Learn to Speak Thai - Beginners Part 1

BASIC THAI WORDS AND PHRASES

It will be very helpful and fun to learn a few Thai greetings and sentences for staying in Thailand. Here are some good Thai words and phrases to learn that will be useful for you. These have been gathered from many books and websites. On the web, there are many sites that will even have sound files to listen to if you are extra keen. Learning a foreign language is never easy. Most Thai language books I have looked at are very confusing, and the correct pronunciation of simple Thai words can still be quite a challenge, but it can’t hurt to try.

Most people in Thailand don't speak much English, except in Bangkok and some big cities. By knowing how to say some simple Thai phrases, you can make friends with the local people, make your trip easier without having to depend on an interpreter and perhaps help yourself bargain for stuff more successfully.

The language of Thailand uses long & short tones, high tones & low tones to describe a word. A word in Thai such as Ma has more than 3 meanings, depending on the tone it’s spoken with. Example Ma means Horse, Dog & Come.

The words & phrases I have listed below have been written as you would pronounce it in English /Australian language. I have not used any variations of high/low tones as this will only confuse you. Just say the word as if it was English language & you will be understood by most Thai people. If Thai people seem to be confused about what you say, don't be discouraged. Just try to speak more slowly and they will get it eventually.

If you try to speak Thai to Thai people and they laugh, please don't be offended. Thais love to laugh. They are not laughing at you but with you. In fact, they really admire foreigners who try to speak their language. In Thai culture, most of the time laughing is a way to show admiration, not disrespect.

GREETINGS/PLEASANTRIES

The word "sa wa dee" is like "Ciao" in Italian. We use it to say both hello and goodbye.

Hello (male speaker)  sa wa dee cup

Hello (female speaker)  sa wa dee ka

For example: the word "thank you" is spelt "kharp" in most Thai language books. For an English speaking male, this word

sounds the same as "cup".

Thank you (male speaker)  cob coon cup

Thank you (female speaker)   cob coon ka

Thank you very much    cob coon mark

Thank you cup/ka, can be said at the end of any sentence, it is a sign of respect to whom you are speaking with and is regarded as being extra polite.

I (male speaker)    pom

I (female speaker)   chan

N.B. Where you see pom or chan in this document, please note these are interchangeable depending on what gender you are.

Where you see the letters “ai” it is pronounced as if it is the “y”

in my or “ie” in die, lie, pie.

GREETINGS

How are you? - sa by dee my

I am fine thanks - pom sa by dee cup/ka

I am good thanks, how are you? - pom sa by dee cup/ka, coon saby dee my

What's your name? - coon chew arai

My name is …- pom/chan chew …cup

Nice to meet you - yin dee tee dai rue jark

I come from Australia - maa jack patet Australia

I like Thailand  - chan chop patet Thai

I like Thai people - chan chop kon Thai

I can't speak Thai - chan poot pasa Thai my dai

Do you understand? - cow jai my

I don't understand my - cow jai

Can anyone speak English? - mee krai poot pasa angkrit dai bang

Yes there is- mee

No there isn't- my mee

May I take a photograph? - tai ruup dai my

Toilet/Restroom hong narm

Where is the toilet(rest room)? - hong narm u tee nai

Sorry/excuse me - kor tort

No worries - my pen rai

Never mind - my pen rai

See you again - leaw pop gun

Come with me - pai duway

Good      - dee

Very good    - dee mark

Bad      - my dee

A lot/very    - mark