เวลา
time
Native recording
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- 1 time、time of day、period of time
- 2 when、whenever
A basic word covering time in general, a particular time of day, and an amount or period of time. Before an action or situation, it can also mean “when” or “whenever.”
time、time of day、period of time
Refers to time in general, a particular point on the clock, or the amount of time something lasts.
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ไม่มีเวลา mây mii weelaa There is no time. ไม่มีเวลา details
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ตอนนี้เวลาเท่าไร tɔɔn níi weelaa thâw ray What time is it now? ตอนนี้เวลาเท่าไร details
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ใช้เวลาเท่าไร cháy weelaa thâw ray How long does it take? ใช้เวลาเท่าไร details
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หมดเวลาแล้ว mòt weelaa lɛ́ɛw Time is up. หมดเวลาแล้ว details
when、whenever
Introduces an action or situation to indicate when it occurs, often with the sense of “whenever” in statements about habits or recurring events.
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เวลาทำงานอย่าเล่นโทรศัพท์ weelaa tham ŋaan yàa lên thoorasàp Don’t use your phone while working. เวลาทำงานอย่าเล่นโทรศัพท์ details
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เวลาฝนตก รถติดมาก weelaa fǒn tòk rót tìt mâak When it rains, traffic gets very heavy. เวลาฝนตก รถติดมาก details
Learning notes
Explanation
เวลา is a neutral, extremely common word in everyday Thai. As a noun, it appears in important patterns such as มีเวลา (“have time”), ไม่มีเวลา (“have no time”), ตรงเวลา (“on time”), เสียเวลา (“waste time”), and ใช้เวลา (“take time”). Depending on context, it can refer to time in general, a time of day, or a period of time. Before an action or state, เวลา means “when.” This construction is particularly common in conversation when describing habits and recurring situations. Amounts of time are measured with units such as ชั่วโมง (“hour”), นาที (“minute”), and วัน (“day”); เวลา itself is not used as the counting unit. For example, ใช้เวลาสามชั่วโมง means “take three hours.”
Usage
It is used constantly when arranging appointments, asking whether someone has time, and explaining how long travel or a task takes. It also appears in discussions of time limits, business hours, and free time. As “when,” it naturally introduces situations such as being tired or rainy weather and describes what happens in those situations.
Caution
กี่โมง is another very common way to ask what time it is. เวลาเท่าไร can ask for the time of day, but ใช้เวลาเท่าไร is clearer when asking how long something takes. Also, use โอกาส—not เวลา—when the intended meaning is an opportunity or favorable chance.
Differences from similar words
1 time synonyms
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กาลเวลา refers to the passage of time and has a more literary tone. เวลา is the neutral everyday word for time, a time of day, or a period.
2 when synonyms
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เมื่อ also means “when” and readily introduces a specific past or future event; it is also common in writing. เวลา is especially natural in conversation and often introduces habits or recurring situations.