เดี๋ยวก่อน
diao kon
The English phrase "wait a minute" is translated into Thai as เดี๋ยวก่อน (diao kon).
เดี๋ยวก่อน is used to interrupt someone or to ask someone to pause what they are doing immediately.
Meaning: Translations (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word เดี๋ยว (diao) literally means "a moment" or "a little while".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In informal settings, you might use รอสักหน่อยนะ/ครับ/ค่ะ to say "wait a bit" or รอแป๊ปนึงเถอะ for "wait a sec.". If you wish to be very polite when requesting time, use ขอเวลาหน่อยครับ/ค่ะ to mean "May I have some time, please?"
How does it change in a sentence?
You can add the particle นะ (na) to the end of เดี๋ยวก่อน to form เดี๋ยวก่อนนะ, which makes the command sound softer and less abrupt.
How do you pronounce it?
diao kon
Did you know?
- In Thai, if you say you will do something 'diao', like 'diao ja pai' (will go in a moment), it can be a polite way to avoid saying 'no' or to delay an unpleasant task indefinitely.
- The word เดี๋ยว (diao) can also be used in the phrase เดี๋ยวนี้ (diao ni) to mean 'right now', turning a 'moment' into an immediate requirement.
- While เดี๋ยวก่อน can mean 'wait a minute', using it as a command can sometimes sound like you are ordering someone to 'stop right there' in a confrontational way.
Examples in context
- เดี๋ยวก่อน อย่าเพิ่งไปdiao kon ya phoeng paiWait a minute, don't go yet.
- เดี๋ยวก่อน ขอเช็คโทรศัพท์แป๊บหนึ่งdiao kon kho chek tho-ra-sap paep nuengWait a minute, let me check my phone for a second.
Example conversation
In a hallway where one person is about to walk away.
- วิทวัส Witthawatเดี๋ยวก่อน กนกวรรณdiao kon kanokwanWait a minute, Kanokwan.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanมีอะไรเหรอคะ วิทวัสmi arai ro kha witthawatWhat is it, Witthawat?
- วิทวัส Witthawatคุณลืมกระเป๋าไว้ที่โต๊ะkhun luem krapao wai thi toYou left your bag at the table.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanขอบคุณมากค่ะkhop khun mak khaThank you very much.
