Are you looking to pick up some basic Thai? I’ve outlined in this article some basic Thai phrases to help you make the most of your trip.
Learning Thai as a tourist or expat will make your stay in the Kingdom more enjoyable, and once you’ve masted the basics, you’ll be able to impress the locals with small talk.
Thai is a tonal language, each word having up to five different meanings depending on the tone of mid, high, low, rising, or falling. In my experience as a native English speaker, tones are one of the most challenging parts of the Thai language, so don’t worry if you can’t master these as a tourist!
Polite forms of the language will end with either kráp or ká, depending on if you’re a male or female.
sà-wàd-dee kráp – hello (male)
sà-wàd-dee ká – hello (female)
Tone Symbols Marks
| Tone | Symbol | Example |
| mid | none | maa |
| low | ` | màa |
| failing | ̂ | mâa |
| high | ‘ | máa |
| rising | ̌ | mǎa |
Greetings
How to say in Thai:
- Hello or Hi – sà-wàd-dee (used to express either hello or goodbye)
- Goodbye – laa-gàawn (more common to use sà-wàd-dee)
- Bye – báai-baai (incorporated from English)
General words
How to say in Thai:
- Thank you – khàawp-khun
- How are you? – sà-baai dii mǎi
- Yes – châi or kráp/ká
- No – mâi
- What – à rai
- Come here – maa nîi
- Time – wee laa
- See you later – léaw jer gan
- Good – dee
- Delicious – a ròi
- Beer – bia
Numbers
| Number | Thai |
| 0 | sǔun |
| 1 | nùeng |
| 2 | sǎawng |
| 3 | sǎam |
| 4 | sìi |
| 5 | hâa |
| 6 | hòk |
| 7 | jèt |
| 8 | bpàaet |
| 9 | gâo |
| 10 | sìp |
If you’re curious why your Thai friends keep sending you messages with “55555,” it’s simply a way of expressing laughter because the number 5 is pronounced like “ha” in Thai.
Seasonal
How to say in Thai:
- Happy Birthday – sùk sǎn wan kòet
- Happy New Year – sa wàt dii pii mài
- Merry Christmas – sùk sǎn wan khrís mâas
Did you know? Even though Thailand is a majority Buddhist country, some Thais like to decorate their homes during Christmas and have themed parties.
Relationship
How to say in Thai:
- Beautiful – sǔai
- Handsom – lòr
- Kiss – jùup
- Will you marry me – khun jà dtàeng-ngaan gàp chăn mái
- I love you – chǎn rák khun
Thai Cheatsheet
| English | Thai |
| Hello | sà-wàd-dee |
| Goodbye | laa-gàawn |
| Bye | báai-baai |
| Thank you | khàawp-khun |
| How are you? | sà-baai dii mǎi |
| Yes | châi or kráp/ká |
| No | mâi |
| What | à rai |
| Come here | maa nîi |
| Time | wee laa |
| See you later | léaw jer gan |
| Good | dee |
| Delicious | a ròi |
| Beer | bia |
| Happy Birthday | sùk sǎn wan kòet |
| Happy New Year | sa wàt dii pii mài |
| Merry Christmas | sùk sǎn wan khrís mâas |
| Beautiful | sǔai |
| Handsome | lòr |
| Kiss | jòop |
| Will you marry me | khun jà dtàeng-ngaan gàp chăn mái |
| I love you | chǎn rák khun |
