เร็ว
reo/rew˧/
In Thai, quickly is expressed as เร็ว (reo). Wiktionary also lists ไว (wai).
Meaning: rapidly, fast (adv)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| เร็ว | reo | /rew˧/ |
| ไว | wai | /waj˧/ |
The word เร็ว is used to describe doing something fast or rapidly. To say "very quickly", you place the intensifier มาก (mak) after the word, resulting in เร็วมาก.
Which one should you use?
เร็ว is the standard, most common way to say "fast" or "quickly" in almost any context. In contrast, ไว often implies a sense of "swiftness" or "agility" and is frequently used in more casual or descriptive contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the adjective "fast" into a formal adverb meaning "rapidly" or "in a rapid manner", you can use the pattern อย่าง + adjective, such as อย่างรวดเร็ว.
How do you pronounce it?
reo
Did you know?
- When a Thai speaker says someone's hands are ไว, they could be praising the person's dexterity or subtly accusing them of being a pickpocket.
- The word แวบ is used instead of เร็ว when something happens 'in a flash' to create a visual sense of disappearing and reappearing.
- Repeating the word as เร็วๆ transforms the word from a simple description of speed into an urgent command to hurry up.
Examples in context
- คุณหายเร็วYou recovered quickly.This sentence shows how to describe a quick recovery using เร็ว.Tatoeba #8675769 by pastelite, translation #948431 by spockofvulcan
- ทอมพูดเร็วมากTom spoke very quickly.This sentence demonstrates how to say someone spoke very quickly using เร็วมาก.Tatoeba #10724107 by Somsak, translation #9960955 by CK
- ห้ามสรรพสินค้าผุดขึ้นเป็นดอกเห็ดอย่างรวดเร็วในเมืองที่เจริญมากๆShopping malls are quickly mushrooming in this very urban city.This sentence uses เร็ว to describe a rapid process of growth.Tatoeba #4293628 by Spanger, translation #4291185 by mervert1
- เร็วกว่านี้หน่อยได้ไหมCan you be a little faster than this?
- ทำให้เร็วที่สุดเท่าที่เป็นไปได้Do it as fast as possible.
- มาเร็ว ๆ นะCome quickly, please.
- เขียนลงไปเร็ว ๆ นะครับWrite it down quickly, please.
- รีบทำให้เสร็จเร็ว ๆDo it quickly, as fast as possible.
Example conversation
Kanokwan and Thanakrit are getting ready to leave for an appointment.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanรีบแต่งตัวเร็ว เราจะสายแล้วrip taeng tua rew rao ja sai laewGet dressed quickly, we are going to be late.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritรอแป๊บหนึ่งครับ ผมหาถุงเท้าไม่เจอro paep neung krap phom ha thung thao mai joeWait a moment, I can't find my socks.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanเดินหาเร็วๆ เลยนะduern ha rew rew loey naLook for them quickly.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritเจอแล้วครับ ไปกันเลยjoe laew krap pai kan loeyFound them. Let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quickly” translations and entries เร็ว, ไว, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
