Lottery in Thai

“Lottery” in Thai is หวยhǔay; you'll also hear ลอตเตอรี่láwt-dtoe-rîi (ticket) and ถูกหวยtùuk hǔay (win the lottery).

หวย hǔay

the lottery (everyday word) noun

hǔay rising

Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”

ลอตเตอรี่ láwt-dtoe-rîi

lottery ticket; the lottery noun

láwt high
dtoe mid
rîi falling

High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”

Classifier: ใบbai · counting word for hats, bags, cards and leaves

ถูกหวย tùuk hǔay

to win the lottery verb

tùuk low
hǔay rising

Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”

How to use it

The government lottery is usually drawn on the 1st and the 16th of the month, and it's a national hobby: vendors sell tickets on the street and in markets at an official price of 80 baht. A ticket is a ลอตเตอรี่láwt-dtoe-rîi, the lottery itself is หวยhǔay, and winning is ถูกหวยtùuk hǔay, "hitting the lottery". Thais hunt for lucky numbers, เลขเด็ดlêek dèt, in dreams, number plates and old trees, as our page on Thai superstitions describes.