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Thai is spoken by 95% of Thailand’s Population. When traveling in Thailand, learning a few Thai phrases will be an added advantage. You will be alternately praised and appreciated by the Thais; many of them who barely speak English or no English at all. One of the best reasons for you to learn Thai is that it helps you gain insight to its rich and beautiful culture. In addition, it will help you to easily get around or simply hire a taxi in search of the lost ruins. Whenever you speak Thai, if you are male, you should end the sentence with “Krab” and “Kha” if you are a female. Thai Language has five tones, which are low, middle, high, rising, and falling. Vowel length is important when speaking Thai, because if you speak the word longer, it will change the meaning of the word. The best way to learn a language is through listening to native speakers.
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| Hello & Good Bye | Sa-wat dee (kha,krab) |
| Thank you | Khorb koon |
| How much? | Gee baht |
| Where is ......? | ....... yoo tee nai |
| I don't want | Mai tong gaan |
| Sorry | Khor toat |
| I like it | Chob maak |
| Yes/No | Chai/ Mai chai |
| Why? | Tum mai |
| What? | Arai |
| I want to go to... | Chun ja pai ....... |
| Toilet | Hong naam |
| Which way? | Pai taang nai |
| Left | Sai |
| Right | Kwaa |
| Straight on | Tong pai |
| Is it far? | Gai mai? |
| How to go to .......? | Pai ........ yang ngai |
| Never mind | Mai pen rai |
| Do you speak English? | Kun poot par sar ang grit dai mai |
| How do you do? (pleased to meet you) | Yin dee tee roo jak |
| I beg your pardon? | Arai na |
| I don’t understand | Pom (di chan) mai kow jai |
| See you later | Laiw jer gan |
| Can you help me? | Chuay pom (di chan) noy dai mai |
| Where can I get a taxi? | Pom (di chan) ja reark taihk see dai tee nai |
| How long? | Narm mai |
| Can I get you a drink? | Pom (di chan) (b)pai ow kreuang deurm hai ow mai |
| I hope we’ll meet again | Pom (di chan) wang war row ja dai jer gan eek |
| Do you mind if I smoke? | Kun ja rang geart mai tar pom (di chan) ja soop bu ree |
Shopping
Shopping is the first thing, many tourists do when they arrive in Thailand. Thailand has a lot to offer in terms of shopping from air-conditioned shopping malls to dozens of outdoor markets. Department stores usually have a fixed price, but in markets, you can bargain the price.
| How much is this? | Ra ka thao rai |
| That is a little expensive | Paeng pai |
| Can you make it cheaper? | Lot noi dai mai |
| How about ……. Baht? | ….. baht dai mai? |
| Can you help me? | Chuay dai mai |
| Can I see that? | Khor doo dai mai |
| I am just looking. | Khor doo thao nun |
| I will come back later. | Ja ma mai |
| Do you have something bigger (or smaller)? ("Yai" = Big, "Lek" = Small) | Mee yai (or lek) gwar mai |
| Do you have another colour? | Mee see auen mai |
| Never mind | Mai pen rai |
It is important to learn Thai numbers if you want to be serious about shopping and bargaining in Thailand. Prices in department stores are marked but you will have to ask the price in outdoor market then try to make it cheaper.
| 0 | Soon | 20 | Yee sib |
| 1 | Nueng | 30 | Saam sib |
| 2 | Song | 40 | See sib |
| 3 | Saam | 50 | Har sib |
| 4 | See | 60 | Hok sib |
| 5 | Har | 70 | Jed sib |
| 6 | Hok | 80 | Paed sib |
| 7 | Jed | 90 | Gao sib |
| 8 | Paed | 100 | Nueng roi |
| 9 | Gao | 200 | Song roi |
| 10 | Sib | 1,000 | Nueng pan |
Once you have mastered from one to ten, the rest is easy.
Number's Unit - 10: Sib, 100: Roi, 1,000 Pan, 10,000: Muen, 100,000: Saen, 1,000,000: Laan
Example- 21: Yee sib et, 22: Yee sib song, 23: Yee sib saam, 30: Sam sib et, 32: Saam sib song, 45: See Sib har, 57: Har sib jed, 63: Hok sib saam, 71: Jed sib et, 89: Pad sib gao, 98: Gao sib paed, 1200: Nueng pan song soi, 1,312: Nueng pan sam roi sib song
From the above example I hope you can pretty much combine the unit with the numbers.
| Are you going to eat here or take away? | Gin tee nee reu glub baan |
| Eat here | Gin tee nee |
| Take away | Glub baan |
| Can I have more please? | Khor eak dai mai |
| Can I have an extra plate? | Khor Jaan plao neung bai |
| Clear the Table | Geb jaan |
| Check bill | Geb tung |
| Can I have a spoon (fork) please? | Khor chorn (som) noi dai mai? |
| Delicious | Aroi |
| Not Delicious | Mai Aroi |
| Not Spicy | Mai Ped |
| Can you recommend a good restaurant? | Chuay neh nam pat tar karn dee dee hai noy dai mai |
| May I have the menu please? | Kor doo rai garn ar harn noy dai mai |
| I don’t eat meat | Pom (di chan) mai tarn neua |
| Waiter/Waitress | Boy/kun |
| What do you recommend? | mee arai nar tarn barng |
| What kind of seafood do you have? | Mee ar harn ta ley arai barng |
| Keep the change | Gehp ngern torn ow wai |
| Can I pay with this Credit Card? | Jai duay bat krey dit dai mai |
| I’d like to pay | Gehp ngern duay |
| I enjoyed it, thank you | Pom (di chan) a roy mark korp kun |
| May I have a receipt? | Kor bai seht rap ngern noy dai mai |
Learning another language is certainly challenging, but if you cannot get all the phrases listed here at the first time, do not be disheartened. Listen how native people speak and practice as practice makes one perfect.
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