Learn how to speak Thai

It is always helpful to be able to speak at least a few words of the language of the country you are visiting. Your hosts will appreciate the efforts you make. Thai is not easy for Westerners to speak, because it is a tonal language. So a single word can have up to 5 different meanings, depending on the tone (high, medium, low, rising, falling). or e!ample, the word "ma" can mean# come here, dog, or horse $ depending on the tone. %ut most Thais will understand you if you speak slowly and clearly, particularly if you use the words in a sentence. &our Thai hosts will help you if you make the effort and it will pay off in many une!pected ways. Try it and see' Thai culture is a mi!ture of %uddhism and animism. Thais believe there are ghosts or spirits all around us. Some of them are benign and they make offerings to them at spirit houses, burning incense and offering food and drink. %ut because some spirits are dangerous they give their children nicknames so that the spirits will not recogni(e the children by their correct name and steal them away. )f you already know the person you might be asked to use their nickname instead. *ommon nicknames include# +aeng (red), ,oo (pig), -oi (small), and so on. .therwise, address business people by their first names, like this# ,r Somchai, ,iss Wasana.

English phrase

Thai phrase

"/rup" is used by males as a polite form at the Sawadee krup end of sentences 0 the 121 is almost silent 3 Sawadee ka (females) "/a" is used by females Sometimes you will hear 1na krup1 or 1na ka1. This is also acceptable. &ou should use "/rup" or "/a" at the end of most sentences to make them more polite.

(males)

4ello (also used to say "goodbye")

Sawadee krup5ka

Thank you

/ob khun krup, /ob /ob khun na krup, /ob khun na ka

khun

ka

4ow are you6

/hun sabai dee ruer6

ine thanks

Sabai dee, krup5ka

) can"t speak Thai

7oot Thai mai dai, krup5ka

-ever mind

,ai pen rai, krup5ka

8ood (as in, 1) like it1)

+ee, krup5ka

9ery good

+ee mark, krup5ka

9ery tasty, krup5ka

:roy dee, krup5ka

-o good, krup5ka

,ai dee

7lease bring me a glass of iced water5tea5coffee

/or narm yen geow, krup5ka /or narm char, krup5ka /or cafe;, krup5ka

4ow much6

Towlai, , krup5ka6

4ow much is this6

&arng nee towlai, krup5ka6

Wow' Why is it so e!pensive6

.y' Tum$mai pang mark, krup5ka6

4ow much can you reduce the price6

2ot dai towlai, krup5ka6

4ow much to go to Silom 2oad6

7ai thanon Silom towlai, krup5ka6

Where are you going6

<a painai, krup5ka6

*an ) speak to ,r Somchart, please6

/or poot cup /hun Somchart, krup5ka6

What time can we meet6

2ao =a =er gun key morng, krup5ka6

Where can we meet6

2ao =a =er gun tee nai, krup5ka6

*ome here

,a nee'

Turn left

>eo sai

Turn right

>eo kwa

8o straight ahead

Trong bai

Stop here

&oot tee nee

Slow down

*ha cha

%e careful

2a warng

) don"t want any (it) thanks

,ai ow, krup

*an you eat hot food6 (as in chilli hot)

/hun kin aharn pet dai mai, krup6

) can"t eat hot food

7om kin aharn pet mai dai, krup

) like to eat hot food

7om chop kin aharn pet, krup

)"ve lost my room key

4ai goon=aer hong bai lao, krup

%ring me a 4einekin beer

/or beer 4einekin, krup

,onday

Wan chun

Tuesday

Wan unkarn

Wednesday

Wan poot

Thursday

Wan paroohut

riday

Wan sook

Saturday

Wan sao

Sunday

Wan a$tit

Today

Wan$nee

Tomorrow

7roong$nee

&esterday

,eur wa nee

English Number

Thai Number

-eung

Song

Sarm

See

4ar (high tone voice)

4ock

<et

%at

/ow (high tone)

?G

Sip

??, ?@, ?A, ?B, ?5, ?C, ?D, ?E, ?F

Sip et, Sip song, Sip sarm, Sip si, Sip 4ar (high tone), Sip hock, Sip =et, Sip bat, Sip 8ow (high tone)

@G, AG, BG, 5G, CG, DG, EG, FG

&ee sip, Sarm sip, Si sip, 4ar (high tone) sip, 4ock sip, <et sip, %at sip, 8ow (high tone) sip

?GG

-eung roy

?,GGG

-eung pun

?G,GGG

-eung meun

?GG,GGG

-eung saen

?,GGG,GGG

-eung larn

Speak Thai
More Thai phrases help yourself in an emergency, and get better acquainted with local Thai people. Check out the phrases below:

Basic Greetings and Phrases Hello / Good Morning Thank You op khun (krup/kaa) How are $ou% 'ine( thanks# ) cannot speak Thai# Please speak more slowl$# ) don+t understand# ,o $ou understand% Ma$ ) take a photograph% Ma$ ) use the telephone% -here is the restroom% How much does it cost% -hat is this% .er$ e/pensi"e#

Sawadee krup (male) kaa (female)

!e"er Mind Mai pen rai# Sa&ai dee mai% Sa&ai dee# Phoot Thai mai dai# Phrohd phoot cha*cha# Mai kao chai# ao chai mai% Tai ruup dai mai% or chai torasap mai% Hong nam $oo ti nai% !ee tao*rai (krup/kaa)% !ee arai% Paeng maak#

,o $ou ha"e something cheaper% The &ill please# Good&$e# See $ou again# Pleased to meet $ou# Happ$ !ew Year2 Happ$ Birthda$2 Good luck2 Sorr$ / e/cuse me# ,oes an$one speak 3nglish% ) need a doctor# ) want to go### -here is###% Turn left# Turn right# Straight 4head# Stop here# Slow down# Be careful2 4irport# Bus Station# 6ailwa$ Station#

Mii tuuk gwaa nee mai% Gep taang (krup/kaa)# 0a gon# 0aew pho& gan mai# ,ee 1ai thee dai pho& gan# Sawadee &i mai2 Sooksan wan gerd2 or hai chok dee2 or thoad# Mee krai pood pasa angrit dai &ang mai% Tong karn more ma raksa# Yaak 1a &ai### Yuk nai% 0eeo sai# 0eeo kwaa# Trong &ai# Yuut tee nee# 5ha*cha# 6a wang2 Sanam &in# Satanee rot mae# Satanee rot fai#

Police Station Hotel# 3m&ass$ Hospital Post 7ffice# Market#

Satanee tum*ruat# 6ong*raeum# Sa*tantoot# 6ong*pa$a&aan Prai*sanee# ,alaat