Sawatdee!

When visiting a foreign country it is always a good idea to learn some words. You
probably won't need to use much if you stick to the main tourist destinations. However,
the Thai people you encounter will be impressed for sure if you try and use a little Thai
with them.

Language Tips:

* Whenever you speak Thai language if you're a man, you should end the sentence
with the word khrab and kha for woman. You should say it after sawatdee (Greeting/
Hello, Hi) and khorb koon (Thank you). Sometimes we use khrab and kha for "yes". If
you hear Thai people talk on the phone you might here them say only "khrab khrab
khrab" all the time.

* If you want to speak Thai you should listen to Thai people speak English because they
will do it in a Thai accent for example they won't say the letter at the end of the words,
like "important" will sound like "importan", "most" will sound like "mose", etc. Also
Thai people won't have the little explosion at the end of “map”, we will close our mouth
after "p" but English people will end with their mouth open. A good example in Thai is
"khrab". Don't open your mouth after "b".

* Thai people will also break the word up. For example "smile". We will say it as "sa-
mile", "sport" will become "sa-port", "summer" will become "sum-mer" and in this case
Thai people will make the last part louder.

* One of the most difficult things about speaking Thai is the tones because there are 5
tones to remember. There are low, middle, high, falling and rising, if you say it in the
wrong tone, the word will have a different meaning. For example if you say mai mai mai
mai in the right tone, it will mean "New wood burns, doesn't it?"

* There are some Thai words that most tourists get wrong. For example, most people
say Ko Samui for the island. The word island should be pronounced with a short "Goh"
sound. The popular Thai beer Singha is called "singer" by most foreigners. Really, you
should say "beer sing"! One more that I can think of now, Siam Square in Bangkok
should be pronounced "Sa-yam".

* Vowel length is very important when you speak Thai. If you make the sound of a
word longer you might change the meaning! I know in English you can say "hellooooo"
if you like but you can't in Thai.

The most common greeting you will hear in Thailand is "sawatdee". This is quite often
used for both hello and goodbye. With most of the phrases on this page you need to end
with the polite words: khrab for men and kha for women. There are also a few phrases
where I say "phom" which is "I" for men. Women would normally say 'di-chun" in
formal situations and "chun" among friends.
English Thai Hindi
Hello/Goodbye sawat-dee ueLrs

Goodbye la-gon Vk Vk

See you again laeo jer gun fQj feysaxsaaA

good luck chok dee xqM yd

How are you? sabai dee mai vki dSls gSa ?

I am fine. sabai dee eSa vPNk@vPNh gwa
A
And you? laeo khun la vkSj vki dSls gSa ?
What is your name? khun chue arai vkidk D;k uke gS ?
My name is.... chan chue.... esjk uke gS ........
Nice to know you yin dee tee dai roo-juk vkils fey dj [kq’kh
gqbZ A
Nice to know you too chen gun eq>s Hkh vkils fey dj
[kq’kh gqbZ A
Where do you come from? koon maa jaak nai vki dgka ls vk,@vkbZ
gSa ?
I come from India pom maa jaak inn dear eSa bafZM;k ls
vk;k@vkbZ gwaA
Thank you khorb khun /kU;oknA
It’s okay/You’re welcome mai pen rai Bhd gSA
khor thot sorry {kek dhft,@ekQ
dhft,A
How much is this? ra ka thao rai ;s fdrus dk gS ?
That is a little expensive. paeng pai FkksM+k egaxk gSA
Can you make it cheaper? lot noi dai mai dqN lLrk nsaxs ?
How about ... baht? ... baht dai mai .......ckgr dk nsaaxs ?
Can you help me? chuay dai mai D;k vki esjh lgk;rk
djsaxs ?
Can I see that? khor doo dai mai D;k eSa og ns[k ldrk
gwa ?
I am just looking. khor doo thao nun eSa dsoy ns[k jgk
gwaA
I will come back later. ja ma mai eSa ckn esa okil
vkÅaxkA
Do you have something mee took gwar mai D;k vkids ikl dksbZ
cheaper? lLrk lkeku gS ?
Do you have another colour? mee see auen mai D;k vkids ikl dksbZ
nwljk jax gS?
Where is …? …….you tee nai? …….dgka gS ?
I want to go to …….. Chun ja pai …. eq>s …… tkuk gSA
Bus Stop Tar rot may cl LVSaM
Toilet Hong nam 'kkSpky;
Airport Sa-nam bin gokbZ vM~Mk
Train Station Sa-tar-nee rot-fai jsyos LVs’ku
Which way? Pai tang nai? dkSu lk jkLrk ?
Left Sai ck,a
Right Kwar nk,a
Straight on Trong pai lh/kk
Is it far? Glai mai? D;k ;g nwj gS ?
I only eat vegetarian food. phom gin jay eSa dsoy 'kkdkgkjh
[kkuk [kkrk gwaA
Do you have any vegetarian tee-nee mee ar-haan jay D;k vkids ikl
food here? mai 'kkdkgkjh [kkuk gS ?

If you want to be serious about shopping and bargaining then it is important to learn Thai
numbers. In department stores all prices are marked but in outdoor markets you will have
to ask for the price and then try and make it cheaper.

Zero Soon 'kwU;

One Nueng ,d
Two Song nks
Three Sam rhu
Four See pkj
Five Har ikap
Six Hok Ng
Seven Jed lkr
Eight Paed vkB
Nine Gao ukS
Ten Sib nl
Eleven Sib Et X;kjg
Twelve Sib Song ckjg
Thirteen Sib Sam rsjg

The following is an imaginary conversation with a tuk tuk driver in Bangkok. We have
tried to keep it simple so that it will be easier for you to remember. Some of the phrase
books give you really long examples which are complicated and not necessary. Just say
"pai xxx" to say where you are going. In Thai you don't really need to say "I". For how
much you can use either 'tao rai" or "gee baht". You can learn numbers if you like or just
use your fingers.

Tourist: How much is it to pai panthip tao rai? i;ZVd % ikufFki tkus
go to Panthip? dk fdruk yksxs ?
Tuk-tuk driver: 50 baht har sib baht Vqd Vqd pkyd % ipkl
ckgr
Tourist: Too paeng pai, sam sib baht dai i;ZVd % cgqr T+;knk
expensive, how about 30 mai? gSA rhl ckgr yksxs ?
baht?
Tuk-tuk driver: No, 40 baht. mai dai. see sib baht Vqd Vqd pkyd % ugha,
pkyhl ckgrA
Tourist: Ok, 40 baht. tok long, see sib baht i;ZVd % Bhd gSA
pkyhl ckgrA