เวลา
wee-laa/weː˧.laː˧/
The English phrase "time" is translated into Thai as เวลา (wee-laa).
เวลา is used to refer to the measurement of a quantity of time.
Meaning: measurement of a quantity of time (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use เวลา for the abstract concept or duration of time. In contrast, use ครั้ง when you are referring to a specific instance or an occurrence, such as when counting how many times something happened (e.g., 'one time' or 'two times').
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA is /weː˧.laː˧/ and it has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word เวลา is used to create the phrase เวลาว่าง, which literally means 'empty time' and refers to one's free time or leisure.
- In Thai culture, the concept of เวลา is often viewed more fluidly than in the West, leading to the social phenomenon known as 'Thai time' where arrivals are loosely scheduled.
- The word เวลา has a 'doublet' in Thai, the word เพล, which refers specifically to the time of day when monks eat their last meal.
Examples in context
- ฉันมีเวลาI have time.Tatoeba #4558382 by reminiz, translation #2245901 by CK
- ทอมดูเวลาTom checked the time.Tatoeba #8714371 by pastelite, translation #1868420 by CK
- ได้เวลานอนIt's time for bed.Tatoeba #8692049 by pastelite, translation #1271567 by CK
- 61 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a meeting schedule.
- วิทวัส Witthawatพิมล มีเวลาว่างกี่โมงครับPimon mi wela wang ki mong khrapPimon, what time are you free?
- พิมล Pimonวิทวัส ฉันมีเวลาตอนบ่ายสองค่ะWitthawat chan mi wela ton bai song khaWitthawat, I have time at two in the afternoon.
- วิทวัส Witthawatเวลาที่เหมาะสมคือสองโมงครึ่งครับwela thi mosom khue song mong krueng khrapThe appropriate time is two-thirty.
- พิมล Pimonตกลงค่ะ เจอกันเวลานั้นนะคะtok long kha choe kan wela nan na khaAgreed, I will see you at that time.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry เวลา, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
