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Verbs

Waste (time, money) in Thai

“Waste (time, money)” in Thai is เสียเวลาsǐa wee-laa; you'll also hear เปลืองbplueang (use up a lot).

เสียเวลา sǐa wee-laa

to waste time; a waste of time verb

  • sǐa rising
  • wee mid
  • laa mid
  • Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
เปลือง bplueang

to use a lot of, to waste (money, fuel, power) verb use up a lot

  • bplueang mid
  • Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

How to use it

Thai says what's being wasted. Time is lost: เสียเวลาsǐa wee-laa, "lose time". Things that get used up too fast are เปลืองbplueang: an air-con that eats electricity is เปลืองไฟbplueang fai, and a thirsty car เปลืองน้ำมันbplueang náam-man. Rubbish, the other kind of waste, is ขยะkà-yà.

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:

  • sia wela
  • sia welaa
  • plueang
  • pleuang

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