Thai Language Tips

Sometimes the brave traveler will learn some of the local language to better engage the people they meet.

 

So with the Thai language, where do you start?



If we were to tell you that the Thai alphabet has 44 consonants and 15 vowels - and all of this can be spoken in five different tones, you would be right to feel a little intimidated!

 

With that in mind, we have listed below a few useful words & phrases, in an easy format to get you started - where you go from here is up to you!

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Please note: Men add "Kap" and women add "Kaa" to the end of many statements as a means of being polite.

Some Thai basics to get you started:

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Hello                                                   Sa-was-dee (Kap/Kaa)

 

Yes                                                      Chai

 

No                                                       Mai Chai

 

How are you?                                 Sa-bai-dee-mai (kap/kaa)

 

I´m fine, thanks                            Sa-bai-dee, kob-kun (kap/kaa)

 

Nice to meet you                          yin-dee-tee-dai-ruu-jak (kap/kaa)

 

Excuse me                                       ko-thod-(Kap/Kaa)

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I do not understand                    mai-khao-jai-(Kap/Kaa) 

 

Tasty! (Food)                                  Aroy

 

Where is the toilet?                      houng-naam(bathroom) you-tee-nai-(Kap/Ka)

 

Thank you (very much)              kob-kun-(mak) (Kap/Kaa)

 

You're welcome                            mai pen rai (Kap/Kaa)

 

Goodbye                                         Sa-was-dee (Kap/Kaa)

 

 

If you try to speak Thai to Thai people and they laugh, please don't be be put off. Thais love to laugh.

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They are just laughing with you, not at you - keep trying!

Numbers



1    nung

2    san

3    sam

4    see

5    haa

6    hock

7    jebt

8    beart

9    cow

10  sip

11  sip-et

12  sip-san



​20  yee-sip

30  sam-sip

40  see-sip

50  haa-sip 



100   nung-roi

500   haa-roi

1000 phan

5000 haa-phan