Small wordsWhen in Thai
“When” in Thai is เมื่อไหร่mûea-rài; you'll also hear ตอนที่dtawn-tîi (when, while (telling)).
when question word asking
- mûea falling
- rài low
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
Usually at the end: ไปเมื่อไหร่bpai mûea-rài (when are you going?).
when, while (at the time that) conjunction when, while (telling)
- dtawn mid
- tîi falling
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
ตอนdtawn goes with a time (ตอนเที่ยงdtawn tîang, at noon); ตอนที่dtawn-tîi goes with a whole action: ตอนที่ดำน้ำdtawn-tîi dam-náam (while I was snorkelling). In casual speech the ที่tîi often drops: ตอนดำน้ำdtawn dam-náam.
Taught in Unit 6 · Lesson 1: Question words of the free course.
Practise it freeHow to use it
Ask with เมื่อไหร่mûea-rài, usually at the end: ไปเมื่อไหร่bpai mûea-rài, when are you going? To say when something happens, use ตอนที่dtawn-tîi at the start: "when I was a child…". For a time of day, กี่โมงgìi moong asks "what time?".
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:
- meua rai
- mua rai
More small words in Thai
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Learn this word in Unit 6, free
Unit 6 · Questions, questions · Question words. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.
Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones