One of the best things about travelling is experiencing the local culture. Thailand is no exception to the rule, and learning a few phrases here and there would be greatly appreciated by many, as well as bringing a smile to many who you come across during your experience in this incredible country.
Thai language is an incredibly difficult language for foreigners to speak. Unlike English, Thai language pasaa Thai is a tonal language, which means that the tone can change the meaning of a word completely.
An example of this is the phrase ‘new wood doesn’t burn, does it?’, which in pasaa Thai, sounds a little like this:
‘Mai mai mai mai, mai?’
Thai features five tones, the high tone, mid tone, low tone, rising tone and falling tone, which for the untrained ear can be very difficult to notice.
While English vowels are limited to A, E, I, O and U, Thai language features a far greater number, some of which sound a little strange at first, and can be quite difficult when trying to speak.
We’ve tried to keep it simple in this, and have come up with a list of Thai phrases that one may find useful when
First of all: The starting point of learning a little Thai language for your ideal getaway would be the use of
Khrup and kaa
These two words are used at the end of sentences to make them more polite.
Below you will find a list of useful phrases you can use in Thailand
|
Phrase |
Transliteration |
| I, me | Pom formal for male, Chan female |
| You | Khun polite |
| Hello or goodbye (any time of day) | sa-wat! dee followed by polite word (h)krahp! or ka! |
| Thank you | Khop Khun Khrap/Ka! |
| Never mind or you’re welcome | Mai Pen Rai |
| Excuse me or I’m sorry | Kor Thort (Khrap/Ka) |
| How are you? | Sabai Dii Mai? |
| I am fine, thanks | Pom Sabai Dii (Khrap/Ka) |
| Good Luck | Chok Dii |
| Do you speak English? | Koon Poot Passa Angkrit Dai Mai? |
| I speak Thai a little bit | Pom/Chan Poot Pasaa Thai Nid Noy (Khrap/Ka) |
| I cannot speak Thai | Pom/Chan Poot Pasaa Thai Mai Dai (Khrap/Ka) |
| Please (Kindly) speak more slowly | Garu Nah Poot Cha Cha (Khrap/Ka) |
| I don’t understand | Mai Kao Jai (Khrap/Ka) |
| Do you understand? | Koon Kao Jai Mai? |
| Where is the toilet? | Hong Nam Yoo Tee Nai (Khrap/Ka) |
| Where is a telephone? | Tor-a-sap Yoo Tee Nai (Khrap/Ka) |
| I like Thaland very much? | Chowb Prathet Thai Mak Mak (Khrap/Ka) |
| What is your name? | Khun Cheu Arai (Khrap/Ka) |
| My name is … | Cheu … (Khrap/Ka) |
| I want … | Ow…. (object) .. |
| I do not want … | Mai Ow (Object).. (Khrap/Ka) |
*Another particle at the end of phrases that you will hear a lot of is ‘Na’. Na is used to soften a direct sentence or used to ask softly for agreement.
