ไหว้
wâai[ ว่าย ]
Often heard
RareEveryday
Our takeWorth learning
In a nutshell
Palms together, a little bow — 'to wai.' Hello, thanks, sorry, all at once.
- VerbMore DetailThe 'wai' is a prayer like gesture which is perfomed with a slight bow. It's widely used in Thailand as a standard greeting, and also when apologising, saying thanks and to show respect. Thai people frequently wai towards a Buddha image when passing by one, sometimes even while driving! If there's a perceived difference in status between two people perfoming the wai, then it is usually the junior or 'lower status' person who will wai first. For instance, a student will wai the teacher first, and not the other way around. The more senior will then usually 'wai' back (รับไหว้), although this is unnecessary in certain situations such as being 'wai-ed' to by children or cashiers. The higher the hands are raised and the deeper the bow, the greater the respect being shown to the recipient of the 'wai'. A กราบ is a step up from the wai and is used when worshipping and showing reverence, predominately to Buddha images or the Royal family..Built up from ไหว้12ไหว้พระwâai práto wai phraOften heardWorth learningกราบไหว้gràap wâaito worship,pay respect,pay homageOften heardWorth learningไหว้เจ้าwâi jâoto wai jaoOften heardWorth learningรับไหว้ráp wâaito rap waiOccasionalNot a priority to learnไหว้ผีwâai pĕeto pay respect to the ghostOccasionalNot a priority to learnของไหว้kŏng wâaisacrificial offeringOccasionalNot a priority to learnไหว้วานwâai waanto ask for help,request someone to do somethingOccasionalNot a priority to learnหน้าไหว้หลังหลอกnâa wâai lăng lòkhypocriticalObscureSafe to skip for now