Essential Thai Phrases For Starters
Thai is easy (or not)

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
Jà rái 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!

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

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 Mint

Shopping

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

12
sip soong

13, 14, ... sip saam, sip see, ...

20
yee sip

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: purple

If you want to learn more Thai words daily, check out these Instagram accounts:

They share great tips to help you improve your Thai! 🇹🇭✨


01.03.2025 | Reto

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