ว่าไร
wâa-raiMeanings
1InterjectionA2
What?; What did you say?
A casual phrase used to ask someone to repeat what they said because it was not heard or understood; equivalent to "What?" or "Pardon?".
Examples
เมื่อกี้mʉ̂ʉa-gîiเมื่อกี้mʉ̂ʉa-gîi1just now; a moment ago2a moment ago; just now (time)พูดpûutพูดpûut1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutว่าไรwâa-raiว่าไรwâa-rai1What?; What did you say?2What is it?; Yes?นะnáนะná1softener; friendly particle2persuasive/confirming particleไม่ได้mâi-dâaiไม่ได้mâi-dâai1cannot; not allowed; impossible2did not3[to] fail to get/receive [sth]4unacceptable; not allowed (won’t do)5No way!; absolutely not6not really/actually (corrective)ยินyinยินyin[to] hear; feel (literary or in compounds)เลยləəiเลยləəi1at all; whatsoever (often in negatives)2so; thus; then (immediate result)3completely; absolutely (emphasis)4[to] pass; go beyond; exceed
What did you just say? I didn't hear you at all.
3 more examplesShow less
ขอโทษนะkɔ̌ɔ-tôot-náเมื่อกี้mʉ̂ʉa-gîiเสียงดังมากsǐiang-dang-mâakพูดpûutว่าไรwâa-raiนะnáช่วยchûuaiพูดpûutอีกทีìik-tiiได้ไหมdâai-mǎi
Sorry, it was very loud just now. What did you say? Can you please say it again?
เธอtəəพูดpûutพึมพำpʉm-pamอะไรà-raiน่ะnâฉันchǎnฟังไม่รู้เรื่องfang-mâi-rúu-rʉ̂ʉangเลยləəiว่าไรwâa-raiนะná
What are you mumbling about? I can't understand you at all. What was that?
คุยkuiโทรศัพท์toh-rá-sàpอยู่แล้วyòo láewสัญญาณsăn-yaanก็gâwขาดๆkàat kàatหายๆhăai hăaiเขาkăoพูดpôotว่าไรwâa raiนะnáจับใจความjàp jai kwaamไม่ได้mâi dâaiเลยloie
I was on the phone and the signal was cutting in and out. What did he say? I couldn't grasp the main point at all.
2InterjectionA2
What is it?; Yes?
A casual response used when someone calls your name or tries to get your attention; equivalent to "What is it?" or "Yes?".
Examples
เอกèekเอกèek1major (field of study)2one; single; unique; exceptional3principal; primary4A; first class; first rank; top grade5ace (playing card)พลอยplɔɔiพลอยplɔɔi1Ploy (female given name)2gem; gemstone3also; as a resultพลอยplɔɔiพลอยplɔɔi1Ploy (female given name)2gem; gemstone3also; as a resultว่าไรwâa-raiว่าไรwâa-rai1What?; What did you say?2What is it?; Yes?
Ek: Ploy! Ploy: Yes?/What is it?
3 more examplesShow less
Mom called me, so I shouted back, "Yes, mom?"
Did you just call me? What is it?
พอได้pɔɔ-dâaiยินyinเสียงsǐiangเพื่อนpʉ̂ʉanเรียกชื่อrîiak-chʉ̂ʉจากjàakอีกìikฝั่งfàngของkɔ̌ɔngห้องhɔ̂ngผมpǒmก็gɔ̂หันไปhǎn-bpaiถามtǎamว่าwâaว่าไรwâa-raiมีอะไรmii-à-raiให้hâiช่วยchûuaiป่าวbpàao
When I heard my friend call my name from the other side of the room, I turned and asked, "What's up? Need any help?"
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
+
ไรraiไรrai1mite (tiny arachnid)2(colloq.) what?; wh- (shortened form of อะไร)3(colloq.) what; which4rice seedling; rice sprout (Northern/poetic)mite (tiny arachnid)Part 2
ว่าไรwâa-raiว่าไรwâa-raiWhat?; What did you say?What?; What did you say?Word