เฮ้ย
what?!
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 what?!、whoa!、wait a minute!
- 2 hey!、stop!
A very informal exclamation used for a sudden emotional reaction or to get someone’s attention forcefully, similar to “whoa,” “what?!,” or “hey!” depending on context.
what?!、whoa!、wait a minute!
A spontaneous reaction expressing surprise, amazement, disbelief, confusion, or objection.
-
เฮ้ย จริงเหรอ hə́əy ciŋ rə̌ə What?! Really? เฮ้ย จริงเหรอ details
Show more (1)
-
เฮ้ย ไม่ใช่แบบนั้น hə́əy mây chây bɛ̀ɛp nán Hey, that’s not what I mean. เฮ้ย ไม่ใช่แบบนั้น details
hey!、stop!
A forceful call used to get a familiar person’s attention or make them stop what they are doing.
-
เฮ้ย มานี่หน่อย hə́əy maa nîi nɔ̀ɔy Hey, come here a second. เฮ้ย มานี่หน่อย details
-
เฮ้ย ฟังก่อน hə́əy faŋ kɔ̀ɔn Hey, listen first. เฮ้ย ฟังก่อน details
Show more (1)
-
เฮ้ย ระวัง! hə́əy ráwaŋ Hey, watch out! เฮ้ย ระวัง! details
Learning notes
Explanation
เฮ้ย is a forceful interjection that comes out at the moment of a strong reaction. It may stand alone or be followed by expressions such as จริงเหรอ “really?”, ทำอะไรเนี่ย “what are you doing?”, or ระวัง “watch out.” Its uses—surprise, admiration, objection, calling someone, and stopping someone—share the core sense of an immediate, emotionally charged reaction. Among close friends it can sound lively and familiar, but an angry tone can make it confrontational.
Usage
Common in conversations among close friends, chats and social media, reactions to unexpected news, expressions of amazement, forceful calls to a friend, and sudden objections or warnings. It is also frequent in informal dialogue in movies and TV shows.
Caution
This is highly informal and can sound rude or confrontational when directed at someone. Avoid using it with superiors, strangers, customers, or in formal settings. To get someone’s attention politely, use ขอโทษครับ/ค่ะ, meaning “excuse me.”
Differences from similar words
1 what?! synonyms
-
โอ้โห expresses amazement at something impressive and is not normally used to call someone. เฮ้ย covers a wider range of reactions, including disbelief and objection, and can sound rougher.
2 hey! synonyms
-
เฮ้ is also used to get someone’s attention, but it is generally less emotionally charged and less rough. เฮ้ย often carries surprise, urgency, or forceful objection.