Everyday expressions เอ่อ òe
um, er (hesitating) interjection
- òe low
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
How to use it
เอ่อòe fills a pause while you think, like "um" or "er". To start an explanation, Thais say คือkuue, "well, the thing is…", often as คือว่าkuue wâa: คือว่าวันนี้ไม่ว่างkuue wâa wan-níi mâi wâang, well, the thing is, I'm busy today. Using them yourself buys time to find your words, and sounds much more natural than silence.
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:
- euh
More everyday expressions in Thai
All everyday expressions
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones