50 Essential Thai Phrases Every Day Used To Talk With Thai People

Are you captivated by the Land of Smiles? Perhaps you're planning a trip, dreaming of living here, or simply eager to connect with Thai culture on a deeper level. Whatever your motivation, learning some basic Thai phrases is your golden ticket to unlocking richer experiences and more meaningful interactions.

"สวัสดี" (Sawatdee), "สบายดีไหม"(Sabaidee mai)"
ขอบคุณ" (Khop Khun),
 "อร่อย" (Aroy)

While many Thais in tourist areas speak some English, truly immersing yourself means stepping out of your linguistic comfort zone. Even a few words of Thai can open doors, warm hearts, and lead to unforgettable moments. It shows respect, a willingness to engage, and trust us – it's incredibly rewarding!

This isn't about becoming fluent overnight. This guide focuses on 50 essential Thai phrases that are genuinely used every single day by Thai people. These are the phrases that will help you navigate daily life, express gratitude, ask for help, and simply have friendly conversations. Think of this as your practical phrasebook for real-world interactions.

Let's dive in!

The Absolute Essentials: Greetings & Politeness

These are your foundation. Master these, and you're already off to a fantastic start.

• 1. Hello/Hi (general, men use khrap, women use kha): Sawatdee khrap (สวัสดีครับ) / Sawatdee kha (สวัสดีค่ะ)

  • Tip: Always include khrap or kha at the end of your sentences for politeness. It's like saying "sir" or "ma'am" but used universally.

• 2. Thank you (men use khrap, women use kha): Khop khun khrap (ขอบคุณครับ) / Khop khun kha (ขอบคุณค่ะ)

• 3. Yes (men use khrap, women use kha): Chai khrap (ใช่ครับ) / Chai kha (ใช่ค่ะ)

• 4. No (men use khrap, women use kha): Mai chai khrap (ไม่ใช่ครับ) / Mai chai kha (ไม่ใช่ค่ะ) or simply Mai khrap (ไม่ครับ) / Mai kha (ไม่ค่ะ)

• 5. Excuse me/Sorry: Khor thoad khrap/kha (ขอโทษครับ/ค่ะ)

• 6. Never mind/It's okay: Mai pen rai khrap/kha (ไม่เป็นไรครับ/ค่ะ)

  • This phrase is incredibly versatile and reflects the Thai "mai pen rai" (no worries) attitude.

Getting Around & Asking for Help

Navigating Thailand becomes much easier with these phrases.

• 7. Where is...?: Yoo tee nai khrap/kha? (อยู่ที่ไหนครับ/คะ?)

• 8. How much is this?: Gee baht khrap/kha? (กี่บาทครับ/คะ?)

• 9. Can you help me?: Chuay duay dai mai khrap/kha? (ช่วยด้วยได้ไหมครับ/คะ?)

• 10. I don't understand: Mai khao jai khrap/kha (ไม่เข้าใจครับ/ค่ะ)

• 11. I want to go to...: Yak pai... khrap/kha (อยากไป... ครับ/ค่ะ)

• 12. Turn left: Leo sai khrap/kha (เลี้ยวซ้ายครับ/ค่ะ)

• 13. Turn right: Leo kwa khrap/kha (เลี้ยวขวาครับ/ค่ะ)

• 14. Go straight: Trong pai khrap/kha (ตรงไปครับ/ค่ะ)

• 15. Stop here: Jord tee nee khrap/kha (จอดที่นี่ครับ/ค่ะ)

• 16. Very expensive: Paeng mak khrap/kha (แพงมากครับ/ค่ะ)

• 17. Can you reduce the price?: Lot noi dai mai khrap/kha? (ลดหน่อยได้ไหมครับ/คะ?) (Use this gently and with a smile!)

Ordering Food & Drinks (A Must!)

Thai food is world-renowned. Make sure you can order what you want!

• 18. I want...: Ao... khrap/kha (เอา... ครับ/ค่ะ)

• 19. Delicious!: Aroy! (อร่อย!)

  • Tip: Add mak (มาก) for "very" – Aroy mak! (อร่อยมาก!)

• 20. Not spicy: Mai phet khrap/kha (ไม่เผ็ดครับ/ค่ะ)

• 21. A little bit spicy: Phet nit noi khrap/kha (เผ็ดนิดหน่อยครับ/ค่ะ)

• 22. Water: Nam plao khrap/kha (น้ำเปล่าครับ/ค่ะ)

• 23. Ice: Namแข็ง khrap/kha (น้ำแข็งครับ/ค่ะ)

• 24. No ice: Mai ao namแข็ง khrap/kha (ไม่เอาน้ำแข็งครับ/ค่ะ)

• 25. Check please: Check bin khrap/kha (เช็คบิลครับ/ค่ะ)

• 26. Can I have a plastic bag?: Khor thung khrap/kha? (ขอถุงครับ/ค่ะ?) (Useful for street food!)

• 27. One more: Eek nueng khrap/kha (อีกหนึ่งครับ/ค่ะ)

• 28. Enough/Stop (when being served): Por laew khrap/kha (พอแล้วครับ/ค่ะ)

Common Social Interactions & Friendly Chat

Connecting with locals is often the highlight of any trip.

• 29. What is your name?: Khun chue a-rai khrap/kha? (คุณชื่ออะไรครับ/คะ?)

• 30. My name is...: Phom chue... khrap (ผมชื่อ... ครับ) / Chan chue... kha (ฉันชื่อ... ค่ะ)

• 31. Nice to meet you: Yin dee tee dai roo jak khrap/kha (ยินดีที่ได้รู้จักครับ/ค่ะ)

• 32. How are you?: Sabai dee mai khrap/kha? (สบายดีไหมครับ/คะ?)

• 33. I'm fine: Sabai dee khrap/kha (สบายดีครับ/ค่ะ)

• 34. Where are you from?: Khun maa jark nai khrap/kha? (คุณมาจากไหนครับ/คะ?)

• 35. I'm from...: Phom maa jark... khrap (ผมมาจาก... ครับ) / Chan maa jark... kha (ฉันมาจาก... ค่ะ)

• 36. Do you speak English?: Poot pasa Angkrit dai mai khrap/kha? (พูดภาษาอังกฤษได้ไหมครับ/คะ?)

• 37. I can speak a little Thai: Poot pasa Thai dai nit noi khrap/kha (พูดภาษาไทยได้นิดหน่อยครับ/ค่ะ)

• 38. It's hot!: Rorn mak! (ร้อนมาก!)

• 39. Very good/excellent: Dee mak! (ดีมาก!)

• 40. Good luck: Chok dee khrap/kha (โชคดีครับ/ค่ะ)

• 41. Cheers!: Chon gao! (ชนแก้ว!)

• 42. Take care: Doo lae tua eng na khrap/kha (ดูแลตัวเองนะครับ/คะ)

• 43. See you again: Jer gun mai khrap/kha (เจอกันใหม่ครับ/ค่ะ)

• 44. What time is it?: Gee mong laew khrap/kha? (กี่โมงแล้วครับ/คะ?)

• 45. Can I take a photo?: Tai roop dai mai khrap/kha? (ถ่ายรูปได้ไหมครับ/คะ?)

• 46. Have fun!: Sanook na khrap/kha! (สนุกนะครับ/คะ!)

• 47. Happy (birthday/New Year, etc.): Sook san... (สุขสันต์...)

• 48. What's up/How's it going? (informal): Pen ngai bang? (เป็นไงบ้าง?)

• 49. I like it: Chop khrap/kha (ชอบครับ/ค่ะ)

• 50. Never been there before: Mai koey pai khrap/kha (ไม่เคยไปครับ/ค่ะ)

Pro Tips for Learning & Using Thai Phrases:

• Listen Actively: Pay attention to how Thai people speak, their intonation, and their body language.

• Don't Be Afraid to Make Mistakes: Thais are generally very appreciative of foreigners who try to speak their language. Don't worry about perfect pronunciation; effort counts!

• Mimic, Don't Translate Directly: Thai sentence structure can be quite different from English. Focus on mimicking common phrases rather than trying to translate word-for-word.

• Practice Consistently: Even five minutes a day can make a huge difference. Use apps, watch Thai dramas, or listen to Thai music.

• Learn the Tones (Eventually): Thai is a tonal language, meaning the same word can have different meanings depending on the tone. While beginners don't need to master this immediately, be aware of it. Many apps and resources can help you with tone practice.

• Use Khrap and Kha: We can't stress this enough. It's the simplest way to sound polite and respectful.

• Smile!: A genuine smile goes a long way in Thailand. It's a universal language that complements your Thai phrases perfectly.

Conclusion

Learning these 50 essential Thai phrases will not only make your interactions smoother but also deepen your appreciation for Thai culture. From ordering delicious food to navigating bustling markets and simply saying "thank you" with sincerity, you'll find that even a little Thai goes a very long way. Start with the basics, practice regularly, and don't be shy about trying! The rewards of connecting with locals in their own language are truly priceless.

Thank you for reading! We hope this guide helps you on your Thai language journey. If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends and like our page to support us in creating more helpful content. Happy learning!

Read more :

Beginner's Guide to Thai Tones

Common Thai Street Food Phrases

Tips for Bargaining in Thai Markets