A Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia.
"The family gathered around the table to enjoy a hearty bowl of wat served with injera bread."
A kind of stew or curry eaten in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
"The old well was still full of wat during the dry season."
Usage: Wat refers specifically to a Buddhist temple found throughout Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Do not confuse this term with "wats" the plural form of water or other unrelated words starting with 'wat'.
Alternative spelling of what
"That's not true, wat? I thought you knew that already."
Used to contradict an underlying assumption held by the interlocutor.
In plain English: Wat is an informal way of saying that something happened unexpectedly, often with surprise or confusion.
"He was too wat to give up on his dream."
Alternative spelling of what
"The text in that old letter spelled 'wat' instead of 'what'."
Alternative spelling of what
"The text contained several instances of wat used as an alternative spelling of what in informal chats."
A medieval English given name, short for Walter or from the Anglo-Saxon name Watt.
"The local council decided to hold the festival in Wat next year."
Abbreviation of Waterford.
The word wat is borrowed directly from the Thai language, where it originally referred to a Buddhist temple or monastery. It entered English usage primarily through travel accounts and colonial interactions with Southeast Asia.