Thai word
ไหว้
wâi
合十礼（双手合十的传统问候）
How to pronounce ไหว้
Falling tone
Starts high, falls quickly to low
ไหว้ is written wâi and carries the falling tone. Listen first, then copy the pitch — in Thai the pitch belongs to the word the way a vowel does.
Same syllable, five tones
Thai uses pitch to tell words apart. Below is the same syllable on each of the five tones — nothing changes but the pitch. Say your word (highlighted) on one of the other four and a Thai listener hears a different word, or none at all.
-
wai
Mid tone
-
wài
Low tone
- ไหว้
wâi
Falling tone
-
wǎi
Rising tone
-
wái
High tone
What does ไหว้ mean?
Translation
合十礼（双手合十的传统问候）
ไหว้ (wâi) means "合十礼（双手合十的传统问候）" in Thai.
Example sentences
ไหว้ก่อนนะ
wâi gâwn ná
先 wâi，好吗？
ไหว้พระทุกวัน
wâi phrá thúk wan
我每天都拜佛/祈祷。
Test yourself
One word from the same tone group. Its meaning is not on this page — see whether it stuck.
What does this word mean?
ห้า
hâa
Related words
More words with the falling tone — the same pitch shape, different words.
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