This is a simple guide for the benefit of visitors and to help those intending to learn Thai to get started. We’ve left the proper learning to the experts, which can be found listed in the resources section. But the following basic words, along with our introductory tutorial in the grammar and sentence structure sections, should help you to communicate at a basic level. We’ve also made this section print friendly so you can take a copy with you as you travel.
| Hello |
sawasdee (krup/ka) |
You |
khun |
| How are you? |
sa-bai dee mai? (rising tone) |
He, She, They |
kao |
| I’m fine |
chan sa-bai dee |
Us, We |
rao |
| Thank you |
khob khun |
What is your name? |
khun chue a-rai? |
| Bye Bye |
la kon |
Yes/No |
chai/mai chai |
| See you again |
phop kan mai (rising tone) |
You’re welcome |
duai khwam yin-dee |
| Excuse me/Sorry |
kho thot |
Welcome to… |
yin-dee ton-rap |
| I, Me |
phom(male) di chan(female) or chan |
Never mind |
mai pen rai |
mai pen rai is universally used to mean, ‘its ok’, ‘oh well’, ‘you’re excused’, ‘forget about it’ and more.
Thais are very civil and polite by habit and will always add krup (male) or ka (female) to the end of the sentence when addressing others unless they are very familiar with them. Often they will also, as a matter of course, add na in front of this to soften any commands. It’s important to get into this habit from the start.
Actions
| Want (something) |
tong-kan |
Walk |
dern (pai) as in trekking |
| Want (action) |
yaak |
Find |
phop |
| Go |
pai |
Repair |
som |
| Come |
maa |
Take a look |
long-duu |
| Take |
ao (lit; want & go) |
Speak |
phuut |
| Would like |
yak cha |
Chat |
kui |
| Bring |
ao maa |
Drive/Ride |
khap/khi |
| Buy |
sue (low tone) |
Pay |
jaai |
Every Day Items
| Money |
ngoen |
Motorcycle |
(Rot) mor-tor-sai |
| Baggage/Bags |
gra-pao |
Boat |
ruea |
| Clothes |
suea pha |
Books |
nang-sua |
| Mobile Phone |
meu thue |
Map |
phaen tee |
| Taxi |
thaek see |
Things |
sing khong |
| Bus |
rot bas |
Soap |
sa-buu |
| Train |
rot fai |
Towel |
pra-chet-tua |
| Airplane |
kruang bin |
Pen |
pak-ka |
| Car |
rot yon |
Spectacles |
wen ta |
| Gasoline |
naam man |
|
|
Numbers
| One |
nueng |
Eleven |
sip-et |
| Two |
song |
Twelve |
sip-song (and so on) |
| Three |
saam |
Twenty |
yee-sip |
| Four |
see |
Twenty One |
yee-sib-et (and so on) |
| Five |
haa (falling tone) |
Thirty |
saam-sib |
| Six |
hok |
Hundred |
rooi |
| Seven |
jet |
Thousand |
phan |
| Eight |
paet |
Ten Thousand |
muen |
| Nine |
kao (short and low) |
Hundred Thousand |
saen |
| Ten |
sip |
Million |
laan |
Days and Times
| Monday |
wan jan |
Month |
duean |
| Tuesday |
wan ang-khan |
Year |
pii |
| Wednesday |
wan phut |
Hour |
chua mong |
| Thursday |
wan pharue-hat |
Minute |
na-tee |
| Friday |
wan suk |
Morning |
ton chao |
| Saturday |
wan sao |
Afternoon |
ton bai |
| Sunday |
wan ah-tit |
Evening |
ton yen |
| Weekend |
sud sap-da |
Night |
ton klang-khuen |
Expressing time: this is somewhat tricky in Thai as they have traditionally broken the 24-hour clock into four sections. As a beginner, it’s too confusing to follow and your best bet is to stick to a 24-hour clock (e.g. 1pm would be sib-saam chua mong or 13 hours).
Questions
| What? |
a-rai? |
| How? (action |
yaang rai? |
| Where? |
(thee) nai? (sometimes ‘nai’ is used on its own) |
| Is? (is not) |
mai? (rising tone) |
| When? |
muea-rai? or kee mong? (at what time) |
| Can (cannot) |
dai mai? (rising tone) |
| How much? |
tao rai? |
| Have? (action) |
rue yaang? (as in ‘have you finished?’) |
| How many? |
kee? (comes before the subject, as an exception to the rule) |
| Are? (to be) |
rue plao? (as in ‘are you Thai?’) |
Hospitality
| Hotel |
rong ram |
Fan |
phad lom |
| Guest House |
baan phak |
Storey |
chan |
| Restaurant |
raan ah-harn |
Swimming Pool |
sa-wai-naam |
| Toilet/Bathroom |
hong naam |
Knife, Fork, Spoon |
mit, som, chon |
| Hot Water |
naam ron |
Bill |
check bin |
| Room |
hong |
Telephone |
tho-ra-sap |
| Bed |
thii non |
TV |
tho-ra-that |
| Massage |
nuat |
Cable |
sai-khe-boen |
| Air Con |
air con |
|
|
Eating and Drinking
| Food |
ah-harn |
Pork (all kinds) |
muu |
| Seafood |
a-han tha-le |
Beef |
nuea-wua |
| Drinking Water |
naam plao |
Shrimp/Prawns |
gung |
| Beer |
bia |
Tofu |
tao hoo |
| Ice |
naam khaeng |
Vegetables |
phak |
| Liquor |
lao |
Noodles |
kuai-tiao |
| Fruit Juice |
naam phon-lamai |
Bread |
kha-nom pang |
| Fruit |
phon-lamai |
Bakes/Snacks |
kha-nom |
| Lunch |
ah-harn klang wan |
Sugar |
naam-taan |
| Breakfast |
ah-harn chao |
Sweet |
wan |
| Dinner |
ah-harn yen |
Salt(y) |
kem |
| Rice |
kaow (falling tone) |
Spicy/Chilli |
pet/prik |
| Fried Rice |
khao phat |
MSG |
pong chu rot |
| Chicken |
gai |
Wheat |
kao saa lii |
If you don’t want an ingredient included simply add mai ow (lit; not want) before any of these (e.g. mai own pon suu rot).
Places
| City/Town |
muang |
National Park |
u-tha-yan hang-chat |
| Village |
moo baan |
Waterfall |
naam tok |
| House |
baan |
Museum |
phi-phit-tha-phan |
| Beach |
haad |
Bank |
tha-na-karn |
| Island |
koh |
Bus Station |
sa-tha-ni rot bas |
| Bay |
aow |
Train Station |
sa-tha-ni rot fai |
| Mountains |
phuu-khao |
Airport |
sa-nam-bin |
| River |
mae naam |
Police Station |
sa-tha-ni tam ruat |
| Market |
talad |
Post Office |
prai-sa-nee |
| Park |
suan-sa-tha-ra-na |
|
|
Adjectives
| Fast |
reo |
Slow |
cha |
| Big |
yaai |
Small |
lek |
| Fat |
uan |
Thin |
phom |
| Early |
chao |
Late |
saai |
| Cheap |
tuuk |
Expensive |
paeng |
| Long |
yao |
Short |
san |
| Difficult |
yaak |
Easy |
ngaai (falling tone) |
| Full |
tem |
Empty |
mot |
| Hot |
ron |
Cold |
yen (naow – weather) |
| Loud |
siang dang |
Quiet |
ngiap |
| Near |
glai-ee (falling) |
Far |
glai (low tone) |
| Black |
sii dam |
White |
sii khao (rising tone) |
| Red |
sii dang |
Blue (light/dark) |
sii faa/sii nam ngoen |
| Yellow |
sii luang |
|
siik kieow |
| Gold |
sii thong |
Grey |
sii tao |
| A Lot |
yoe/maak |
Little |
nit noi |
| Long time |
naan |
|
|
Emergency
| Help! |
chuay duay |
Danger |
aan-ta-rai |
| Not well |
mai sa-bai |
Hurt/Pain |
jep/puat |
| Stomach ache |
puat tong |
Head ache |
puat hua |
| Tooth ache |
puat fun |
Eyes sore |
puat taa |
| Hospital |
rong pa-ya-baan |
Police Station |
sa-tha-ni tum ruat |
| Doctor |
maw |
Dentist |
maw fan |
| Thief/Stolen |
ka-moy-ee |
Accident |
u-bat-ti-het |
| Medicine |
yaa |
Lawyer |
nak-kot-mai |
| Tired |
nuay |
Afraid |
klua |
| Must have |
tong mee |
|
|
Essential Phrases
| I don’t understand |
chan mai kao jai |
| Do you understand? |
khun kao jai mai? (rising tone on last word) |
| I want to go to… |
chan yaak pai… |
| Do you have a room? |
khun mee hong wang mai? (rising tone on last word) |
| What time will you leave? |
khun ja pai gee mong? |
| What time will it open? |
pert gee mong? |
| What time does it close? |
pit gee mong? |
| Which way? |
tang nai? |
| Turn Left/Right |
leo saai/kwaa |
| Go Straight/Stop! |
trong pai/yuut! |
| I don’t want any thanks |
chan mai aow krap/ka! |
| Go Away |
pai sii!! |
| Can you fix this? |
khun som nee dai mai? (falling and rising tone on dai mai) |
| How much is this? |
nee tao rai? |
| Can you make it cheaper? |
lot dai mai? (falling and rising tone on dai mai) |
| I don’t like (this) … |
chan mai chop (nee)… |
| Can we meet again? |
rao phop kan ik khrang dai mai? (rising tone on mai) |
| I love you |
chan rak khun |
| I miss you |
chan kit thung khun |
| …very much |
…maak |
Further reading…
