กี่โมง
ki mong
The English phrase "what time" is translated into Thai as กี่โมง (ki mong).
กี่โมง is used to ask for the specific time of day, typically referring to the time shown on a clock. While a literal translation of "what time" might suggest using เวลาอะไร, in natural speech, กี่โมง is the standard way to ask. When you receive an answer, the time is typically stated using the format hour + นาฬิกา + minute.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of กี่, meaning "how many" and โมง, which means "clock-unit" or "hour".
How does it change in a sentence?
In Thai, instead of asking "what" time, you grammatically ask "how many" hours or clock-units using กี่โมง.
How do you pronounce it?
ki mong
Did you know?
- The word โมง used in กี่โมง historically refers to a large drum, or 'moong', that was struck to signal the passing of time.
- While กี่โมง asks for the hour, it is only one part of a complex system where Thai uses different words for time depending on whether it is morning, afternoon, or night.
- When using the formal นาฬิกา (nalika) system, the numbers go up to 24, unlike the colloquial system used with กี่โมง which often resets or uses different names for nighttime hours.
Examples in context
- ตอนนี้เวลากี่โมง?What time is it?This sentence is useful for asking for the current time using กี่โมง.Tatoeba #7878454 by pastelite, translation #428402 by laofmoonster
- การประชุมจบกี่โมงWhat time did the meeting end?This sentence is useful for asking what time a meeting ended using กี่โมง.Tatoeba #10502942 by Somsak, translation #2270143 by _undertoad
- ทอมจะกลับมากี่โมงAbout what time will Tom be back?This sentence is useful for asking about what time someone will return using กี่โมง.Tatoeba #10679606 by Somsak, translation #6346668 by CK
- ขอถามเวลาปัจจุบันได้ไหมMay I ask for the current time?
- ตอนนี้เวลากี่โมงแล้ว?What time is it now?
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Pimon is asking Thanakrit about the movie start time.
- พิมล Pimonหนังเริ่มกี่โมงคะ?nang roem gi mong kha?What time does the movie start?
- ธนกฤต Thanakritเริ่มตอนหกโมงเย็นครับroem ton hok mong yen khrapIt starts at six o'clock in the evening.
- พิมล Pimonเราควรไปถึงที่นั่นกี่โมงดี?rao khuan pai thueng thi nan gi mong di?What time should we get there?
- ธนกฤต Thanakritไปถึงห้าโมงครึ่งก็น่าจะพอครับpai thueng ha mong khrueng ko na cha pho khrapGetting there at five-thirty should be enough.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
