The majority of the population in Thailand speaks Thai. Significant for the language is that it is tonal — different tones distinguish meanings of words that are otherwise pronounced alike. Below you will find a compilation of words, frozen phrases and other information on the Thai language that might be of interest to you before travelling to Thailand. Please feel free to print the pages and bring them with you on your trip to Thailand.
Thai is the official language in Thailand and Laos, but Thai is also spoken at some parts of India, China, Myanmar and Vietnam. The number of Thai accents is quite large — the standard language, however, is understood by the vast majority of the population.
Men and women in Thailand use different words when saying the word “I”. Women use the word “chan” whereas men use “phom”. Similarly, women use the polite word “kha” whereas men use “khrap”. These polite words are extensively used and are normally put at the end of a sentence or a subordinate clause.
There are five different tones in the Thai language: middle, low, high, falling and rising. To pronounce a specific word correctly, it is critical to find the right tone. As a beginner, it can be extremely frustrating to believe a word is correctly pronounced but — when observing the reaction of the Thai conversation partner — having to realise it wasn’t. Apart from the different tones, Thai is generally not regarded as a very complicated language; for instance — words are not inflected. Nouns are the same in singular as well as in plural.
The Thai alphabet consists of 44 consonants. The vowels, which are written by combining the sounds of the consonants and different sound characters, are 21 in number. With articulation, however, there are 11 more. Below is a list of some Thai words and frozen phrases, written in approximate form of pronunciation.
Thai Numbers
Nueng = [one]
Song = [two]
Saam = [three]
See = [four]
Haa = [five]
Hok = [six]
Jed = [seven]
Bad = [eight]
Gao = [nine]
Sib = [ten]
Sib-et = [eleven]
Sib-song = [twelve]
Sib-saam = [thirteen]
Sib-see = [fourteen]
Sib-haa = [fifteen]
Sib-hok = [sixteen]
Sib-jed = [seventeen]
Sib-bad = [eighteen]
Sib-gao = [nineteen]
Yee-sib = [twenty]
Greetings and introductions
Sa wat dii kha/khrap = [Hello]
Khaa thoot kha/khrap = [Excuse me]
Khun chue a-rai kha/khrap = [Vhat’s your name?]
Chan/phom chue ... kha/khrap = [My name is...]
Naam sa khun a-rai kha/khrap = [What is your surname?]
Naam sa khun ... kha/khrap = [My surname is...]
Leow khun la = [What about you?]
Mai ben rai = [You are welcome/never mind]
Khun maa djaak pra-theet a-rai kha/khrap = [What country are you from?]
Chan/phom maa djaak pra-theet thai kha/khrap = [I am from Thailand]
Khun phuut phaa-saa a-rai kha/khrap = [What language do you speak?]
Chan/Phom phuut phaa-saa thai kha/khrap = [I speak Thai]
Swe-daen = [Sweden]
A-mee-ri-kaa = [USA]
Djiin = [China]
Ang-grit = [English]
Khun phuut phaa-saa a-rai daai kha/khrap = [What languages do you speak?]
Chan/phom phuut phaa-saa thai daai kha/khrap = [I can speak Thai]
Chan/phom phuut phaa-saa thai mai daai kha/khrap = [I can not speak Thai]
Chan/phom phuut phaa-saa thai geng kha/khrap = [I can speak excellent Thai]
Chan/phom phuut phaa-saa thai daai nit noi = [I can speak a little bit Thai]
Khun yuu mueng thai naan thaw rai laew = [How long have you been in Thailand?]
Chan/phom yuu mueng thai saam duan laew = [I have been in Thailand three months already]
Sa baai dii mai kha/khrap = [How are you?]
Sa baai dii kha/khrap khop khun kha/khrap = [I am fine, thanks]
Khun dja pai nai kha/khrap = [Where are you going?]
Chan/phom dja pai tham-ngaan = [I am going to work]
Khun pai nai maa kha/khrap = [Where have you been?]
Chan/phom pai tham-ngaan maa kha/khrap = [I have been working]
Food/Dining
Moo = [Pork]
Gai = [Chicken]
Pla = [Fish]
Poo = [Crab]
Phak = [Vegetables]
Nuea = [Beef]
Gung = [Shrimp]
Khai = [Egg]
Thoot = [Deep fried]
Tom = [boiled]
Yam = [Salad]
Yaang = [Grilled]
Phat = [To fry]
Khao tom = [Boiled rice]
Khao niaw = [Sticky rice]
Khao phat moo = [Fried rice with pork]
Guay tiaw sen yay = [Big rice noodles]
Guay tiaw sen lek = [Small rice noodles]
Ba-mii = [Egg noodles]
Phat phak ruam = [Mixed fried vegetables]
Tom khaa gai = [Chicken in coconut milk & ginger soup]
Gaeng khiaw waan gai = [Green-curry-chicken]
Gaeng phat gai = [Red-curry-chicken]
Naam plaa = [Drinking water]
Naam Kheng = [Ice]
Naam chaa = [Tee]
Chaa roon = [Hot tee]
Chaa yen = [Iced Tee with milk]
Nom = [Milk]
Gaa-fae = [Coffee]
Gaa-fae dam = [Black coffee]
Gaa-fae yen = [Coffee with milk]
O-liang = [Iced coffee]
Naam phon la maai = [Fruit juice]
Naam som khan = [Orange juice]
Kha-nom = [Sweets]
Phon la maai = [Fruit]
Ai-sa-khreem = [Ice cream]
Kha-nom pang = [Bread]
Kha-nom pang ping = [Toasted bread]
Yaem = [Jam]
Nuey = [Butter]
Naam taan saai = [Sugar]
Gluea = [Salt]
Prik thai = [Pepper]
Choon = [Spoon]
Som = [Fork]
Miid = [Knife]
Ta-kiap = [Sticks]
Djaan = [Plate]
Chaam = [Bowl]
Gaew = [Glass]
Khuat = [Bottle]
Thuay = [Cup]
Mii to waang ruu plaaw = [Do you have a free table, or not?]
Chan/phom djaak dja gin tom yam kung = [I would like to eat hot and sour shrimp soup]
Yaa tham phet maak na kha/khrap = [Please don’t make it too spicy]
Gin = [To eat]
Duum = [To drink]
Chim = [To taste]
Sang = [To order]
Khoo = [May I have...]
Te = [But]
Pha nak ngaan suep = [Waitress]
Raai gaan a-haan = [Menu]
Getting around
Thii nii mii hong naam mai = [Is there any toilet here?]
Hong naam = [Toilet]
Mii kha/khrap = [Yes, there is]
Oog djaak hong = [Walk out of the room]
Liaw = [To turn]
Saai = [Left]
Khwaa = [Right]
Liaw saai = [Turn left]
Duen = [To walk]
Trong pai = [Straight on]
Duen trong pai = [Walk straight on]
... yuu thaang saai = [...is to the left]
Khaam = [To cross (e.g. to cross the street)]
Tha-non = [Street]
Sa-phan = [Bridge]
Mae-naam = [River]
Khlong = [Canal]
Rua = [Boat]
Rot mee = [Bus]
Rot khruang = [Motorbike]
Sa-naam-bin = [Airport]
Sa-thaan-thuut = [Embassy]
Rong pha-yaa-baan = [Hospital]
Baan = [House]
Ta-laat = [Market]
Prai-sa-nii = [Post Office]
Raan a-haan = [Restaurant]
Rong-rian = [School]
Wat = [Temple]
Prai-sa-nii thaang nai kha/khrap = [What is the way to the post office?]
Rong pha-djaa-baan pai yang ngai kha/khrap = [How to get to the hospital?]
Ta-laat yuu thii nai kha/khrap = [Where is the market?]
Djaak nii dja pai raan a-haan daai jang ngai kha/khrap = [From here, how do I get to the restaurant?]
Going shopping
Raa-khaa thaow-rai = [How much is it?]
Phaeng djang = [That’s very expensive!]
Thuuk djang = [That’s very cheap!]
Lot noi daai mai = [Can you lower the price a little bit?]
Haa sip baat daai mai = [Can I have it for 50 baht?]
Raa-khaa taai-tua = [Fixed price]
Tok long = [OK]
Nii nguen thoon = [Here is the change]
Sue = [To buy]
Sue khoong = [What would you like to buy?]
Sii a-rai = [What colour (would you like to have)?]
Sii khaaw = [White]
Sii dam = [Black]
Sii daeng = [Red]
Sii Khiaw = [Green]
Sii naam nguen = [Marine blue]
Sii luang = [Yellow]
Pai sue khoong = [Go shopping]
Kaang kaeng = [Trousers]
Sua shuet = [Sweater]
Sua yoot = [T-shirt]
Raa-khaa = [Price]
Fruits
Gluay = [Banana]
Taeng-moo = [Melon]
Ma-phraw = [Coconut]
Ma-muang = [Mango]
Som = [Orange]
Sap-pa-rot = [Pineapple]
Animals
Nok = [Bird]
Chang = [Elephant]
Sing-too = [Lion]
Ling = [Monkey]
Ngoo = [Snake]
Suea = [Tiger]
Tao = [Turtle]
Frozen phrases
Phuut len = [I am just kidding!]
Ying a = [Really? Is it?]
Nit noi = [A little bit]
Khaw yay mai = [Do you understand?]
Chook dii = [Good luck!]
Mai ben rai = [Never mind/You are welcome/It doesn’t matter]
Chuay duay = [Help me!]
Mai sa baai = [To not feel good]
Phuut chaa-chaa noi daai mai = [Please talk a bit slower]
Phuut iik khrang daai mai = [Can you please say that again?]
Mai saap/mai rue = [I don’t know]
Yay yen yen = [Take it easy! Calm down!]
Mai mii ban haa = [No problems!]
A rai go dai = [Whatever]
Taam yay khun = [It is up to you]
Ben pai mai daai = [It is not possible/It is impossible]
Ben pai daai = [Possible/It is possible!]
Sia daai yang = [What a pitty!]
Naa songyay = [It is interesting]
Long duu = [Try! Let us try!]
Yim noi = [Can you please smile!]
Thaai ruup = [take a photo]
Kam lang dii = [Exactly!]
Phaa leow = [Enough]
Leow yeu gan = [See you]
Mai nae yai = [I am not sure]
Sa nuk yang = [To have fun/I am having fun]
Hen duay mai = [Do you agree?]
Paak waan = [Please say some sweet words]
Yay dii yang = [You are very kind]
Mii naa la = [No wonder! No surprise!]
Pai thaa = [Let’s hurry up]
Yeng a = [Awesome!/Cool!]
Yiam pai luey/sut yaat = [That’s perfect!]
Mai chuea rak = [I don’t believe you]
Mai waang = [I am not free]
Mai mii wee-laa = [I don’t have time]
Yam mai daai leow = [I don’t remember]
Luem pai leow = [I have forgot]
Khit thueng yang khun = [I really miss you!]
Mai su phaap = [That is impolite]
Chan/phom fuek phuut phaa-saa thay yuu = [I am practising my Thai]
Khun chuay saan chan/phom noi daai mai = [Can you teach me?]
Ngan Ngan = [So so]
Ra-wang tua na = [Be careful!]
Duu-lae tua-eng duay = [Take care of yourself]
Chan/phom tang pai leow = [I must go]
Chan/phom mii thu raa = [I have some businesses to take care of]
Haa klap baan hay duay sai thung kha/khrap = [Can you please put the food in a doggy bag so I can bring it home?]
Yaa yang = [Many]
Khrung theep = [Bangkok]
