ว่า

From Chinese 話 (“to say; to speak”). Cognate with Lao ວ່າ (wā), Lü ᦞᦱᧈ (vaa¹), Shan ဝႃႈ (wāa).

ว่า • (wâa) (abstract noun การว่า)

1. to say, to speak, to tell; to utter, to pronounce.
2. to instruct; to direct.
3. to address; to deal (with); to handle; to administer; to manage.
4. to admonish; to scold; to rebuke; to lecture.
5. to criticise; to comment negatively; to speak ill (of).
6. (now rare) to sing; to chant.
7. (now often in combination) to hire; to employ; to ask to do something in exchange for compensation.

ว่า • (wâa)

1. as; that; as follows.
   • หวังว่าจะไม่เผ็ดเกินไป

     wǎng wâa jà mâi pèt gəən-bpai

     I hope (that) it is not too spicy.

   • ช่วยบอกเขาด้วยนะครับว่าผมจะมาสายหน่อย

     chûai bɔ̀ɔk kǎo dûai ná kráp wâa pǒm jà maa sǎai nɔ̀i

     Please tell him also that I'll be a little late.

   • ฉันก็ยังไม่ทราบแน่นอนว่าจะเป็นไปได้หรือไม่

     chǎn gɔ̂ yang mâi sâap nɛ̂ɛ-nɔɔn wâa jà bpen bpai dâai rʉ̌ʉ mâi

     I still don't know for sure whether it will be possible or not.

2. as; as if; like.