ว่าไง
wâa-ngaiMeanings
1NounA1
what's up?; how are things?
an informal greeting asking how someone is doing
Examples
อ้าวâaoอ้าวâao1oh!; hey! (surprise/realization)2hey! (mild reproach/attention)ว่าไงwâa-ngaiว่าไงwâa-ngai1what's up?; how are things?2what did you say?3What's up?; What do you say?; What did you say?4what do you say?; what do you think?ไม่เจอmâi-jəəไม่เจอmâi-jəə[to] not find [sth/sb]กันganกันgan1together; together with2each other; one another (post-verb marker)3[to] prevent; keep [sth] out; ward off; block4protective; resistant to; -proof5I; me (informal, male speech)6[to] set aside; reserve; earmarkนานnaanนานnaan1for a long time2long (in duration)เลยləəiเลยləəi1at all; whatsoever (often in negatives)2so; thus; then (immediate result)3completely; absolutely (emphasis)4[to] pass; go beyond; exceed
Hey, what's up? We haven't seen each other for a long time.
1 more exampleShow less
Hello, what's up? Did you call for something?
2NounA1
what did you say?
a question asking someone to repeat what they just said
Examples
เมื่อกี้mʉ̂ʉa-gîiเมื่อกี้mʉ̂ʉa-gîi1just now; a moment ago2a moment ago; just now (time)พูดpûutพูดpûut1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutว่าไงwâa-ngaiว่าไงwâa-ngai1what's up?; how are things?2what did you say?3What's up?; What do you say?; What did you say?4what do you say?; what do you think?นะnáนะná1softener; friendly particle2persuasive/confirming particle3wondering particleไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂iไม่ค่อยmâi-kɔ̂i1rarely; seldom; not often2not very; hardly (degree)ได้ยินdâi-yinได้ยินdâi-yin1[to] hear2[to] hear of; be told; learn (by hearing)
What did you say just now? I couldn't really hear.
3InterjectionA2
What's up?; What do you say?; What did you say?
A casual way to ask what is happening or what someone wants; also used to prompt for a decision (“What do you say?”) or to ask for repetition (“What did you say?”).
Examples
อ้าวâaoอ้าวâao1oh!; hey! (surprise/realization)2hey! (mild reproach/attention)ว่าไงwâa-ngaiว่าไงwâa-ngai1what's up?; how are things?2what did you say?3What's up?; What do you say?; What did you say?4what do you say?; what do you think?ไม่เจอmâi-jəəไม่เจอmâi-jəə[to] not find [sth/sb]กันganกันgan1together; together with2each other; one another (post-verb marker)3[to] prevent; keep [sth] out; ward off; block4protective; resistant to; -proof5I; me (informal, male speech)6[to] set aside; reserve; earmarkนานnaanนานnaan1for a long time2long (in duration)เลยləəiเลยləəi1at all; whatsoever (often in negatives)2so; thus; then (immediate result)3completely; absolutely (emphasis)4[to] pass; go beyond; exceed
Hey, what's up? We haven't seen each other for a long time.
3 more examplesShow less
Want to go eat dinner tonight? What do you say?
What did you say just now? I couldn't really hear.
Hello, what's up? Did you call for something?
4NounA2
what do you say?; what do you think?
a conversational question asking for someone's opinion, decision, or response
Examples
ไปกินข้าวbpai-gin-kâaoไปกินข้าวbpai-gin-kâao[to] go eatกันganกันgan1together; together with2each other; one another (post-verb marker)3[to] prevent; keep [sth] out; ward off; block4protective; resistant to; -proof5I; me (informal, male speech)6[to] set aside; reserve; earmarkไหมmǎiไหมmǎi1yes–no question particle; or not?2silkเย็นนี้yen-níiเย็นนี้yen-níi1this evening2this evening's (as a modifier)ว่าไงwâa-ngaiว่าไงwâa-ngai1what's up?; how are things?2what did you say?3What's up?; What do you say?; What did you say?4what do you say?; what do you think?
Want to go eat dinner tonight? What do you say?
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markMai ek
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Falling tone
wâa
Starts high, rises a little, then drops clearly.
Low class + Mai ek → Falling
Tone chart
Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.
| Mid class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |
Word Breakdown
ว่าwâaว่าwâa1[to] say; tell2that (clause marker)3[to] think; consider; deem4[to] scold; reproach; criticize[to] say; tellPart 1
+
ไงngaiไงngai1hey; yo (very casual attention-getter)2what's up?; how's it going? (casual)3how; in what way (colloq.)4emphatic reminder/identifier (…ไง ‘you know’)hey; yo (very casual attention-getter)Part 2
ว่าไงwâa-ngaiว่าไงwâa-ngaiwhat's up?; how are things?what's up?; how are things?Word