Learning Thai Words
Though it's not really necessary to get by, you will undoubtedly have an easier and more enjoyable experience in Thailand from any time you spend learning Thai. Most Thais don't expect a foreigner to be able to speak any of their language, and are often visibly surprised if you can string a few sentences together.
It's also encouraging how many people will tell you that you " poot tai geng " (speak Thai well), no matter how limited your command of the language really is. Even with only a fairly small vocabulary, you will find it a lot easier to get discounted prices at shops and markets "rah kah poot tai dai" (Thai speaker prices) and to make friends amongst the locals.
This is a simple guide for the benefit of visitors and to help those intending to learn Thai to get started. The following basic words should help you to communicate at a basic level.
Introductions
| hello |
sawadee (krup/ka) |
you |
khun |
| how are you |
sabai dee mai (rising tone) |
he, she, they |
kao |
| i'm fine |
sa-bai dee |
us, we |
rao |
| thank you |
kharb khun |
what is your name |
khun chuu a-rai |
| bye bye |
sawadee |
yes/no |
chai/mai chai |
| see you again |
pob gan mai (rising tone) |
you're welcome |
yin dee |
| excuse me / sorry |
khar toort |
welcome to |
yin dee tawn rap |
| I, me |
phom (male) dee chan (female) or simply chan |
never mind |
mai pen rai |
Actions
| want (something) |
aow |
walk |
dern (pai) as in trekking |
| want (action) |
yaak |
find |
phob |
| go |
pai |
repair |
som |
| come |
maa |
take a look |
long duu |
| take |
aow pai (lit; want & go) |
chat |
kui |
| would like |
kor |
speak |
phuut |
| drive/ride |
kap / kii |
bring |
aow maa |
| pay |
jaai |
buy |
sue (low tone) |
| receive |
rap |
visit |
pai tiow |
| can / cannot |
dai / mai dai |
eat |
gin / kin |
| like / prefer |
chawp |
drink |
derm |
| sleep |
nawn |
|
|
Everyday Items
| money |
ngern |
motorcycle |
(rot) mor-tor-sai |
| baggage/bags |
gra-pao |
boat |
ruav |
| clothes |
suea |
books |
nang-sua |
| mobile phone |
meu tor |
map |
preen-tee |
| taxi |
tak-see |
things |
khawng |
| bus |
rot but |
soap |
sa-buu |
| train |
rot fai |
towel |
pra-chet-tua |
| airplane |
kruang bin |
pen |
pak-ga |
| car |
rot yon |
spectacles |
wen-ta |
| gasoline |
naam man |
|
|
Numbers
| one |
nueng |
eleven |
sib-et |
| two |
sawng |
twelve |
sib-sawng (and so on) |
| three |
saam |
twenty |
yee-sib |
| four |
see |
twenty one |
yee-sib-et (and so on) |
| five |
haa (falling tone) |
thirty |
saam-sib |
| six |
hock |
hundred |
rooi |
| seven |
jet |
thousand |
pan |
| eight |
bat |
ten thousand |
mueng |
| nine |
gow (short and low) |
hundred thousand |
sen |
| ten |
sib |
million |
laan |
Days and Time
| Monday |
wan jan |
month |
due-en |
| Tuesday |
wan ankhaan |
year |
pii |
| Wednesday |
wan phut |
hour |
chua mong |
| Thursday |
wan paruhat |
minute |
na-tee |
| Friday |
wan suk |
morning |
dawn chao |
| Saturday |
wan saow |
afternoon |
dawn bai |
| Sunday |
wan ah-tit |
evening |
dawn yen |
| Weekend |
sao-ahtit |
night |
dawn tum |
Questions
| what |
a-rai |
| where |
(thee) nai (sometimes nai is used on its own) |
| when |
mua-rai or gee mong (at what time) |
| how much |
tao rai |
| how many |
gee (comes before the subject, as an exception to the rule) |
| is (is not) |
yaang raimai (rising tone) |
| can (cannot) |
dai mai (rising tone) |
| have (action) |
rue yaang (as in have you finished) |
| are (to be) |
rue plow (as in are you Thai) |
Hospitality
| hotel |
rong rerm |
fan |
phad lom |
| guest house |
baan phak |
storey |
chan |
| restaurant |
raan ah-harn |
swimming pool |
sa-wai-inaam |
| toilet/bathroom |
hawng naam |
knife, fork, spoon |
met, sawm, chorn |
| hot water |
naam rawn |
bill |
check bin |
| room |
hawng |
telephone |
tor-ra-sap |
| bed |
thii nawn |
tv |
tor-ra-tat |
| massage |
nuat |
cable |
cay-bon |
| air con |
air con |
|
|
Eating and Drinking
| food |
ah-harn |
pork (all kinds) |
muu |
| seafood |
pla talae |
beef |
neu-ah |
| drinking water |
naam plao |
shrimp / prawns |
gung |
| beer |
bier |
tofu |
tao hoo |
| ice |
nam ken |
vegetables |
phak |
| liquor |
lao |
noodles |
kwai-teow |
| fruit juice |
naam pon-lamai |
bread |
ka-nom pan |
| fruit |
pon-lamai |
bakes / snacks |
ka-nom |
| lunch |
ah-harn klang wan |
sugar |
naam-taan |
| breakfast |
ah-harn chao |
sweet |
wan |
| dinner |
ah-harn yen |
salt(y) |
kem |
| rice |
kaow(falling tone) |
spicy / chilli |
pet / prik |
| fried rice |
kaow pad |
msg |
pon suu rot |
| chicken |
gai |
wheat |
kao saa lii |
| If you dont want an ingredient included simply add mai ow ( not want) before any of these (e.g. Mai own pon suu rot). |
Places
| city / town |
meu-ang |
national park |
suan sa-ta-na |
| village |
(moo) baan |
waterfall |
naam tok |
| house |
baan |
museum |
pee piti pan |
| beach |
haad |
bank |
ta-na-karn |
| island |
koh |
bus station |
sa-tar-ni rot but |
| bay |
aow |
train station |
sa-tar-ni rot fai |
| mountains |
phuu-kao |
airport |
sa-nam-bin |
| river |
mae naam |
police station |
sa-tar-ni tam ruat |
| market |
talad |
post office |
pra-sa-nii |
| park |
suan-luang |
|
|
Adjectives
| fast |
reo |
slow |
cha |
| big |
yaai |
small |
lek |
| fat |
uan |
thin |
phawm |
| early |
chao |
late |
saai |
| cheap |
tuuk |
expensive |
paeng |
| long |
yaow |
short |
tia |
| difficult |
yaak |
easy |
ngaai (falling tone) |
| full |
tem |
empty |
mot |
| hot |
rawn |
cold |
yen (naow weather) |
| loud |
siang dang |
quiet |
niyap |
| near |
glai-ee (falling) |
far |
glai (low tone) |
| black |
sii dam |
white |
sii khaow (rising tone) |
| red |
sii dang |
yellow |
sii luang |
| blue (light / dark) |
sii faa / sii nam ngerng |
green |
siik Kieow |
| gold |
sii tong |
grey |
sii tao |
| long time |
naan |
a lot |
yerk/maak |
| little |
nit noi |
|
|
Emergency
| help! |
chuay duay |
danger |
aan-ta-rai |
| not well |
mai sabai |
hurt / pain |
jep / puat |
| stomach ache |
puat tong |
headache |
phuat hua |
| toothache |
puat fun |
eyes sore |
puat taa |
| hospital |
rong payabaan |
police station |
sa-tar-ni tum ruat |
| doctor |
maw |
dentist |
maw fan |
| thief / stolen |
kamoy-ee |
accident |
oo-bot-tee-het |
| medicine |
yaa |
lawyer |
nat got-mai nuay |
| afraid |
klua |
must have |
dong mee |
Essential Phrases
| I dont understand |
mai kao jai |
| I want to go to |
yaak pai |
| What time will you leave? |
ja pai gee mong |
| What time does it close? |
bit gee mong |
| Turn left / right |
leo saai / kwaa |
| I dont want any thanks |
mai ow krap / ka! |
| Can you fix this? |
som nee dai mai (falling and rising tone on dai mai) |
| Can you make it cheaper? |
lot dai mai (falling and rising tone on dai mai) |
| Can we meet again? |
pob gan dai mai (rising tone on mai) |
| I miss you |
kit tung khun |
| Do you understand? |
kao jai mai (rising tone on last word) |
| Do you have a room? |
mee hawng wang mai (rising tone on last word) |
| What time will it open? |
bert gee mong |
| Which way? |
tang nai |
| Go straight / stop! |
trong pai / yuut! |
| Go away |
pai sii!! |
| How much is this? |
nee tao rai |
| I dont like (this) |
mai chawp (nee) |
| I love you |
Pom / chan rak kun |
| very much |
maak |