Everyday expressionsWow in Thai
“Wow” in Thai is โอ้โหôo-hǒo; you'll also hear ว้าวwáao (from English).
wow!, whoa! (amazement) interjection
- ôo falling
- hǒo rising
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
wow! (from English) interjection
- wáao high
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
How to use it
โอ้โหôo-hǒo is the Thai "wow!" or "whoa!": for a view from a mountain, a giant plate of food or a shocking price, and it's often drawn out with feeling. The English ว้าวwáao is just as common, especially among young people. Both work for good surprises and bad ones.
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:
- o ho
- oh ho
- ohoh
- waow
More everyday expressions in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones