When? How long? and other ways to ask for the time
How to ask for the time in Thai? Bonus: Asking for a duration
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· published June 5, 2021
· last update June 16, 2021
Asking for the time in Thai
There are multiple ways to ask for the time in Thai:
-
When? using เมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary -
What time? using กี่ how many
See in Dictionaryโมง hour, o'clock
See in Dictionary -
What time? using เวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary -
Which time? using เวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary -
Which time? using ตอน at (a time)
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary
Bonus: How long?
- How long? using นาน a long time
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary or นาน a long time
See in Dictionaryแค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary
Let's go through them one by one.
When? in Thai
เมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary usually appears at the end of the question, but can also appear at the beginning for emphasis:
See in Dictionary usually appears at the end of the question, but can also appear at the beginning for emphasis:
- question + เมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary? - เมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary + question? (emphasized)
In spoken Thai เมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary can be replaced with เมื่อไร when
See in Dictionary or เมอะไร when?
See in Dictionary.
The answer can be a specific time of the day (e.g. 3 p.m.), or something more abstract like "next week".
You cannot use เมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary to ask "What time is it now?".
See in Dictionary can be replaced with เมื่อไร when
See in Dictionary or เมอะไร when?
See in Dictionary.
The answer can be a specific time of the day (e.g. 3 p.m.), or something more abstract like "next week".
You cannot use เมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary to ask "What time is it now?".
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Examples
Q: When are you going?
คุณ Ms, Mrs, Mr; you
See in Dictionaryไป go; too
See in Dictionaryเมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary?
Literally: you - go - when?
Q: When are you going?
เมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionaryคุณ Ms, Mrs, Mr; you
See in Dictionaryไป go; too
See in Dictionary?
Literally: when? - you - go
A: Next week
อาทิตย์ week
See in Dictionaryหน้า front; next, upcoming; face; page
See in Dictionary
Literally: week - next
Q: When does the shop open?
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryเมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - when?
A: At 8 a.m.
๘ 8
See in Dictionaryโมงเช้า 6 a.m. - 11 noon
See in Dictionary
Literally: 8 - morning
คุณ Ms, Mrs, Mr; you
See in Dictionaryไป go; too
See in Dictionaryเมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary?
Literally: you - go - when?
Q: When are you going?
เมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionaryคุณ Ms, Mrs, Mr; you
See in Dictionaryไป go; too
See in Dictionary?
Literally: when? - you - go
A: Next week
อาทิตย์ week
See in Dictionaryหน้า front; next, upcoming; face; page
See in Dictionary
Literally: week - next
Q: When does the shop open?
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryเมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - when?
A: At 8 a.m.
๘ 8
See in Dictionaryโมงเช้า 6 a.m. - 11 noon
See in Dictionary
Literally: 8 - morning
What time? in Thai using กี่โมง
กี่ how many
See in Dictionaryโมง hour, o'clock
See in Dictionary literally means "How many hours?". You use it to ask for a specific time of the day:
See in Dictionaryโมง hour, o'clock
See in Dictionary literally means "How many hours?". You use it to ask for a specific time of the day:
- statement + กี่ how many
See in Dictionaryโมง hour, o'clock
See in Dictionary?
You can read more on "how many"- questions in this article: Questions of degree in Thai
Examples
Q: When did you eat breakfast?
คุณ Ms, Mrs, Mr; you
See in Dictionaryกิน eat
See in Dictionaryอาหาร food
See in Dictionaryเช้า morning
See in Dictionaryกี่ how many
See in Dictionaryโมง hour, o'clock
See in Dictionary?
Literally: you - eat - food - morning - how many? - hour
Q: What time does the shop open?
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryกี่ how many
See in Dictionaryโมง hour, o'clock
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - how many? - hour
A: At 8 a.m.
๘ 8
See in Dictionaryโมงเช้า 6 a.m. - 11 noon
See in Dictionary
Literally: 8 - morning
Q: What time is it now?
ตอนนี้ now
See in Dictionaryกี่ how many
See in Dictionaryโมง hour, o'clock
See in Dictionaryแล้ว already; and, so
See in Dictionary?
Literally: now - how many? - hour - already
A: 8 a.m.
๘ 8
See in Dictionaryโมงเช้า 6 a.m. - 11 noon
See in Dictionary
Literally: 8 - morning
Q: What time is it?
กี่ how many
See in Dictionaryโมง hour, o'clock
See in Dictionaryแล้ว already; and, so
See in Dictionary?
Literally: how many? - hour - already
A: 8 a.m.
๘ 8
See in Dictionaryโมงเช้า 6 a.m. - 11 noon
See in Dictionary
Literally: 8 - morning
คุณ Ms, Mrs, Mr; you
See in Dictionaryกิน eat
See in Dictionaryอาหาร food
See in Dictionaryเช้า morning
See in Dictionaryกี่ how many
See in Dictionaryโมง hour, o'clock
See in Dictionary?
Literally: you - eat - food - morning - how many? - hour
Q: What time does the shop open?
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryกี่ how many
See in Dictionaryโมง hour, o'clock
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - how many? - hour
A: At 8 a.m.
๘ 8
See in Dictionaryโมงเช้า 6 a.m. - 11 noon
See in Dictionary
Literally: 8 - morning
Q: What time is it now?
ตอนนี้ now
See in Dictionaryกี่ how many
See in Dictionaryโมง hour, o'clock
See in Dictionaryแล้ว already; and, so
See in Dictionary?
Literally: now - how many? - hour - already
A: 8 a.m.
๘ 8
See in Dictionaryโมงเช้า 6 a.m. - 11 noon
See in Dictionary
Literally: 8 - morning
Q: What time is it?
กี่ how many
See in Dictionaryโมง hour, o'clock
See in Dictionaryแล้ว already; and, so
See in Dictionary?
Literally: how many? - hour - already
A: 8 a.m.
๘ 8
See in Dictionaryโมงเช้า 6 a.m. - 11 noon
See in Dictionary
Literally: 8 - morning
What time? in Thai using เวลาเท่าไร
Another way to ask for the time is to use เวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary, literally meaning "how much time?". You use it to ask for a specific time of the day. Here is the pattern:
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary, literally meaning "how much time?". You use it to ask for a specific time of the day. Here is the pattern:
- statement + เวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
The above-mentioned article Questions of degree in Thai also has more information on "how much" questions in Thai.
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Examples
Q: What time does the shop open?
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryเวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - time - how much?
A: At 8 a.m.
๘ 8
See in Dictionaryโมงเช้า 6 a.m. - 11 noon
See in Dictionary
Literally: 8 - morning
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryเวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - time - how much?
A: At 8 a.m.
๘ 8
See in Dictionaryโมงเช้า 6 a.m. - 11 noon
See in Dictionary
Literally: 8 - morning
Q: What time is it now?
ตอนนี้ now
See in Dictionaryเวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: now - time - how much?
A: 8 a.m.
๘ 8
See in Dictionaryโมงเช้า 6 a.m. - 11 noon
See in Dictionary
Literally: 8 - morning
Q: What time is it?
เวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: time - how much?
A: 8 a.m.
๘ 8
See in Dictionaryโมงเช้า 6 a.m. - 11 noon
See in Dictionary
Literally: 8 - morning
Which time? using เวลาไหน and ตอนไหน
The question patterns are the following:
- statement + เวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary? - statement + ตอน at (a time)
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary?
The answer to เวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary is a specific time of the day (e.g. 3 p.m.). The answer to ตอน at (a time)
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary can be a time of the day or more abstract like "next week".
Similar to เมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary (when?), you cannot use เวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary or ตอน at (a time)
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary to ask "What time is it now?"
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary is a specific time of the day (e.g. 3 p.m.). The answer to ตอน at (a time)
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary can be a time of the day or more abstract like "next week".
Similar to เมื่อไหร่ when?
See in Dictionary (when?), you cannot use เวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary or ตอน at (a time)
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary to ask "What time is it now?"
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Examples
Q: Until which time is the shop open?
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryถึง to, until; arrive
See in Dictionaryเวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - until - time - which?
Q: Until which time is the shop open?
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryถึง to, until; arrive
See in Dictionaryตอน at (a time)
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - until - time - which?
A: Until 5 p.m.
ถึง to, until; arrive
See in Dictionaryห้า 5
See in Dictionaryโมงเย็น 4 pm.- 6 pm.
See in Dictionary
Literally: Until - 5 - late afternoon
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryถึง to, until; arrive
See in Dictionaryเวลา time; when
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - until - time - which?
Q: Until which time is the shop open?
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryถึง to, until; arrive
See in Dictionaryตอน at (a time)
See in Dictionaryไหน where; which
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - until - time - which?
A: Until 5 p.m.
ถึง to, until; arrive
See in Dictionaryห้า 5
See in Dictionaryโมงเย็น 4 pm.- 6 pm.
See in Dictionary
Literally: Until - 5 - late afternoon
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Bonus: Asking "How long?" (for a duration of time)
The most common patterns to ask for a duration of Time (How long...?) in Thai are:
- statement + นาน a long time
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary - statement + นาน a long time
See in Dictionaryแค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary
Note: The same pattern can also mean "how old ...?" when talking about an object. This might create confusion.
Note II: เท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary and แค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary mean "how much?". To learn more about "How much?"-questions, read the article on Questions of Degree in Thai.
Note II: เท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary and แค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary mean "how much?". To learn more about "How much?"-questions, read the article on Questions of Degree in Thai.
Example
Q: How long is the shop open?
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryแค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - duration - how much?
Q: How long is the shop open?
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - duration - how much?
A: 3 hours
สาม 3
See in Dictionaryชั่วโมง an hour
See in Dictionary
Literally: 3 - hour
Q: How long do I need to wait for the food?
รอ wait
See in Dictionaryอาหาร food
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: wait - food - duration - how much?
Q: How long do I need to wait for the food?
รอ wait
See in Dictionaryอาหาร food
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryแค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary?
Literally: wait - food - duration - how much?
Q: How long have you been (his/her) girlfriend/boyfriend?
เป็น be, is, am, are
See in Dictionaryแฟน boyfriend / girlfriend
See in Dictionaryกัน together; one another, each other; separate, prevent, trim
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: Be - girlfriend/boyfriend - together - duration - how much?
Q: How long have you been (his/her) girlfriend/boyfriend?
เป็น be, is, am, are
See in Dictionaryแฟน boyfriend / girlfriend
See in Dictionaryกัน together; one another, each other; separate, prevent, trim
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryแค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary?
Literally: Be - girlfriend/boyfriend - together - duration - how much?
Q: How long will you stay here? / How long have you stayed here?
มา come, arrive
See in Dictionaryอยู่ is (located at); live (at); happening now
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: come - stay - duration - how much?
Q: How long will you stay here? / How long have you stayed here?
มา come, arrive
See in Dictionaryอยู่ is (located at); live (at); happening now
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryแค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary?
Literally: come - stay - duration - how much?
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryแค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - duration - how much?
Q: How long is the shop open?
ร้าน shop, store
See in Dictionaryเปิด open
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: shop - open - duration - how much?
A: 3 hours
สาม 3
See in Dictionaryชั่วโมง an hour
See in Dictionary
Literally: 3 - hour
Q: How long do I need to wait for the food?
รอ wait
See in Dictionaryอาหาร food
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: wait - food - duration - how much?
Q: How long do I need to wait for the food?
รอ wait
See in Dictionaryอาหาร food
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryแค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary?
Literally: wait - food - duration - how much?
Q: How long have you been (his/her) girlfriend/boyfriend?
เป็น be, is, am, are
See in Dictionaryแฟน boyfriend / girlfriend
See in Dictionaryกัน together; one another, each other; separate, prevent, trim
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: Be - girlfriend/boyfriend - together - duration - how much?
Q: How long have you been (his/her) girlfriend/boyfriend?
เป็น be, is, am, are
See in Dictionaryแฟน boyfriend / girlfriend
See in Dictionaryกัน together; one another, each other; separate, prevent, trim
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryแค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary?
Literally: Be - girlfriend/boyfriend - together - duration - how much?
Q: How long will you stay here? / How long have you stayed here?
มา come, arrive
See in Dictionaryอยู่ is (located at); live (at); happening now
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: come - stay - duration - how much?
Q: How long will you stay here? / How long have you stayed here?
มา come, arrive
See in Dictionaryอยู่ is (located at); live (at); happening now
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryแค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary?
Literally: come - stay - duration - how much?
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Example - how long / old
Q: How long/old is this movie?
หนัง a movie
See in Dictionaryเรื่อง quantifier for dreams, stories, movies; story, topic
See in Dictionaryนี้ this
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: movie - classifier for movies - this - duration - how much?
Q: How long/old is this movie?
หนัง a movie
See in Dictionaryเรื่อง quantifier for dreams, stories, movies; story, topic
See in Dictionaryนี้ this
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryแค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary?
Literally: movie - classifier for movies - this - duration - how much?
A: 3 hours (long)
สาม 3
See in Dictionaryชั่วโมง an hour
See in Dictionary
Literally: 3 - hour
หนัง a movie
See in Dictionaryเรื่อง quantifier for dreams, stories, movies; story, topic
See in Dictionaryนี้ this
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryเท่าไหร่ how much; not quite
See in Dictionary?
Literally: movie - classifier for movies - this - duration - how much?
Q: How long/old is this movie?
หนัง a movie
See in Dictionaryเรื่อง quantifier for dreams, stories, movies; story, topic
See in Dictionaryนี้ this
See in Dictionaryนาน a long time
See in Dictionaryแค่ไหน how much
See in Dictionary?
Literally: movie - classifier for movies - this - duration - how much?
A: 3 hours (long)
สาม 3
See in Dictionaryชั่วโมง an hour
See in Dictionary
Literally: 3 - hour
A: 30 years (old)
สาม 3
See in Dictionaryสิบ 10
See in Dictionaryปี year
See in Dictionary
Literally: 3 - 10 - year
สาม 3
See in Dictionaryสิบ 10
See in Dictionaryปี year
See in Dictionary
Literally: 3 - 10 - year