ทวง

Explanation

ทวง centers on asking for something that the other party is already expected to return, pay, provide, or fulfill. Unlike an ordinary request, it implies a prior obligation or entitlement. The basic pattern is ทวง followed by the thing being sought. For example, ทวงเงิน means to press for money that is due, ทวงหนี้ means to collect a debt, and ทวงงาน means to follow up on assigned or commissioned work. คืน can make the idea of getting something back explicit, as in ทวงหนังสือคืน, “ask for a book back.” The pattern ทวงคืน followed by an object is also common, especially for reclaiming rights or abstract things. The word is used in everyday life, business, billing, and news reporting. It is not inherently formal, but it may sound forceful because it points to an unmet obligation.

Usage

It is common when asking for the return of a borrowed item, collecting a debt or overdue payment, or following up on promised work or an expected answer. In news and civic contexts, it can also describe efforts to reclaim rights, justice, or dignity.

Caution

Do not normally use ทวง for a first-time request when no obligation or prior promise exists. Also, ทวงหนี้ means to demand repayment of a debt, not to ask someone to incur a debt. When addressing someone directly, the verb may sound confrontational; ขอทวง… or ขอทวงถาม… can soften a polite follow-up.

1 demand (something owed or due) synonyms

• ขอ

  khɔ̌ɔ ask for

  ขอ is a general verb for asking or requesting, including first-time requests. ทวง assumes that something is already owed, due, or promised.

• เตือน

  tʉan remind

  เตือน means to remind or warn someone. ทวง goes further by pressing the person to return, pay, deliver, or fulfill what is due.

• เรียกร้อง

  เรียกร้อง broadly means to demand or call for something and is common in public advocacy. ทวง more specifically presents the thing as already owed or rightfully due.