Everyday expressions ว่าแต่ wâa dtàe
by the way, anyway (changing the subject) phrase
- wâa falling
- dtàe low
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
How to use it
ว่าแต่wâa dtàe at the start of a sentence moves the conversation on: "by the way", "anyway", "so…". When something suddenly comes to mind, Thais also say อ้อâw, "oh, right", before it.
Other spellings you'll see
There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:
- wa tae
- wa dtae
More everyday expressions in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones