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Time

Early in Thai

“Early” in Thai is แต่เช้าdtàe cháao; you'll also hear ก่อนเวลาgàwn wee-laa (ahead of time).

แต่เช้า dtàe cháao

early (in the morning) adverb early in the day

  • dtàe low
  • cháao high
  • Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
  • High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
ก่อนเวลา gàwn wee-laa

early, ahead of time adverb

  • gàwn low
  • wee mid
  • laa mid
  • Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

How to use it

Thai splits "early" in two. Early in the day is เช้าcháao, morning: ตื่นเช้าdtùuen cháao is to get up early, and แต่เช้าdtàe cháao is "from early in the morning". Earlier than planned is ก่อนเวลาgàwn wee-laa, "before the time", or simply เร็วrew, fast: มาเร็วจังmaa rew jang, you're early!

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:

  • tae chao
  • gon wela
  • kon wela

More time in Thai

All time
  • วันนี้ wan-níi Today
  • พรุ่งนี้ prûng-níi Tomorrow
  • เมื่อวาน mûea-waan Yesterday
  • คืนนี้ kuuen-níi Tonight
  • ตอนนี้ dtawn-níi Now

    now, right now

  • เดี๋ยว dǐaw In a moment

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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones