon as I typed that, I did picture it (Shes got a bit of makeup on, her bag on her shoulder and her cute shoes on her feet. As she tosses her long hair over her shoulder she turns to Somchai and says...)