Essential Thai Phrases For Starters
Living in Thailand or visiting as a traveler? Whether you're settling in as an expat or exploring the country as a tourist, knowing a few key Thai phrases can make your daily life much easier. While mastering the Thai language takes time, these essential phrases will help you navigate everyday situations, from greetings to ordering food and getting around.
Greetings and Polite Phrases Basic Thai Phrases Good to know... Food and Dining Vocabulary Love & Dating Shopping Numbers & Days
This guide focuses on practical Thai phrases that will be incredibly useful for daily interactions in Thailand. If you're looking to fully learn the language, we recommend enrolling in a local language school or exploring online courses. However, these must-know phrases will give you the foundation to confidently communicate and immerse yourself in Thai culture during your stay.
We will continue to expand this post with more useful Thai words, and for now, this is just the beginning! Stay tuned for more updates! If you're a native Thai speaker and notice any mistakes or have suggestions to make this post more helpful, feel free to reach out! In exchange, I'd be happy to link your Instagram or language school. You can contact me at hello@gurulist.net.
Ready to get started? Let’s dive into the essential Thai phrases every expat and traveler needs to know!
Understanding "Khrap" (ครับ) and "Kha" (ค่ะ) – Thai Politeness Markers
In Thai, politeness is very important, and one of the easiest ways to sound more respectful is by adding "khrap" (ครับ) or "kha" (ค่ะ) at the end of sentences. "Khrap" (ครับ) – Used by men "Kha" (ค่ะ) – Used by women
Greetings and Polite Phrases
Hello
Sa wat dee khrap/kha
or just casual: Wat dee khrap/kha (Hi) How are you?
Sabai dee mái?
I'm fine
Sabai dee
Good night
Râa-trii sà-wàt or láp fan dii
My name is John
Phǒm chûue John khrap
What is your name?
Khun chûue à-rai?
Nice to meet you
Yindi thîi dâai rúu jàk (khrap/kha)
Have you eaten yet?
Gin kâo rái rùu yà?
See you
Jer gan
Thank you
Khob khun khrap/kha
or just casual: kòp jai (Thanks)Basic Thai Phrases
Yes
Chai
No / No thanks
Mâi / Mâi khrap/kha
Do you want coffee? Mai khrap/kha. No, it’s not
Mâi chai
Are you Thai? Mai chai khon Thai. Can
Dâai
Can I have a Coke? khɔ̌ɔ khôok dâai mái khrap/kha Can't
Mâi dâai
You can't smoke here thîi-nîi sùup bù-rìi mâi dâai khrap/kha Never mind / No problem, It's okay, you're welcome
Mâi pen rai
More formal you're welcome Yin dii khrap/kha Sorry
Khor thot khrap/kha!
What are you doing?
Tam à-rai yùu?
Why?
Tam mai?
Why is it so expensive? tham-mai phɛɛng jang khrap/kha I don't know
Mâi ru
I did not understand
Mâi kâo jai
Having fun?
Sanuk mái?
Very fun! Sanùk mâak! Seriously! Really!
Jin Jin!
What? What did you say? Seriously?
À-rai ná?
I can't speak Thai
Phûut Thai mâi dâa
The same as before please
Mʉan doem khrap/kha
Very good
Dii mâak
This place is very good! Thîi nîi dii mâak! Entrance of the soi
Pàak soi
Let's meet at the beginning of the soi. Jəə kan thîi pàak soi The end of the soi
Tháai soi
Left
Sáai
Turn left Líiao sáai Right
Khwăa
Turn right Líiao khwăa Stop
Yùt
Stop here Yùt trong níi Toilet
Hong nam
Where is the toilet? Hong nam yoo tee nai?Good to know...
Question
Mái
Can (I)? (Rising tone) dâai mái Negation
Mâi
Can't, no, not, don't, etc. (Falling tone) mâi dâai New
Mài
New car (Low tone) Rót mài Wood (or stick)
Mai
Chicken satay stick (Mid tone) Mai saté gài I / Me (male speaker)
Phŏm
I’m going to work now. Phŏm pai tham-ngaan láew khrap I / Me (female speaker)
Chăn
I’m going to the market. Chăn jà pai tà-làat kha Want / Take
Ao
Food and Dining Vocabulary
Very delicious
Aroi mâak
It’s very delicious! Aroi mâak khrap/kha! Hungry
Hiu
I’m hungry. Hiu laew. Full
Im
I’m full. Im laew. Not spicy
Mai phet
I want my food not spicy. Ao ahaan mái phet. Spicy
Phet
A little spicy Phet nit noi Noodles
Guai tiew
I'll have a noodles soup with pork Ao guai tiew súp mū Sweet
Waan
I would like my coffee not too sweet Ao kàfê mái waan Chicken
Gài
Order 5 chicken satay (skewer or stick) Ao saté gài hâa mái Pork
Moo
Grilled pork shoulder with spicy sauce Kor Moo Yang Beef
Nuea
Spicy beef salad Nam Tok Neua Fish
Plaa
Seafood
Ahaan thale
Crab
Poo
Water (still)
Nám plào
Rice
Khao
One fried rice chicken, please. Kâao phàt gài jaan nʉng khrap/kha Sticky rice
Khao niao
Egg
Khai
No egg please. Mai ao khai khrap/kha Fishball
Lûuk chîn bplaa
No fishball please. Kra-ru-na mai ao lûuk chîn bplaa Hot tea
Chaa rón
Ice
Nam khàeng
A Leo (beer) with ice Beer Leo sài nám khàeng Spicy fish sauce
Phrík nám plà
Can I have some chilies in fish sauce? Kŏr nám plà phrík nòi Chili dip/paste (dip)
Nam prik
I’d like some chili dip. Phŏm yàak dâi nám prik nòi No coriander
Mâi ao phàkchii kráp/kha
Grilled pork on a stick
Moo Ping
I’ll take two moo ping sticks, please. Ao moo ping sŏng mái khrap Offal
Krêuang nai
Ordering soup without offal Ao súp mâi sài krêuang nai khrap/kha Check, please.
Check bin khrap/kha (Khit ngern duay)
Check, please (more polite) Kho check bin noi khrap/kha.Love & Dating
I fell in love with you
phŏm/chăn tòk-lŭm rák khun
phŏm = male / chăn = female speakers Love
Rák
I love you Phŏm/chăn rák khun Beautiful (very)
Sŭay (maak)
I think you are beautiful Phŏm/chăn khít wâa khun sŭay What are you looking for?
Khun gamlang mông hăa sìng nà?
Cute
Nà rák
You are really cute Nà rák jang loei You are very charming or You are very attractive
Khun mee sà•nèa mâak
Girlfriend / Boyfriend
Faaen
Handsome
Lòr
You are so handsome Khun lòr mâak Kiss Kiss
Júp Júp
Can we meet?
Rao jer gan dâi mái?
I want to be with you
Phǒm/chǎn yàak yùu gàp khun
Do you have a boyfriend / girlfriend?
Mee faaen mai?
I already have a boyfriend / girlfriend Mee faaen láaeo. Darling
Thîi rák
Seetheart
Wǎan jai
Pîi / Nóng Mint
Older / Younger Partner
Pîi Somchai / Nóng MintShopping
How much?
Tâo rài?
I don’t want.
Mái ao.
Too expensive.
Paaeng gern bpai.
Cheap!
Tùuk!
Can you give me a discount?
Lót nàwy dâi mái?
I think about it.
Kít duu gàawn.
I’ll take it.
Ao an née.
Do you have any cheaper ones?
Mee an tòok gwàa née mái?
Can you wrap it?
Cháo láai mái?
Where is the fitting room?
Hông long chút yùu thîi nàai?
Too small
Lék gern bpai
Too big
Yài gern bpai
Just right
Phó dee
Numbers & Days
0
suun
1
nüeng
2
soong
3
saam
4
see
5
haa
555 Ha ha ha 6
ho(k)
7
Jèd
8
bääd
9
gao
10
sip
11
sip et
21, 31, 41, song sip et, sam sip et, see sip et 12
sip soong
13, 14, ... sip saam, sip see, ... 20
yee sip
21, 22 yee sip et, yee sip song, .. 30
saam sip
40, 50, ... see sip, haa sip 100
roi
1000
phan
10000
mmen
100000
saen
1000000
laan
Sunday
wan aa tit
Color of the day: red Monday
wan jan
Color of the day: yellow Tuesday
wan ang kaan
Color of the day: pink Wednesday
wan put
Color of the day: green Thursday
wan pa reu hat
Color of the day: orange Friday
wan suk
Color of the day: light blue Saturday
wan sao
Color of the day: purpleIf you want to learn more Thai words daily, check out these Instagram accounts:
- @talkthaiwithsai_ (Talk Thai With Sai)
- @papino_th (Akrawin Thaodon)
- @thaiwithfah (Thai Teacher Fah)
- @jum_thitapa (Thitapa Kwangsanit)
- @namwan.teachingthai (Namwan)
They share great tips to help you improve your Thai! 🇹🇭✨