เปรย
hint at
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 hint at、casually mention、let slip
It means to mention a thought, wish, or subject indirectly and casually, often so that someone will notice it without being told outright.
hint at、casually mention、let slip
To casually voice a thought or wish without stating it directly, sometimes hoping that others will pick up on it.
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เขาเปรยว่าอยากเปลี่ยนงาน khǎw prəəy wâa yàak plìan ŋaan He casually mentioned that he wanted to change jobs. เขาเปรยว่าอยากเปลี่ยนงาน details
Learning notes
Explanation
เปรย presents a thought, wish, or plan as a casual remark rather than a clear or official statement. The speaker may simply let something slip, or may want another person to hear it, understand the implication, or show a reaction. Common patterns include เปรยว่า followed by what was said, เปรยกับ followed by the listener, and เปรยถึง or เปรยเรื่อง followed by the subject. The repeated form เปรย ๆ gives a stronger sense of mentioning something lightly or in passing.
Usage
It is common in conversation, interviews, news reports, and fiction when someone briefly mentions a wish or plan that has not been formally announced. It also fits situations where a person indirectly lets family or friends know what they want.
Caution
This is not a neutral substitute for “say”: the remark is light and indirect. It is normally unsuitable for a clear request, report, or announcement. It also does not inherently imply sarcasm or malicious insinuation.
Differences from similar words
1 hint at synonyms
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บอกใบ้ means to give a deliberate clue without revealing the answer or information directly. เปรย focuses on casually voicing a thought or wish, sometimes with the hope that someone will take notice.
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พูด is the general verb for speaking or saying something. เปรย is more specific: the speaker brings something up lightly and indirectly rather than stating it outright.