ว่าที่
future
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 future、prospective、soon-to-be
- 2 acting [official title]、provisionally appointed、designate
Placed before a role, status, or title, ว่าที่ describes someone who is expected or scheduled to take that role soon. In official titles, it can also mark a rank or position held provisionally before full confirmation.
future、prospective、soon-to-be
Describes a person who is expected, scheduled, or strongly likely to take on a particular role or status soon.
-
ว่าที่เจ้าสาว wâa thîi câw sǎaw bride-to-be ว่าที่เจ้าสาว details
Show more (2)
-
เขาถูกมองว่าเป็นว่าที่นายกรัฐมนตรี khǎw thùuk mɔɔŋ wâa pen wâa thîi naayók rátthàmontrii He is seen as the likely next prime minister. เขาถูกมองว่าเป็นว่าที่นายกรัฐมนตรี details
acting [official title]、provisionally appointed、designate
In an official title, indicates that someone holds or has been designated for a rank or office provisionally, before full appointment or confirmation.
-
ว่าที่ร้อยตรีสมชาย wâa thîi rɔ́ɔy trii sǒmchaay Acting Second Lieutenant Somchai ว่าที่ร้อยตรีสมชาย details
Learning notes
Explanation
The usual pattern is ว่าที่ followed by a person's status, role, or title. In everyday language, it commonly appears in expressions such as ว่าที่เจ้าบ่าว and ว่าที่เจ้าสาว for an engaged couple, or ว่าที่คุณพ่อ and ว่าที่คุณแม่ for expectant parents. It normally implies a concrete plan or a strong likelihood, although media usage can sometimes express a prediction rather than a confirmed outcome. In titles such as ว่าที่ร้อยตรี, the expression has an official, institutionally defined meaning. It is not simply the speaker's personal guess that someone will receive the rank. Older official texts may also use ว่าที่ as a verb meaning “to serve temporarily in an office.” For practical modern use, learners should first master its role before titles and personal statuses.
Usage
It is common when discussing engagements, weddings, pregnancy, and other upcoming family roles. News reports also use it for people expected to take political or corporate office, or occasionally for a likely future champion. In the military and police, it occurs in established official titles.
Caution
Do not use ว่าที่ as a general equivalent of “future” with plans, objects, or events. For example, “future plans” is แผนในอนาคต, not ว่าที่แผน. It generally implies a stronger expectation than ผู้สมัคร, “candidate” or “applicant.” Official military and police titles containing ว่าที่ should be used only for people who formally hold those titles.
Differences from similar words
1 future synonyms
-
อนาคต refers broadly to the future and can describe plans, society, events, and many other things. ว่าที่ is used mainly with a person's role or status and implies that the person will assume it soon.