Expect in Thai

“Expect” in Thai is คาดว่าkâat wâa; you'll also hear คาดหวังkâat-wǎng (expect of someone).

คาดว่า kâat wâa

to expect (that) verb

kâat falling
wâa falling

Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”

คาดหวัง kâat-wǎng

to expect (of someone), to hope for verb

kâat falling
wǎng rising

Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”

How to use it

คาดว่าkâat wâa is expecting that something will happen, a slightly formal word you'll hear in forecasts and the news. In everyday talk Thais say คิดว่าkít wâa, I think. คาดหวังkâat-wǎng is what you expect of someone: parents of their children, a boss of a new employee. "I didn't expect…" is ไม่คิดว่าmâi kít wâa.

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:

khat wa
kat waa
khat wang

More verbs in Thai

All verbs

เป็น bpen Be
to be (a nationality, a job, a role)
มี mii Have
to have
ไป bpai Go
to go
มา maa Come
to come
กิน gin Eat
to eat
ดื่ม dùuem Drink
to drink

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