ยัง
yang/jaŋ˧/
The Thai word for 'not yet' is ยัง (yang).
The word ยัง is used to express that something has not happened for the moment, though it is expected to happen later. Depending on the context of your sentence, it can also be used to mean 'still' or 'yet'.
Meaning: not for the moment, though expected later (adv)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express 'not yet' within a full sentence, ยัง is typically paired with ไม่ to form ยังไม่.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is yang. The IPA is /jaŋ˧/.
Did you know?
- The word ยัง shares a historical root with the concept of being 'alive'. It is thought to have evolved from an ancient sense of 'still existing' or 'still alive'.
- When using ยังไม่ to mean 'not yet', the speaker implies a strong expectation that the action will eventually happen. Using a different negative construction would imply the action might never occur.
- If you want to say 'not yet' as a standalone answer to a question, simply saying ยังไม่ is often too incomplete, and you may need to add a verb to sound natural.
Examples in context
- ยังไม่พร้อมNot yet ready
- ยังไม่ได้ทำNot yet done
- ยังไม่ได้กินHaven't eaten yet
- ยังไม่ได้ไปHaven't gone yet
- ยังไม่มาHasn't come yet
- ยังไม่เสร็จครับNot yet finished, sir
- ยังไม่กินNot yet eaten
- เขายังไม่มาkhao yang mai maHe has not arrived yet.
- ฉันยังไม่ได้กินข้าวchan yang mai dai kin khaoI haven't eaten yet.
Example conversation
A colleague asks a coworker about a report.
- พิมล Pimonวิทวัส ทำรายงานเสร็จหรือยังwit-tha-wat tham rai-ngan set rue yangWitthawat, have you finished the report yet?
- วิทวัส Witthawatยังไม่เสร็จครับyang mai set khrapNot finished yet.
- พิมล Pimonต้องใช้เวลาอีกนานไหมtong chai we-la ik nan maiWill it take much longer?
- วิทวัส Witthawatอีกสักครู่นะครับik sak khru na khrapJust a moment.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ยัง, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ยัง, CC BY-SA 4.0.
