เมื่อไร
when
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 when、when ... [in an embedded question]
- 2 whenever、once (something happens)
This word asks when something happens. In certain sentence patterns, it can also mean “whenever” or “once that time comes.”
when、when ... [in an embedded question]
It asks at what time or on what occasion something happens, both in direct questions and in embedded clauses.
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คุณจะไปเมื่อไร khun cà pay mʉ̂a ray When are you going? คุณจะไปเมื่อไร details
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กลับเมื่อไร klàp mʉ̂a ray When are you coming back? กลับเมื่อไร details
Show more (2)
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ตั้งแต่เมื่อไร tâŋ tɛ̀ɛ mʉ̂a ray Since when? ตั้งแต่เมื่อไร details
whenever、once (something happens)
It leaves the time unspecified and means “whenever” or “once something happens,” usually as part of a larger sentence pattern.
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มาเมื่อไรก็ได้ maa mʉ̂a ray kɔ̂ɔ dâay You can come whenever you like. มาเมื่อไรก็ได้ details
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พร้อมเมื่อไรก็บอกฉัน phrɔ́ɔm mʉ̂a ray kɔ̂ɔ bɔ̀ɔk chǎn Tell me whenever you're ready. พร้อมเมื่อไรก็บอกฉัน details
Learning notes
Explanation
เมื่อไร is an interrogative adverb used to ask about the time of an action or event. It commonly follows the relevant verb: จะไปเมื่อไร means “When are you going?” and เริ่มเมื่อไร means “When does it start?” It also appears inside statements, as in ไม่รู้ว่า…เมื่อไร, “not know when....” The word can be understood as เมื่อ, “at the time of,” plus ไร, “what.” เมื่อไร is the standard spelling, while เมื่อไหร่ is also extremely common in informal writing because it reflects the usual pronunciation. The meaning is the same. Useful patterns include เมื่อไรก็ได้, “any time is fine,” เมื่อไร…ก็…, “whenever...,” ตั้งแต่เมื่อไร, “since when,” and ถึงเมื่อไร, “until when.”
Usage
It is extremely common in everyday conversations about plans, appointments, arrivals, departures, starting times, and finishing times. It is also used to discuss an unknown time or, in เมื่อไรก็ได้, to say that any time is acceptable.
Caution
เมื่อไร can ask broadly about a time, date, or period. Use กี่โมง when you specifically want a clock time. Also, เมื่อไรจะ… can sound like “When are you finally going to...?” and may express impatience depending on the tone.