Reported Speech with 'Wa' (ว่า)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'ว่า' (wâa) to link a verb of saying or thinking to the statement being reported, acting like the English word 'that'.
- Place 'ว่า' immediately after verbs like 'บอก' (say) or 'คิด' (think). Example: 'เขาบอกว่า...' (He said that...)
- Unlike English, 'ว่า' is rarely optional in Thai when reporting information or thoughts formally.
- Use it to bridge the main subject's action with the content of their message or belief.
Overview
wa comes in. It’s your go-to connector for reporting what someone else said, thought, or felt. Think of it as the Thai version of 'that' in 'I think that...' or 'She said that...'. It’s essentially the glue that sticks a main clause to a reported thought or statement. Without it, your sentences might sound like a broken robot. With it, you’re basically a local gossip pro.How This Grammar Works
wa is super simple. You just place it right after a verb of communication or perception. Think of verbs like phuut (to speak), khit (to think), or bawk (to tell). Once you drop that verb, you add wa, and then you follow it with the actual content of what was said or thought. It’s like opening a speech bubble in a manga. You’re signaling to your listener, 'Hey, here comes the juicy part of what was said.' It’s way more natural than just pausing and hoping they get it.
Formation Pattern
phom, khun).
khit - think, bawk - tell).
wa immediately after the verb.
Khun khit wa... (You think that...)
When To Use It
Khon suan yai bawk wa raan nee dee. It also works when you’re arguing on Twitter and need to reference what someone else claimed. Just avoid using it when you’re talking about physical objects, like 'I bought a pen.' That’s just suue pakka. Keep wa for mental or vocal stuff.
Common Mistakes
wa as a direct translation for 'that' in every situation. If you are pointing at a shirt, don't say wa. Also, don't forget the verb before wa. You can't just say 'I wa he is nice.' You need that main verb, like phom khit wa.... It’s like trying to bake a cake without flour; it’s just not going to work, and you’ll look confused at the bakery.Contrast With Similar Patterns
waa (with a long vowel). It’s basically the same thing but sounds a bit more emphatic or drawn out. Don't worry too much about the length difference early on; locals will understand you either way. Also, contrast this with thii, which is used for relative clauses (e.g., 'The person who is here'). wa reports content, thii describes nouns. Don't mix them up or you'll sound like you're speaking in riddles.Quick FAQ
Can I drop wa? A: Sometimes in very casual texting, but keep it for clarity. Q: Does it change with gender? A: Nope, wa is gender-neutral. Q: Is it formal? A: It’s used everywhere, from business meetings to TikTok comments. Q: Can I use it with 'feeling'? A: Yes, ruu suek wa (I feel that...) works perfectly.
Structure of Reported Speech with 'Wa'
| Subject | Reporting Verb | Connector (Wa) | Reported Content |
|---|---|---|---|
|
เขา (He)
|
บอก (tell)
|
ว่า (wâa)
|
จะมา (will come)
|
|
ฉัน (I)
|
คิด (think)
|
ว่า (wâa)
|
เขาน่ารัก (he is cute)
|
|
เรา (We)
|
รู้ (know)
|
ว่า (wâa)
|
คุณเหนื่อย (you are tired)
|
|
แม่ (Mom)
|
ถาม (ask)
|
ว่า (wâa)
|
กินข้าวหรือยัง (have you eaten?)
|
|
ตำรวจ (Police)
|
ประกาศ (announce)
|
ว่า (wâa)
|
ทางปิด (road is closed)
|
|
เพื่อน (Friend)
|
ได้ยิน (heard)
|
ว่า (wâa)
|
ฝนจะตก (it will rain)
|
Common Verb + Wa Combinations
| Thai | Pronunciation | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
บอกว่า
|
bòok wâa
|
said that / told that
|
|
คิดว่า
|
khít wâa
|
think that
|
|
รู้ว่า
|
rúu wâa
|
know that
|
|
เห็นว่า
|
hěn wâa
|
see that / consider that
|
|
พูดว่า
|
phûut wâa
|
said that (the act of speaking)
|
|
ถามว่า
|
thǎam wâa
|
asked that / asked if
|
Meanings
The primary function of 'ว่า' (wâa) is to act as a complementizer that introduces a subordinate clause, typically representing reported speech, thoughts, beliefs, or perceptions.
Reported Speech
Used after verbs of speaking to report what someone else said.
“แม่บอกว่าให้กลับบ้าน (Mâe bòok wâa hâi klàp bâan) - Mom said to come home.”
“เขาถามว่าไปไหน (Khǎo thǎam wâa pai nǎi) - He asked where [I] was going.”
Internal Thoughts & Beliefs
Used after verbs of cognition to express what someone thinks, knows, or believes.
“ผมรู้ว่าคุณเหนื่อย (Phǒm rúu wâa khun nùeai) - I know that you are tired.”
“เธอเชื่อว่าผีมีจริง (Thoe chûea wâa phǐi mii ching) - She believes that ghosts are real.”
Perception and Senses
Used after verbs of hearing or feeling to describe a perceived fact.
“ได้ยินว่าเขาจะลาออก (Dâai-yin wâa khǎo chà laa-òok) - I heard that he is going to resign.”
“รู้สึกว่าวันนี้ร้อนมาก (Rúu-sùk wâa wan-níi róon mâak) - I feel that today is very hot.”
Reference Table
| Verb | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
khit
|
to think
|
khit wa
|
think that
|
|
bawk
|
to tell
|
bawk wa
|
tell that
|
|
phuut
|
to speak
|
phuut wa
|
say that
|
|
ruu suek
|
to feel
|
ruu suek wa
|
feel that
|
|
hen
|
to see/notice
|
hen wa
|
notice that
|
|
tawng
|
to want
|
tawng wa
|
want that (rare)
|
Formality Spectrum
เขากล่าวว่าเขาจะไม่มา (Khǎo klàao wâa khǎo chà mâi maa) (Reporting attendance)
เขาบอกว่าเขาไม่มา (Khǎo bòok wâa khǎo mâi maa) (Reporting attendance)
เขาว่าไม่มา (Khǎo wâa mâi maa) (Reporting attendance)
มันบอกว่าไม่มาว่ะ (Man bòok wâa mâi maa wâ) (Reporting attendance)
The 'Wa' Connection
Verbs
- khit think
- bawk tell
Reporting vs. Describing
Decision Flow
Are you reporting speech or thoughts?
Usage Contexts
Social
- • Gossip
- • Advice
- • Reviews
Examples by Level
เขาบอกว่าหิว
He said that [he] is hungry.
ฉันคิดว่าดี
I think that [it] is good.
แม่ว่าสวย
Mom says [it] is beautiful.
เขาพูดว่าสวัสดี
He said 'Hello'.
ผมรู้ว่าคุณชอบแมว
I know that you like cats.
เขาถามว่าไปไหน
He asked where [you] are going.
ได้ยินว่าเขาไม่สบาย
I heard that he is not well.
เธอเชื่อว่าเขาจะมา
She believes that he will come.
ปรากฏว่าเขาไม่ได้ไปทำงาน
It turned out that he didn't go to work.
เขายืนยันว่าไม่ได้ทำผิด
He insisted that he did nothing wrong.
ฉันรู้สึกว่าเขากำลังโกหก
I feel that he is lying.
เขาเตือนว่าถนนลื่น
He warned that the road is slippery.
เป็นที่ทราบกันดีว่าเขาเป็นคนเก่ง
It is well known that he is a talented person.
เขาสันนิษฐานว่าเกิดจากไฟฟ้าลัดวงจร
He assumed that it was caused by a short circuit.
มีข่าวลือว่าพวกเขากำลังจะแต่งงานกัน
There is a rumor that they are getting married.
เขาชี้แจงว่าบริษัทไม่มีนโยบายนี้
He clarified that the company does not have this policy.
โดยนัยว่าเขาไม่ต้องการรับผิดชอบ
Implying that he does not want to take responsibility.
เขากล่าวอ้างว่าตนเองมีสิทธิในที่ดินผืนนี้
He claimed that he has rights to this piece of land.
พึงระลึกไว้ว่าความประมาทเป็นหนทางแห่งความตาย
One should keep in mind that negligence is the path to death.
เขาสื่อสารในทำนองว่าเขาจะยอมแพ้
He communicated in a way that suggested he would give up.
หาใช่ว่าเขาไม่รู้ หากแต่เขาแสร้งทำเป็นไม่เห็น
It is not that he doesn't know, but rather he pretends not to see.
บทบัญญัติระบุว่าห้ามกระทำการใดๆ อันเป็นการละเมิดสิทธิ
The provision states that any act violating rights is prohibited.
เขาวางตัวในลักษณะที่ว่าเขาเหนือกว่าทุกคน
He carries himself in a manner that suggests he is superior to everyone.
อาจกล่าวได้ว่านี่คือจุดเปลี่ยนสำคัญของประวัติศาสตร์
It could be said that this is a major turning point in history.
Easily Confused
Both translate to 'that' in English. Learners use them interchangeably.
Learners see 'wa' in both and get confused.
The word 'ว่า' can also be a verb meaning 'to scold' or 'to blame'.
Common Mistakes
ฉันคิดเขาสวย
ฉันคิดว่าเขาสวย
เขาบอกฉันหิว
เขาบอกว่าฉันหิว
พูดว่าสวัสดีไหม?
เขาพูดว่าสวัสดีใช่ไหม?
ฉันรู้คุณไป
ฉันรู้ว่าคุณไป
เขาถามถ้าฉันไป
เขาถามว่าฉันไปไหม
ได้ยินที่เขาจะมา
ได้ยินว่าเขาจะมา
เขาบอกว่าไม่ไปนะ
เขาบอกว่าเขาไม่ไป
เป็นที่พูดที่เขาเก่ง
เป็นที่พูดกันว่าเขาเก่ง
เขาคิดว่าที่นี่ร้อนที่
เขาคิดว่าที่นี่ร้อน
หมายความที่อะไร
หมายความว่าอะไร
โดยนัยที่เขาจะลาออก
โดยนัยว่าเขาจะลาออก
Sentence Patterns
ฉันคิดว่า ___
เขาบอกว่า ___
ได้ยินว่า ___ ใช่ไหม?
ปรากฏว่า ___
Real World Usage
เห็นว่าพรุ่งนี้มีโปรโมชั่นนะ (I see/heard that there's a promotion tomorrow.)
ผมคิดว่าทักษะของผมเหมาะกับงานนี้ (I think that my skills are suitable for this job.)
เมื่อกี้บอกว่าไม่ใส่พริกครับ (I just said [that] don't put in chili.)
รายงานว่าเกิดเหตุการณ์ประท้วง (Reporting that a protest has occurred.)
เขาว่ากันว่าสองคนนั้นกิ๊กกัน (They say that those two are dating.)
หมอบอกว่าต้องพักผ่อนเยอะๆ (The doctor said that [I] must rest a lot.)
Use 'wa' for clarity
Smart Tips
Shorten 'ฉันคิดว่า' to just 'เราว่า' or 'ผมว่า'. It sounds much more natural in daily Thai conversation.
Don't use 'ถ้า' (if). Always use 'ว่า' + the question particle 'ไหม' or 'หรือเปล่า'.
If you hear '...ว่าอย่างนั้น' or '...ว่าอย่างนี้', it means '...said so' or '...said like this'.
Look at what follows. If it's a full sentence, it's 'that'. If it's just a person/pronoun, it's 'scold'.
Pronunciation
The Falling Tone
The word 'ว่า' must be pronounced with a falling tone. Start high and drop low quickly.
Vowel Length
The 'aa' in 'waa' is a long vowel. Do not clip it short.
Emphasis on Wa
เขาบอก*ว่า*...
Emphasizing 'wa' can signal that you are about to say something very important or surprising.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Wa is the 'Way' to say what they say.
Visual Association
Imagine a bridge made of the letters W-A connecting a giant mouth (speaking) to a speech bubble (the content).
Rhyme
When you think or when you say, 'Wa' is always the bridge's way.
Story
A messenger named 'Wa' runs between a King (the Subject) and the People (the Clause). Every time the King thinks or speaks, Wa must carry the message across the bridge, or the people won't understand what the King meant.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to tell a friend three things you heard on the news today using 'ได้ยินว่า...' (I heard that...).
Cultural Notes
In Central Thai, 'ว่า' is the standard. Omitting it in formal speech is considered uneducated or overly rushed.
In Isan dialect, 'ว่า' is often used similarly but may be pronounced with a different tone or replaced by 'พะนะ' (phá-ná) at the end of a sentence to indicate reported speech.
Southern speakers tend to speak very fast and may shorten 'บอกว่า' to just 'ว่า' or a very clipped 'บ่าวา'.
Derived from Proto-Tai *waː, meaning 'to say'.
Conversation Starters
คุณคิดว่าพรุ่งนี้ฝนจะตกไหม?
เพื่อนบอกว่าอะไรเกี่ยวกับงานปาร์ตี้?
คุณได้ยินว่าช่วงนี้มีข่าวอะไรน่าสนใจบ้าง?
ถ้ามีคนบอกว่าคุณเป็นคนใจดี คุณจะรู้สึกอย่างไร?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Khao ___ wa khao cha ma.
Choose the grammatically correct sentence:
Score: /2
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesเขาบอก___เขาจะมาพรุ่งนี้
Select the correct way to say 'I think he is a good person'.
Find and fix the mistake:
เขาถามถ้าคุณหิวไหม
[ปิด] [ว่า] [ได้ยิน] [ร้าน]
1. รู้ว่า, 2. บอกว่า, 3. ถามว่า
A: เขาพูดว่าอะไรนะ? B: เขาพูด___เขาหิวข้าว
You can use 'ว่า' to describe a noun, like 'The car that is red'.
Use: [ปรากฏว่า], [เขา], [ไม่ได้], [ไป]
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
In very casual, fast speech, it is sometimes dropped, but for learners, it is much safer to always include it. Omitting it can make your Thai sound 'broken'.
'พูดว่า' (phûut wâa) focuses on the act of speaking or the exact words used. 'บอกว่า' (bòok wâa) focuses on the information being conveyed (telling someone something).
Yes! As a verb, it can mean 'to scold' or 'to blame'. As a prefix in 'ว่าแต่' (wâa-tàe), it means 'by the way'.
Use 'ถามว่า' followed by the question: 'เขาถามว่าคุณจะไปไหน' (He asked [that] where are you going).
It is neutral. It is used in everything from street slang to royal decrees. The verb *before* it (like 'กล่าว' vs 'บอก') determines the formality.
This is a complex structure meaning 'the fact that...'. It combines the relative pronoun 'ที่' with the complementizer 'ว่า'.
Yes! 'เห็นว่า' means 'to see that...' or 'to consider that...'. It's often used to express an observation.
It is a falling tone (เสียงโท). This is crucial for being understood correctly.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
that
Thai 'ว่า' is mandatory in many contexts where English 'that' is optional.
que
Thai distinguishes between reporting content and describing nouns; Spanish uses 'que' for both.
que
Thai requires a mental split between speech-reporting and noun-describing.
dass
Thai has no 'verb-final' rule in reported clauses.
と (to) / って (tte)
Placement: Thai 'ว่า' is a prefix to the clause; Japanese 'と' is a suffix.
说 (shuō)
Thai 'ว่า' is more grammatically formalized as a connector than Chinese '说'.
أن (an) / بأن (bi-an)
Arabic particles change based on the following noun/verb; Thai 'ว่า' is invariant.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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