See also: ไหว

Thai

edit
 
the expression

Etymology

edit

Compare Lao ໄຫວ້ (wai), ᦺᦛᧉ (v̇ay²), Shan ဝႆႈ (wāi), Vietnamese vái, Middle Chinese 𢷎 (MC peajH peajH, “worship,bow, pray”).

Pronunciation

edit
Orthographicไหว้
ai h w ˆ
Phonemic
ว่าย
w ˋ ā y
RomanizationPaiboonwâai
Royal Institutewai
(standard) IPA(key)/waːj˥˩/(R)
Homophonesว่าย

Noun

edit

ไหว้ (wâai)

  1. wai, an expression of respect or reverence by pressing the palms together, accompanied by a bow if rendered to a person of higher status or to a sacred figure or object.

Verb

edit

ไหว้ (wâai) (abstract noun การไหว้)

  1. to perform a wai.
  2. to pay respect, with or as if with a wai.
  3. to have respect or reverence (for).
  4. to make an earnest entreaty.
  5. to worship.
    ไหว้เจ้า
    wâai jâao
    to worship God
    ไหว้พระจันทร์
    wâai prá jan
    to worship the Moon

Derived terms

edit

See also

edit
  • ນົບ (nop) (a similar gesture used in Laos)
  • សំពះ (sɑmpĕəh) (a similar gesture used in Cambodia)