Thai Language

If you are coming to Koh Chang or any part of Thailand on holiday. We have compiled a useful list of words and phrases for you to use while you are here. To make a request or greeting sound more polite. A male person should add the word "khrap" and female the word "kaa" to the end of a sentence.

The most common greeting you will hear in Thailand is "sawatdee" . This is quite often used for both hello and goodbye. Normally when meeting someone for the first time you should clasp you hands together and bow you head slightly. This is known as a wai and is a common way to show respect.

Greetings

Hello - sa-wat dee
This is the word that all tourists need to learn first. It is used for both "hello" and "goodbye".

Thank you - khorb koon
When you are in Thailand don't forget you don't want to forget your manners, always try to be polite. This is how you respond with a "thank you" if someone gives you something.

Starting a Conversation

Quite often in Thai you don't need to say "I". But, you can if you like. For men say "phom sabai dee". for women say "di-chun sabai dee".

How are You - sabai dee Mai

I am fine ... - sabai dee

... and you? - lao khun lae

What is your name? - khun chue arai
My name is **** -  phom chue ****

Nice to know you - yin dee tee dai ro juk
Nice to know you too- chen gun

Hello - Good Bye

With most of the phrases on this page you need to end with the polite words: khrab for men and ka for women.

Hello/Goodbye - sawat-dee

Goodbye - la-gon

Good luck - chok dee

See you again - lao jer gun

How are you? - sabai dee mai

Being Polite

Always use "kharp" for men and "ka" for women to end a phrase when you want to be polite. Add these words to the end of all the examples below.

I don't want - mai ow "kharp / ka"
When you are sitting on the beach or walking down the street sometimes you will be approached by vendors, trying to sell you something. Some of them are very persistent so try this useful phrase.

Thank you

khorb khun - means "Thank You".

mai ben rai - means "it's ok" or “you're welcome”. For example, when someone says thanks to you, you say can reply “mai ben rai”.

Excuse Me and Sorry

khor thot - means "sorry". You can say this when you want to interrupt someone, get their attention or when you do something wrong.

sia jai - also means "sorry" too but in this case it means you feel sorrow. You would use this expression if someone got hurt or something bad had happened. You would say "phom/di-chan - siajai" which means "I am sorry".

Sorry - khor toat
Use this when you have to push by someone or you accidentally step on their feet. You can also use this phrase if you want to attract someone's attention.

Never mind / No problem- mai ben rai
One of my favorites and has a number of meanings.

If someone apologizes (khor toat kharp / ka) to you for doing something wrong. You can reply with "mai ben rai kharp / ka" - Never Mind, No Worries or No Problem

If someone says "thank you" (khorb koon kharp / ka) for a present. You can reply with "mai ben rai" - Your Welcome.

Food

Delicious - a-roi
After a tasty meal the cook would love to hear that you found the food delicious. You never know, the next time you go back you might get an extra helping!

Thai food can be quite hot and spicy. Most noodle stall vendors might ask you if you can eat spicy food (gin phet dai mai?). Answer "dai" for yes, "mai dai" for no and "dai nit noi" for a little.

Spicy

Is it spicy? - phet mai

I don't want spicy - maiow phet

I want it a little spicy - ow phet nit deow

I like spicy food - chorbar hanphet

When you are eating, someone will probably say to you "aroi mai?" which means "Is it delicious?"

Delicious - a-roi

Not Delicious - mai a-roi

Taste

Can you taste it first - chim gorn dai

Sweet - wahn

Bitter - khom

Sour -briaw

Salty - khem

Spicy - phet

Counting in thai

I recommend to everyone that they should at least learn how to count up to ten.

One to ten - neung - sib

From twelve to nineteen you just repeat the same formula:

13 = 10 + 3 sib see
14 = 10 + 4 sib ha

and again, from twenty two to twenty nine you repeat the same formula:

Twenty - yee sib

Twenty One - yee sib et

Twenty Two - yee sib song

Twenty Three - yee sib sam

By now you should be able to count all the way to one hundred.

Thirty - sam sib

Forty - see sib

All shops use English numerals so it will be easy for you to read. The only time you will see Thai numerals is when there is a two price system at a tourist attraction.

If you haven't learnt all of the numbers by the time you arrive in Thailand don't worry. Shopkeepers will show you the price on a calculator!

Shopping

How much? - tao rai baht
If you are shopping you will need to ask "how much?" if you don't know the name of something you can point to what you are referring to

Can you make it cheaper? - lot noi dai mai
If you are shopping at the local markets or looking for cheaper accommodation then try this handy phrase. Speaking a little Thai you might get a better discount.

If you want to be serious about shopping and bargaining then it is important to learn Thai numbers. Once you can count from 1 to 11 the rest will be very easy, probably easier than counting in English. Most

Thai people are good at Math which is partly due to how the way Thai numbers are named.

Directions

When you are walking down a street you might hear someone ask you "bai nai?" This means "Where are you going?" Here are some helpful phrases to help you reply of if you are lost how to ask directions. We have also listed a few places you might need to visit.

Where is ***? - *** yoo tee nai
if you want to find somewhere or something say the name of the place or object you are looking for followed by yoo tee nai.

Where are you going? - bai nai?

going out for pleasure - bai tee o

I want to walk - ja dern bai

Where is - you tee nai

I want to go - pkom ja bai

Which Way - bai tang nai

Left - sai

Right- kwar

Straight on - dtrong bai

Is it far - glai Mai

Places

Bus stop - tar rot May

Bath Room - hong Nam

Airport - sa nam bin

Pier - tar rua

Train Station - sa tar nee rot fai