Knowing Thai conjunction words enables you to communicate clearly and also makes your conversation sound smooth. Thus, connecting words in Thai are an important aspect of the Thai language. By learning them, you’ll be able to communicate like a native.

To help you master your Thai conjunctions, we’ll outline several key points in this article:

• Thai conjunctions definition
• A Thai conjunctions list with detailed explanations of each one
• Thai conjunctions in sentences and how to use them

Are you ready to learn Thai conjunctions? Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

1. Conjunctions in Thai
2. Thai Conjunctions Used to Link Sentences with Similar Meanings
3. Thai Conjunctions Used to Express Opposition
4. Thai Conjunctions Used to Express Alternatives
5. Thai Conjunctions Used to Link Cause and Result
6. How ThaiPod101 Can Help You Master Thai Grammar

1. Conjunctions in Thai

Let’s start this lesson with some basic knowledge about Thai conjunctions. Below we’ll explain their definition and functions, and the types of Thai conjunctions. And if you’re asking yourself “What are Thai linking words in writing?” you’ll find the answer here as well.

คำสันธาน (kham sǎn-thaan) is “conjunction” in Thai. Thai people use conjunctions to link sentences, which helps them convey their message through communication better. In order words, Thai conjunctions help shorten sentences or phrases, and makes them sound smoother.

There are four types of Thai language conjunctions, categorized by their functions. Each of them will be explained in detail with examples, as follows.

2. Thai Conjunctions Used to Link Sentences with Similar Meanings

The first type of Thai conjunction in our list of Thai conjunctions is คำสันธานที่เชื่อมความคล้อยตามกัน (kham sǎn-thaan thîi chûueam khwaam khláauy dtaam gan). This type of conjunction is used to link sentences or phrases with same-directioned meaning. Here are list of Thai conjunctions used to link sentences with similar meaning that you should know;

1- “And”

Thai: ละ (láe); กับ (gàp)

Usage: The Thai coordinating conjunctions และ (láe) and กับ (gàp) are used to link sentences that have similar meanings. Most of the time, the pattern used is noun + และ (láe), กับ (gàp) + noun or phrase + และ (láe), กับ (gàp) + phrase.

Example 1:

• พ่อและแม่ชอบกินก๋วยเตี๋ยว
• Phâaw láe mâae châawp gin gǔuai-dtǐiao
• “Father and mother like noodles.”

Example 2:

• ฉันเอาข้าวผัดกับไข่ดาว
• Chǎn ao khâao phàt gàp khài daao
• “I want fried rice and fried egg.”

Additional note: และ (láe) and กับ (gàp) are Thai linking words with the same meaning and can 100% substitute each other.

2- “Both…and…”

Thai: ทั้ง…และ… (tháng…láe…)

Usage: The Thai correlative conjunction ทั้ง…และ… (tháng…láe…) is always used as it is here, with both words. Its meaning and usage is the same as it is in English.

Example:

• ทั้งพี่ชายและน้องสาวชอบกินขนมปัง
• Tháng phîi-chaai láe náawng-sǎao châawp gin khà-nǒm-bpang
• “Both the older brother and the younger sister like to eat bread.”

3- “After…, …”

Thai: …แล้ว… (…láaeo…); พอ…แล้ว… (phaaw…láaeo…)

Usage: The Thai subordinating conjunctions …แล้ว… (…láaeo…) and พอ…แล้ว… (phaaw…láaeo…) are both used as a word that links sentences, explaining two actions that happen continuously. The patterns of sentences using this Thai conjunction are listed below:

• [Sentence of action that happens first] + แล้ว (láaeo) + [sentence of action that happens later]
• พอ (phaaw) + [sentence of action that happens first] + แล้ว (láaeo) + [sentence of action that happens later]

Example 1:

• กินข้าวแล้วค่อยกินยา
• Gin khâao láaeo khâauy gin yaa
• “Take the medicine after the meal.”

Example 2:

• พออาบน้ำแล้วฉันก็นอนเลย
• Phaaw àap-nám láaeo chǎn gâaw naawn looei
• “After taking a bath, I went straight to bed.”

Additional note: …แล้ว… (…láaeo…) and พอ…แล้ว… (phaaw…láaeo…) are Thai linking words with the same meaning and can 100% substitute each other.

3. Thai Conjunctions Used to Express Opposition

The second type of Thai conjunction is คำสันธานที่เชื่อมใจความขัดแย้งกัน (kham sǎn-thaan thîi chûueam jai-khwaam khàt-yáaeng gan). This type of conjunction is used to link sentences or phrases with opposing meanings. Here is our list of Thai conjunctions used to express opposition that you should know.

1- “But”

Thai: แต่ (dtàae); แต่ว่า (dtàae-wâa)

Usage: The Thai coordinating conjunctions แต่ (dtàae) and แต่ว่า (dtàae-wâa) are used to link sentences that have opposing meanings. The pattern that’s normally used is sentence + แต่ (dtàae) or แต่ว่า (dtàae-wâa) + sentence.

Example 1:

• ฉันชอบสีฟ้าแต่พี่สาวชอบสีแดง
• Chǎn châawp sǐi fáa dtàae phîi-sǎao châawp sǐi daaeng
• “I like blue, but my older sister likes red.”

Example 2:

• เพื่อนของฉันเก่งเลขมากแต่ว่าอ่อนภาษาอังกฤษ
• Phûuean khǎawng chǎn gèeng lêek mâak dtàae-wâa àawn phaa-sǎa ang-grìt
• “My friend is very good at Math but bad at English.”

Additional note: แต่ (dtàae) and แต่ว่า (dtàae-wâa) are Thai conjunctions with the same meaning and can 100% substitute each other. Also, แต่ (dtàae) and แต่ว่า (dtàae-wâa) can also be translated as “yet” in Thai.

2- “However”

Thai: อย่างไรก็ตาม (yàang-rai gâaw dtaam)

Usage: The subordinating conjunction อย่างไรก็ตาม (yàang-rai gâaw dtaam) is used to link sentences with opposing meanings. The pattern that’s normally used is sentence + อย่างไรก็ตาม (yàang-rai gâaw dtaam) + sentence.

Example 1:

• วันนี้อากาศมีมลพิษมาก อย่างไรก็ตาม หลายคนยังไม่ใส่หน้ากากเมื่อออกไปข้างนอก
• Wan-níi aa-gàat mii mon-lá-phít mâak yàang-rai gâaw dtaam lǎai khon yang mâi sài nâa-gàak mûuea àawk bpai khâang-nâawk
• “Today, air pollution is very bad. However, many people don’t wear facial masks when they go outside.”

Additional note: The meanings of แต่ (dtàae), แต่ว่า (dtàae-wâa), and อย่างไรก็ตาม (yàang-rai gâaw dtaam) are pretty much the same. However, Thai people use อย่างไรก็ตาม (yàang-rai gâaw dtaam) in more formal situations.

3- “Although” / “Despite” / “In spite of”

Thai: ทั้ง ๆ ที่…(แต่)… (tháng-tháng-thîi…[dtàae]…)

Usage: The subordinating conjunction ทั้ง ๆ ที่…(แต่)… (tháng-tháng-thîi…[dtàae]…) is used to link sentences or phrases with opposing meanings. There are two ways to use this Thai conjunction. You can either put แต่ (dtàae) between the sentences or skip it. The pattern that’s normally used is ทั้ง ๆ ที่ (tháng-tháng-thîi) + sentence + (แต่ [dtàae]) + sentence.

Example 1:

• ทั้ง ๆ ที่เธอสวยมาก แต่เธอกลับไม่เคยมีแฟนเลย
• Tháng-tháng-thîi thooe sǔuai mâak dtàae thooe glàp mâi khooei mii faaen looei
• “Despite being so beautiful, she’s never had a boyfriend before.”

Example 2:

• ทั้ง ๆ ที่อากาศหนาว เขายังกินไอศครีมอีก
• Tháng-tháng-thîi aa-gàat nǎao khǎo yang gin ai-sà-khriim ìik
• “In spite of cold weather, he still eats ice cream.”

4- “By the time…, …”

Thai: กว่า…ก็… (gwàa..gâaw…)

Usage: The Thai conjunction กว่า…ก็… (gwàa..gâaw…) is used to link sentences and phrases (or a sentence and another sentence) with opposing meanings. This Thai connecting word in English is like “by the time…, …” and is used the same way. The patterns that are normally used are as follows:

• กว่า (gwàa) + sentence + ก็ (gâaw) + phrase
• กว่า (gwàa) + sentence + subject of second sentence + ก็ (gâaw) + the rest of second sentence

Example 1:

• กว่าเธอจะทำการบ้านเสร็จ ก็ถึงเวลานอนพอดี
• Gwàa thooe jà tham gaan-bâan sèt gâaw thǔeng wee-laa naawn phaaw-dii
• “By the time she finishes her homework, it will be her bedtime.”

Example 2:

• กว่าเธอจะพร้อมมาช่วยฉัน ฉันก็คงทำเสร็จไปแล้ว
• Gwàa thooe jà phráawm maa chûuai chǎn chǎn gâaw khong tham sèt bpai láaeo
• “By the time you’re ready to help me, I will have already finished it.”

4. Thai Conjunctions Used to Express Alternatives

The third type of Thai conjunction is คำสันธานที่เชื่อมใจความให้เลือกอย่างใดอย่างหนึ่ง (kham sǎn- thaan thîi chûueam jai-khwaam hâi lûueak yàang dai yàang nùeng). This type of conjunction is used to link alternatives. Here is our list of Thai conjunctions in English used to express alternatives that you should know.

1- “Or”

Thai: หรือ (rǔue)

Usage: The Thai coordinating conjunction หรือ (rǔue) is used to show alternatives. The pattern that’s normally used is alternative 1 + หรือ (rǔue) + alternative 2.

Example :

• เธอจะกินไข่ต้มหรือไข่เจียว
• Thooe jà gin khài dtôm rǔue khài jiiao
• “Do you want a boiled egg or omelette?”

2- “Either…or…”

Thai: ไม่…ก็… (mâi…gâaw…); หรือไม่ก็ (rǔue mâi gâaw)

Usage: The Thai correlative conjunctions ไม่…ก็… (mâi…gâaw…) and หรือไม่ก็ (rǔue mâi gâaw) are used to show alternatives. The patterns that are normally used are:

• ไม่ (mâi) + alternative 1 + ก็ (gâaw) + alternative 2
• alternative 1 + หรือไม่ก็ (rǔue mâi gâaw) + alternative 2

Example 1:

• พรุ่งนี้น้องชายต้องใส่เสื้อไม่สีขาวก็สีฟ้า
• Phrûng-níi náawng chaai dtâawng sài sûuea mâi sǐi khǎao gâww sǐi fáa
• “Tomorrow, my younger brother has to wear either a white or blue shirt.”

Example 2:

• ฉันอยากเลี้ยงปลาหรือไม่ก็กระต่าย
• Chǎn yàak líiang bplaa rǔue mâi gâaw grà-dtàai
• “I want either a fish or rabbit as my pet.”

Additional note: ไม่…ก็… (mâi…gâaw…) and หรือไม่ก็ (rǔue mâi gâaw) are Thai linking words with the same meaning and can 100% substitute each other.

3- “Or else” and “Otherwise”

Thai: ไม่อย่างนั้น (mâi yàang nán); ไม่เช่นนั้น (mâi chêen nán); มิฉะนั้น…ก็ (mí chà-nán…gâaw)

Usage: The Thai conjunctions ไม่อย่างนั้น (mâi yàang nán), ไม่เช่นนั้น (mâi chêen nán), and มิฉะนั้น…ก็ (mí chà-nán… gâaw) are used to show forced alternatives. If alternative 1 isn’t chosen, then it will be alternative 2. The patterns that are normally used are:

• alternative 1 + ไม่อย่างนั้น (mâi yàang nán) + alternative 2
• alternative 1 + ไม่เช่นนั้น (mâi chêen nán) + alternative 2
• alternative 1 + มิฉะนั้น (mí chà-nán) + subject of alternative 2, if any + ก็ (gâaw) + the rest of alternative 2

Example 1:

• นักเรียนต้องออกจากบ้านแต่เช้า ไม่อย่างนั้น จะไปโรงเรียนสาย
• Nák-riian dtâawng àawk jàak bâan dtàae cháo mâi yàang nán jà bpai roong-riian sǎai
• “The student has to leave their home early or else they will be late for school.”

Example 2:

• พนักงานต้องปฏิบัติตามกฎ ไม่เช่นนั้น จะโดนไล่ออก
• Phá-nák-ngaan dtâawng bpà-dtì-bàt dtaam gòt mâi chêen nán jà doon lâi-àawk
• “Staff members have to obey the rules, otherwise they will be fired.”

Example 3:

• คุณต้องตอบกลับภายใน 24 ชั่วโมง มิฉะนั้นก็จะถือว่าสละสิทธิ
• Khun dtâawng dtàawp glàp phaai nai yîi-sìp-sìi chûua-mong mí chà-nán gâaw jà thǔue wâa sà-là-sìt
• “You have to reply within 24 hours, or else it’s considered to be a waiver.”

Additional note: Among these three conjunctions, despite having the same meaning, ไม่อย่างนั้น (mâi yàang nán) is the most casual one. Thai people often use ไม่อย่างนั้น (mâi yàang nán) in oral conversations. On the other hand, ไม่เช่นนั้น (mâi chêen nán) and มิฉะนั้น…ก็ (mí chà-nán…gâaw) are more formal, so they’re often used in written language.

5. Thai Conjunctions Used to Link Cause and Result

The last type of Thai conjunction is คำสันธานที่เชื่อมใจความเป็นเหตุเป็นผลกัน (kham sǎn-thaan thîi chûueam jai-khwaam bpen hèet bpen phǒn gan). This type of conjunction is used to link sentences that show cause and result together. Here’s our list of Thai conjunctions to link cause and result that you should know.

1- Because

Thai: เพราะ (phráw); เพราะว่า (phráw wâa); ฉะนั้น…จึง… (chà-nán…jueng)

Usage: The Thai subordinating conjunctions เพราะ (phráw), เพราะว่า (phráw wâa), and ฉะนั้น…จึง… (chà-nán…jueng) are used to show the cause and result of an event. The patterns that are normally used are:

• result + เพราะ (phráw) + cause
• result +เพราะว่า (phráw wâa) + cause
• cause + ฉะนั้น (chà-nán) + subject of reason sentence + จึง (jueng) + the rest of reason sentence

Example 1:

• น้ำสอบตก เพราะ ไม่ตั้งใจเรียน
• Nám sàawp dtòk phráw mâi dtâng-jai riian
• “Nam didn’t pass the test because she didn’t pay attention in class.”

Example 2:

• น้อยไม่สบาย เพราะ ทานอาหารไม่สะอาด
• Náauy mâi sà-baai phráw thaan aa-hǎan mâi sà-àat
• “Noi is sick because she eats unhealthy food.”

Example 3:

• วันนี้อากาศร้อนมาก ฉะนั้น ฉันจึงไม่ออกไปข้างนอก
• Wan-níi aa-gàat ráawn mâak chà-nán chǎn jueng mâi àawk bpai khâang nâawk
• “Because the weather is very hot today, I decided not to go out.”

Additional note: เพราะ (phráw) and เพราะว่า (phráw-wâa) are Thai linking words with the same meaning and can 100% substitute each other. Keep in mind that ฉะนั้น…จึง… (chà-nán…jueng) is normally used in written language.

2- “So,” “Therefore,” and “Thus”

Thai: เพราะฉะนั้น (phráw chà-nán); ดังนั้น (dang-nán)

Usage: The Thai conjunction words เพราะฉะนั้น (phráw chà-nán) and ดังนั้น (dang-nán) are used to show the cause and result of an event. The patterns that are normally used are cause + เพราะฉะนั้น (phráw chà-nán) or ดังนั้น (dang-nán) + result.

Example 1:

• คุณพ่ออยากสุขภาพแข็งแรง เพราะฉะนั้น ท่านเลยออกกำลังกายทุกวัน
• Khun phâaw yàak sùk-khà-phâap khǎeng-raaeng phráw chà-nán thâan looei àawk-gam-lang-gaai thúk-wan
• “My father wants to be healthy so he exercises everyday.”

Example 2:

• ตรงนี้รถเยอะมาก ดังนั้น ข้ามถนนต้องระวัง
• Dtrong níi rót yóe mâak dang-nán khâam thà-nǒn dtâawng rá-wang
• “There are a lot of cars in this area, thus you have to be careful when you cross the road.”

Additional note: เพราะฉะนั้น (phráw chà-nán) and ดังนั้น (dang-nán) are Thai linking words with the same meaning and can 100% substitute each other.

6. How ThaiPod101 Can Help You Master Thai Grammar

How are you doing with this topic so far? We hope this topic isn’t too difficult for you!

As you can see, how to use many of these words is similar to doing so in the English language. So with a little practice, you can excel in this in no time. If you know Thai people, try using some of these Thai conjunctions when talking with them! Thai people will find it easier to understand the conversation that way.

If you find that Thai conjunctions are very different from those in your native language, or you’re just having some difficulty with them, let us know in the comments!

And after finishing this lesson, you should continue learning with another enjoyable lesson at ThaiPod101.com, such as the numbers 1-10 in Thai or popular food souvenirs. Have fun studying Thai!

Those who have been to many countries are likely to know that people, despite being the same in many aspects, are different because of culture, customs, and values. Everyone has to eat, sleep, and interact with other people. So how do these actions differ in Thailand, compared to elsewhere?

If you need to interact with Thai people or plan on living in Thailand, knowing about Thailand customs, culture facts, social values, beliefs, and traditions is essential. To fit in with the rest of the Thai population and show respect, you need to know about them, especially Thai culture and etiquette.

In this article, ThaiPod101.com will teach you about Thai etiquette in daily life situations, such as Thai eating etiquette, Thai funeral etiquette, Thai business etiquette, and Thai etiquette for tourists, so you know all the do’s and don’ts in Thailand. Moreover, you’ll get to know more about tradition and culture in Thailand through this lesson.

Table of Contents

1. Words about Thai Customs
2. Useful Sentence Patterns to Discuss General Etiquette in Thailand
3. Thai Dining Etiquette
4. Manners and Etiquette in Thailand: Thai Tourist Etiquette
5. Thai Greeting Etiquette
6. Thai Guest Etiquette
7. Thai Etiquette in Public Transportation
8. Thai Business Etiquette
9. Thai Etiquette in Various Situations
10. Conclusion: How ThaiPod101 Can Help You Master Thai Culture

1. Words about Thai Customs

Before you learn about Thai customs, it will be good to know Thai words related to this topic.

• ขนบธรรมเนียมไทย (khà-nòp-tham-niiam thai) is “Thai custom” or “Thai tradition”
• มารยาทไทย (maa-rá-yàat thai) is “Thai etiquette” or “Thai manners”
• วัฒนธรรมไทย (wát-thá-ná-tham thai) is “Thai culture“
• ความเชื่อไทย (khwaam-chûuea thai) is “Thai belief”
• ค่านิยมไทย (khâa-ní-yom thai) is “Thai value”
• สังคมไทย (sǎng-khom thai) is “Thai society”

2. Useful Sentence Patterns to Discuss General Etiquette in Thailand

Let’s learn the sentence patterns you should know when you talk about Thai etiquette and manners. There are two patterns as listed below:

1- Should…

Thai language: ควร + verb

Thai pronunciation: khuuan + …..

Example:

• แขกควรถอดรองเท้าก่อนเข้าบ้านคนไทย
  khàaek khuuan thàawt raawng-tháo gàawn khâo bâan khon thai
  “Guests should take off their shoes before entering a Thai house.”

2- Don’t…

Thai language: อย่า + verb

Thai pronunciation: yàa + …..

Example:

• อย่าจับหัวคนไทยโดยไม่จำเป็น
  yàa jàp hŭua khon thai dooi mâi jam bpen
  “Don’t touch the head of a Thai person unless it’s necessary.”

3. Thai Dining Etiquette

Since eating is part of daily life, we’ll first teach you Thai table manners and dining etiquette in Thailand. Below is a list of things you should and shouldn’t do during a meal with Thai people. As long as you follow these basic rules of eating etiquette in Thailand, you should have a very enjoyable Thai meal.

1- Let elders or people of a higher position eat first.

Thai sentence: ให้คนที่อายุมากกว่าหรือมีตำแหน่งสูงกว่าตักอาหารก่อน

Thai pronunciation: hâi khon thîi aa-yú mâak gwàa rǔue mii dtam-nàaeng sǔung gwàa dtàk aa-hăan gàawn

Explanation: In Thai society, people normally eat together as a big family. Each person has their own plate of rice, but shares side dishes with each other. It’s proper table etiquette in Thailand to let people who are older than you, or people who are in a higher position than you (such as your boss), start eating first. This means that they can pick food from the side dishes first.

2- Set the table for elders.

Thai sentence: จัดโต๊ะอาหารให้คนมีที่อายุมากกว่า

Thai pronunciation: jàt dtó aa-hǎan hâi khon thîi mii aa-yú mâak khwàa

Explanation: As mentioned above, people in Thai society normally eat together. In case the dining table isn’t properly set, the youngest one at the table should be the one who sets it.

3- Don’t speak while chewing.

Thai sentence: อย่าพูดตอนเคี้ยวอาหาร

Thai pronunciation: yàa phûut dtaawn khíiao aa-hǎan

Explanation: Speaking while chewing is considered bad restaurant etiquette in Thailand, and is rude for dining in general. Apart from not looking nice and other people not clearly understanding what’s said, this behavior may make the speaker choke on food. So you shouldn’t do this while dining with Thai people.

4- Don’t make noise when chewing or drinking.

Thai sentence: อย่าทานอาหารหรือดื่มน้ำเสียงดัง

Thai pronunciation: yàa thaan aa-hǎan rǔue dùuem nám sǐiang dang

Explanation: In some countries, making noise when eating shows that you enjoy the food. But in Thailand, it’s viewed as bad etiquette. When you eat in Thailand, avoid making loud noises while eating or drinking.

5- Don’t hit tableware.

Thai sentence: อย่าเคาะช้อนส้อม

Thai pronunciation: yàa kháw cháawn sâawm

Explanation: In the phrase above, its literal meaning only mentions spoons and forks. But actually, Thai people consider hitting all tableware items (such as spoons, forks, chopsticks, etc.) as rude.

6- Don’t talk about gross topics.

Thai sentence: อย่าคุยเรื่องน่าขยะแขยง

Thai pronunciation: yàa khui rûueang nâa khà-yà-khà-yǎaeng

Explanation: During the meal, you shouldn’t talk about something gross, as it will make others lose their appetite.

4. Manners and Etiquette in Thailand: Thai Tourist Etiquette

Thailand is a nice place for traveling. There are many beautiful places to go sightseeing, the food tastes good, and Thai people are very nice. Moreover, the cost of living here isn’t high, so a lot of people enjoy traveling in Thailand.

As a tourist, it’s good to know some Thai manners and customs so that you don’t unintentionally act weird or rude in Thais’ point of view. To help you understand basic social etiquette in Thailand, we’ve provided a list of proper tourist etiquette in Thailand.

There are two main scenarios that we’ll focus on in this section: Basic etiquette in Thailand while in public areas, and how to act in holy places.

1- Thai Etiquette in Public Areas

Sightseeing is a must when you come to Thailand. Most tourists enjoy street food, shopping in the night market, or just seeing around the city. So it’s nice to know what you should and shouldn’t do.

1. No public displays of affection.

Thai sentence: อย่าแสดงความรักในที่สาธารณะมากจนเกินไป

Thai pronunciation: yàa sà-daaeng khwaam-rák nai thîi sǎa-thaa-raa-ná mâak jon gooen bpai

Explanation: In Thai society, some displays of affection between lovers is acceptable, such as holding hands or hugging. But any behavior more than this, such as kissing, isn’t okay. Thai people see it as inappropriate. But displays of affection between parent and child is okay.

2. Be aware not to touch a monk if you’re female.

Thai sentence: ผู้หญิงต้องระวังอย่าให้โดนตัวพระ

Thai pronunciation: phûu-yǐng dtâawng rá-wang yàa hâi doon dtuua phrá

Explanation: Most Thai people are Buddhist, and in Thailand, beliefs and values of Buddhism are quite strong. It’s possible that you may see a monk walking by on the street. For a monk, there’s a rule saying that monks can’t touch a female, regardless of intention.

So if you see a Thai monk, and you’re a female, please uphold proper etiquette in Thailand and avoid being too close; you don’t want to accidentally touch the monk. If you’re walking in a crowded street and don’t know what to do, just stop walking and the monk will avoid you instead.

3. Stand still when you hear the Thai national anthem.

Thai sentence: ยืนตรงเคารพธงชาติ

Thai pronunciation: yuuen dtrong khao-róp thong-châat

Explanation: In some public areas, such as parks, you may hear the Thai national anthem at eight o’clock in the morning and again at six o’clock in the afternoon. When Thai people hear the national anthem, they stand still until the song ends, as a way to pay respect. So if you notice that Thai people have suddenly stopped walking and stand still at these times, it’s probably because of the national anthem.

4. Avoid dressing too short or too sexy.

Thai sentence: อย่าแต่งตัวโป๊

Thai pronunciation: yàa dtàaeng dtuua bpóo

Explanation: In Thailand, values and traditions for women may have changed a lot from the past, but women are still expected to dress properly when going outside. That is, don’t wear short-shorts or short skirts. Not wearing a bra is unacceptable as well. The customs and etiquette in Thailand for men’s dress isn’t as strict as it is for women; just dress with consideration for where you’ll be going.

2. Thai Etiquette in Holy Places

If you come to Thailand, one of the most famous tourist attractions are temples. Temples are viewed as holy places in Thailand, so you’re expected to follow certain cultural etiquette in Thailand when you’re in the temple. Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts for etiquette in Thai temples.

1. Dress properly.

Thai sentence: แต่งกายเรียบร้อย

Thai pronunciation: dtàaeng-gaai rîiap-ráauy

Explanation: It is the etiquette of Thailand to dress properly in the temple, both men and women. A shirt with no sleeves, shorts, and skirts that are shorter than knee-length aren’t appropriate to wear in temples. So if you plan to travel to a temple, please dress properly.

2.Don’t make loud noise.

Thai sentence: อย่าส่งเสียงดัง

Thai pronunciation: yàa sòng sǐiang dang

Explanation: Adding to what we mentioned above, temples are also a place where people come to make merit and practice dharma. Thus, temples normally have a calm atmosphere; you shouldn’t make loud noises in the temple.

3. No alcohol or cigarettes.

Thai sentence: ห้ามดื่มเหล้าและสูบบุหรี่

Thai pronunciation: hâam dùuem lâo láe sùup bù-rìi

Explanation: For Buddhists, there’s a behavior guideline called ศีล 5 (sǐin-hâa) which means “5 precepts.” Drinking alcohol and smoking are prohibited behaviors in these five precepts. So you can’t drink or smoke in the temple area. Also keep in mind that drinking and smoking are unhealthy as well.

4. Take off your shoes where required.

Thai sentence: ถอดรองเท้าในบริเวณที่กำหนด

Thai pronunciation: thàawt raawng-tháo nai baaw-rí-ween thîi gam-nòt

Explanation: In some areas, such as in the chapel, you have to take your shoes off. There will be a sign that clearly shows if you have to take your shoes off.

5. Do not take photos.

Thai sentence: ห้ามถ่ายรูป

Thai pronunciation: hâam thàai rûup

Explanation: In some areas of the temple, you’re not allowed to take photos. There will be a sign clearly showing if you’re not allowed to take photos, so please look around.

5. Thai Greeting Etiquette

Our guide of etiquette rules in Thailand wouldn’t be complete without a section on proper greetings.

When people meet, people greet. So if you come to Thailand, it makes sense to learn Thai greeting etiquette. Greetings reflect another unique aspect of culture and etiquette in Thailand, and we’ll explain the main points of greeting etiquette in Thailand as follows:

1- Say sà-wàt-dii + wâi

When Thai people meet each other, they greet by saying สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii) and perform an action called ไหว้ (wâi). Let’s learn some vocabulary before continuing.

• ไหว้ (wâi) is a way of greeting in Thai language.
• สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii) is “hello” in Thai. The word “hello” in Thai means goodness, beauty, prosperity, and safety.

To ไหว้ (wâi), you have to put your hands together in front of your chest and bend your head toward your forefinger.

2- Smile

Thai sentence: ยิ้ม

Thai pronunciation: yím

Explanation: If you’re not Thai or can’t speak much Thai, just smile after greeting. It creates a good atmosphere when you meet someone. As you may have heard before, Thailand is a land of smiles.

3- Call Other Parties by kun+name

When you meet someone for the first time, it’s formal to call them by คุณ (khun) + name. คุณ (khun) is a formal title in Thai.

4- Avoid Looking at Other Parties from Head to Toe

Thai sentence: อย่ามองคนจากหัวจรดเท้า

Thai pronunciation: yàa maawng khon jàak hǔua jà-ròt tháo

Explanation: Looking at other parties from head to toe isn’t exactly a rude gesture. However, some people do this action as a way of looking down on other people, so it may create the wrong impression if you do so.

6. Thai Guest Etiquette

When you come to Thailand, you may get a chance to visit a Thai house. Thus, it will be good to learn some Thai hospitality and etiquette so that you know what you can and can’t do, and act accordingly.

1- Take Off Your Shoes Before Entering the House

Thai sentence: ถอดรองเท้าก่อนเข้าบ้าน

Thai pronunciation: thàawt raawng-tháo gàawn khâo bâan

Explanation: Most Thai people walk barefoot in the house. So if you visit a Thai house, you have to take off your shoes before entering the house.

2- Stay in the Living Room

Thai sentence: อยู่ในห้องนั่งเล่น

Thai pronunciation: yùu nai hâawng nâng lên

Explanation: When you go to another person’s house, if you’re not close to the owner, it’s appropriate to stay mainly in the living room or in the area where the owner seated you. You shouldn’t go wandering by yourself. However, this also depends on the relationship between you and the owner.

3- Bring a Gift (though it’s not Necessary)

Thai sentence: เอาของมาฝากเจ้าของบ้าน

Thai pronunciation: ao khǎawng maa fàak jâo khǎawng bâan

Explanation: When you visit a Thai house, it would be nice to bring some kind of gift to them. Most of the time, when it comes to gift etiquette in Thailand, food and drinks are okay. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Again, what’s considered proper gift giving etiquette in Thailand also depends on the relationship between you and the owner of the house.

4- Avoid Putting Your Feet on the Table

Thai sentence: อย่าเอาเท้าวางบนโต๊ะ

Thai pronunciation: yàa ao tháo waang bon dtó

Explanation: Thai people view feet as being dirty. Thus, you shouldn’t put your feet on the tables or chairs.

5- Don’t Go into the Owner’s Belongings

Thai sentence: อย่ารื้อของในบ้านคนอื่น

Thai pronunciation: yàa rúue khǎawng nai bâan khon ùuen

Explanation: Even if you have a close relationship with the owner of the house, it may be inappropriate to look through things in drawers or cupboards. Things in those areas are kind of personal, but if the owner asks you to open it, then it’s okay.

7. Thai Etiquette in Public Transportation

When you travel in Thailand, you may get a chance to travel by public transportation, such as on a bus, BTS, MRT, etc. Here are the do’s and don’ts for transportation in Thailand that you should know.

1- Don’t Stand in Front of the Door

Thai sentence: อย่ายืนขวางประตู

Thai pronunciation: yàa yuuen khwǎang bprà-dtuu

Explanation: When you travel by bus, BTS, or MRT, try to get inside so that there’s space for others to come in. Avoid standing in front of the door, as this is dangerous and could lead to an accident.

2- Give Your Seat to Children, Monks, Elders, and Handicapped People

Thai sentence: เอื้อเฟื้อที่นั่งแก่เด็ก, พระ, คนชรา, และคนพิการ

Thai pronunciation: ûuea-fúuea thîi nâng gàae dèk phrá khon chá-raa láe khon phí-gaan

Explanation: Thai people are quite kind and often help each other. Thai people view children, elders, and handicapped people as physically inferior and in need of help. As for monks, Thai people respect them. So when traveling by public transportation, Thai people give their seats to them. It’s not a social norm, but it’s what Thai people often do anyways.

3- No Alcohol or Cigarettes

Thai sentence: ห้ามดื่มเหล้าและสูบบุหรี่

Thai pronunciation: hâam dùuem lâo láe sùup bù-rìi

Explanation: Alcohol affects how people think, and cigarette smoke is unhealthy. As they’re not good to others and could lead to accidents and problems, you shouldn’t drink or smoke on public transportation.

4- No Stinky Food

Thai sentence: อย่านำอาหารมีกลิ่นขึ้นรถ

Thai pronunciation: yàa nam aa-hǎan mii glìn khûen rót

Explanation: Some food—such as durians, crispy garlic chive dumplings, and squid—can be very stinky. While some people think these foods smell nice, others don’t. To create a nice and clean atmosphere and not disturb other people, don’t eat stinky food on public transportation. If you have to bring it with you, make sure to seal it properly so it doesn’t smell much.

8. Thai Business Etiquette

If you’re working in Thailand or working with Thai people, it’s nice to know business etiquette in Thailand. Below are some things about business etiquette in Thailand you should be aware of.

1- Dress Properly

Thai sentence: แต่งตัวสุภาพ

Thai pronunciation: dtàaeng-dtuua sù-phâap

Explanation: The first impression is very important when you do Thai business. And the first thing that catches attention is how you dress. Men are supposed to wear a shirt and slacks, while women are supposed to wear a knee-length dress or a shirt with a skirt. The tone of the clothing shouldn’t be too colorful, and no sandals.

2- Address Other Parties Formally

Thai sentence: เรียกอีกฝ่ายอย่างสุภาพ

Thai pronunciation: rîiak ìik fàai yàang sù-phâap

Explanation: The formal way to address each other in Thai is by saying คุณ (khun) + name. คุณ (khun) is a formal title in Thai.

3- Greet Other Parties Formally

Thai sentence: ทักทายอีกฝ่ายอย่างสุภาพ

Thai pronunciation: thák-thaai ìik fàai yàang sù-phâap

Explanation: When you meet your business partner, you should first greet them by saying สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii) and perform ไหว้ (wâi).

4- Be Punctual

Thai sentence: ตรงเวลา

Thai pronunciation: dtrong wee-laa

Explanation: This one is quite common; don’t make others wait for you. In Bangkok, the traffic is quite bad, so make sure you have a lot of time for traveling.

5- Shaking Your Foot or Leg

Thai sentence: อย่านั่งเขย่าขา

Thai pronunciation: yàa nâng khà-yào khǎa

Explanation: Some people have a habit of shaking their foot or leg when sitting for a long time. It isn’t a rude manner in Thailand, but it makes you look unprofessional.

6- Avoid Putting Your Feet on the Table

Thai sentence: อย่าเอาเท้าวางบนโต๊ะ

Thai pronunciation: yàa ao tháo waang bon dtó

Explanation: As mentioned above, Thai people consider feet to be dirty. Thus, you shouldn’t put your feet on tables or chairs. It’s considered rude manners.

7- Avoid Chewing Gum

Thai sentence: อย่าเคี้ยวหมากฝรั่ง

Thai pronunciation: yàa khíiao màak-fà-ràng

Explanation: Chewing gum while speaking is unprofessional behavior for Thai people.

9. Thai Etiquette in Various Situations

If you live or work in Thailand, you may be invited to a ceremony for your friends or colleagues. In order for you to act appropriately and be nice to the host, here are the things you should know.

1- Thai Etiquette in Wedding Ceremonies

If you’re quite close to a Thai person, you normally get invited to their wedding ceremony. Normally, when you arrive to the ceremony, you should go to see the bride and groom to congratulate them before taking photos with them. Then, go sit in your assigned place. After this, just celebrate along with everyone.

However, you may not be sure how you should act or dress, as people in different countries have different cultures. For Thai people, you should follow these tips.

1. Wear light-toned clothing.

Thai sentence: ใส่เสื้อผ้าสีอ่อน

Thai pronunciation: sài sûuea-phâa sǐi àawn

Explanation: For women, in case there’s no theme, wear light-toned clothing. If there is a theme, dress according to the theme. Don’t dress in white, as Thai people think only the bride should dress in white for the wedding ceremony. Don’t dress in black either, as Thai people wear black to funerals.

For men, dressing for a wedding is quite easy. Men normally wear a suit to the wedding. Any color is fine; just make sure it’s not too colorful. If there’s a theme, dress according to it.

2. Give money to the bride and groom.

Thai sentence: ใส่ซองให้บ่าวสาว

Thai pronunciation: sài saawng hâi bàao sǎao

Explanation: When Thai people go to a wedding ceremony, they give money to the bride and groom. This is a way to help with the wedding and say thank you for preparing the food and drinks for them. The amount of money they give depends on their relationship to the bride and groom, and where the ceremony is hosted.

3. Don’t talk about bad things or events.

Thai sentence: อย่าพูดเรื่องอัปมงคล

Thai pronunciation: yàa phûut rûueang àp-bpà-mong-khon

Explanation: A wedding ceremony is a happy event. Thai people believe that it’s bad to talk about bad things or unhappy events (such as a death).

4. Don’t make loud noise.

Thai sentence: อย่าส่งเสียงดัง

Thai pronunciation: yàa sòng sǐiang dang

Explanation: Making loud noise can ruin the sweet atmosphere and steal attention from the bride and groom, so don’t do it.

5. Avoid drinking too much.

Thai sentence: อย่าดื่มมากเกินไป

Thai pronunciation: yàa dùuem mâak gooen bpai

Explanation: In some wedding ceremonies, alcohol is served for guests. However, you need to be careful not to drink too much or get drunk. Since people sometimes lose control when drunk, you may cause problems.

2- Thai Etiquette for Funerals

Similar to wedding ceremonies, once you live or work in Thailand long enough, you may have to go to a funeral. Here are the do’s and don’ts for a Thai funeral.

1. Dress formally in black or white.

Thai sentence: แต่งตัวสุภาพด้วยชุดสีดำหรือขาว

Thai pronunciation: dtàaeng-dtuua sù-phâap dûuai chút sǐi dam rǔue khǎao

Explanation: To pay respect to the deceased person and their family, it’s polite to wear black or white. Don’t wear revealing clothing.

2. Give money to the host.

Thai sentence: ใส่ซองช่วยเจ้าภาพ

Thai pronunciation: sài saawng chûuai jâo-phâap

Explanation: To help with funeral arrangements, Thai people give money to the host. The amount of money they give depends on their relationship to the deceased person and their family.

3. Avoid making loud noise.

Thai sentence: อย่าส่งเสียงดัง

Thai pronunciation: yàa sòng sǐiang-dang

Explanation: Making loud noise is viewed as disrespectful toward the deceased. Also, people come here to grieve and comfort the family of the deceased person, so it’s inappropriate to make loud noises.

3- Thai Etiquette for a Buddhist Ordination

งานบวช (ngaan-bùuat) is “Buddhist ordination” in Thai, and this is an important event in Thai society. Thai people believe that men should be a monk for once in their life to learn more about Buddha’s teachings; this is so that he can live his life as a good man.

To join a Buddhist ordination is a good experience for a foreigner, as you get to see Thai culture, values, and beliefs. Here are some things you can and can’t do during a Buddhist ordination.

1. Dress formally.

Thai sentence: แต่งกายเรียบร้อย

Thai pronunciation: dtàaeng-gaai rîiap-ráauy

Explanation: A Buddhist ordination is an event that takes place in a temple. As already mentioned, it’s Thai culture and etiquette to dress properly in the temple, both men and women. Shirts with no sleeves, shorts, and skirts that are shorter than knee-length aren’t appropriate to wear in the temple. Also, no sexy or revealing clothes.

2. No drinking or cigarettes.

Thai sentence: ห้ามดื่มเหล้าและสูบบุหรี่

Thai pronunciation: hâam dùuem lâo láe sùup bù-rìi

Explanation: You shouldn’t drink or smoke in the temple as this is one of the things Buddhists shouldn’t do, as mentioned earlier.

10. Conclusion: How ThaiPod101 Can Help You Master Thai Culture

If you’ve reached this point in the lesson, you should know more or less about what you should and shouldn’t do in Thailand. Keep these things in mind so that you don’t accidentally act inappropriately when you visit the country.

It can be hard to fully accommodate to customs you’re not familiar with, but with enough practice and the right mindset, you’re already halfway there! Now that you know all of this, you should go and learn other fun Thai lessons such as the top ten tourist attractions, top five Thai dishes, or how to eat Thai food, at ThaiPod101.com.

Does your country have similar cultural expectations or etiquette rules? Let us know in the comments!

Time is very important, and is a significant part of our daily lives. Thus, when learning any language, it’s essential to learn about dates and time in that language. In this case, knowing Thai dates and how to tell time in Thai will improve your Thai conversation. It will also enable you to make appointments and manage your time well while in Thailand.

This article will teach you how to write dates in Thai, how to say the months in Thai, and basic sentences you can use in conversations to talk about dates or make appointments. To sum up, after finishing this article, you’ll know everything about Thai dates, Thai days, Thai months, and Thai years. Some parts of this lesson may be hard, but others are very easy (especially if you have basic knowledge about Thai numbers!).

Table of Contents

1. Saying the Day in Thai
2. Dates in Thai
3. The Months in Thai
4. The Year in Thai
5. Combining Thai Days, Dates, Months, and Years
6. Other Terms You Should Know
7. Must-Know Thai Phrases about Dates
8. Making an Appointment in Thai
9. Conclusion: How ThaiPod101 Can Help You Master Thai

1. Saying the Day in Thai

Let’s start with the basics. Before you can really understand dates in Thailand, you’ll have to know the days of the week in Thai. วัน (wan) is “day” in Thai, and below is a list of the Thai names for each day of the week.

1- “Monday” in Thai

Thai: วันจันทร์ (wan jan)

Example:

• วันจันทร์ที่จะถึงนี้เป็นวันหยุด
  wan jan thîi jà thǔeng níi bpen wan yùt
  This coming Monday is a holiday.

Additional Note: Thai people associate the days with different colors. For Monday, the color of the day is yellow. Since King Rama IX was born on Monday, yellow is considered his color as well.

2- “Tuesday” in Thai

Thai: วันอังคาร (wan ang-khaan)

Example:

• วันอังคารหน้าฉันจะไปเกาหลี
  wan ang-khaan nâa chăn jà bpai gao-lǐi
  I will go to Korea next Tuesday.

Additional Note: Tuesday’s color is pink.

3- “Wednesday” in Thai

Thai: วันพุธ (wan phút)

Example:

• ฉันชอบดูหนังวันพุธเพราะตั๋วหนังลดราคา
  chăn châawp duu năng wan phút phráw dtŭua năng lót raa-khaa
  I like to watch movies on Wednesday because tickets are discounted.

Additional Note: Wednesday’s color is green. In Thailand, a lot of restaurants and movie theaters have promotions on this day.

4- “Thursday” in Thai

Thai: วันพฤหัสบดี (wan phá-rúe-hàt-sà-baaw-dii)

Example:

• วันพฤหัสบดีนี้ฉันมีนัดกับลูกค้าใหม่
  wan phá-rúe-hàt-sà-baaw-dii níi chăn mii nát gàp lûuk kháa mài
  I have an appointment with a new customer this Thursday.

Additional Note: Thursday’s color is orange.

5- “Friday” in Thai

Thai: วันศุกร์ (wan sùk)

Example:

• วันศุกร์หน้าเป็นวันเกิดของแม่ฉัน
  wan sùk nâa bpen wan gòoet khǎawng mâae chăn
  Next Friday is my mother’s birthday.

Additional Note: Friday’s color is light blue.

6- “Saturday” in Thai

Thai: วันเสาร์ (wan sǎo)

Example:

• วันเสาร์นี้ฉันจะไปห้างกับพี่สาว
  wan săo níi chăn jà bpai hâang gàp phîi săao
  I will go to the department store with my older sister this Saturday.

Additional Note: Saturday’s color is purple.

7- “Sunday” in Thai

Thai: วันอาทิตย์ (wan aa-thít)

Example:

• วันอาทิตย์เป็นวันครอบครัวของเรา
  wan aa-thít bpen wan khrâawp khruua khǎawng rao
  Sunday is our family’s day.

Additional Note: Sunday’s color is red.

8- “Weekday” in Thai

Thai: วันธรรมดา (wan tham-má-daa)

Example:

• ปกติแล้ว วันธรรมดาฉันจะถึงบ้านตอน 5 โมงเย็น
  bpòk-gà-dtì láaeo wan tham-má-daa chăn jà thǔeng bâan dtaawn hâa moong yen
  Normally, I arrive home at 5 p.m. on weekdays.

9- “Weekend” in Thai

Thai: วันสุดสัปดาห์ (wan sùt-sàp-daa)

Example:

• ร้านอาหารของน้องชายฉันจะขายดีวันสุดสัปดาห์เป็นพิเศษ
  ráan aa-hăan khǎawng náawng chaai chăn jà khăai dii wan sùt sàp-daa bpen phí-sìit
  My younger brother’s restaurant is always packed on the weekend.

As you can see, the days in Thai may require some extra practice due to the spelling. But you can do this! Knowing the days of the week is essential in mastering Thai dates, so don’t skip over this!

2. Dates in Thai

On the other hand, Thai dates are very easy to learn if you know how to count 1-31 in the Thai language. วันที่ (wan thîi) is “date” in Thai. Basically, to say dates in Thai, you just say วันที่ (wan thîi) + number (date). The list below shows how to read all the number dates in Thai.

• วันที่ 1 (wan thîi nùeng) is “1^st” in Thai
• วันที่ 2 (wan thîi sǎawng) is “2^nd” in Thai
• วันที่ 3 (wan thîi sǎam) is “3^rd” in Thai
• วันที่ 4 (wan thîi sìi) is “4^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 5 (wan thîi hǎa) is “5^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 6 (wan thîi hòk) is “6^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 7 (wan thîi jèt) is “7^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 8 (wan thîi bpàaet) is “8^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 9 (wan thîi gâo) is “9^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 10 (wan thîi sìp) is “10^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 11 (wan thîi sìp-èt) is “11^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 12 (wan thîi sìp sǎawng) is “12^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 13 (wan thîi sìp sǎam) is “13^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 14 (wan thîi sìp sìi) is “14^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 15 (wan thîi sìp hâa) is “15^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 16 (wan thîi sìp hòk) is “16^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 17 (wan thîi sìp jèt) is “17^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 18 (wan thîi sìp bpàaet) is “18^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 19 (wan thîi sìp gâo) is “19^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 20 (wan thîi yîi sìp) is “20^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 21 (wan thîi yîi sìp èt) is “21^st” in Thai
• วันที่ 22 (wan thîi yîi sìp sǎawng) is “22^nd” in Thai
• วันที่ 23 (wan thîi yîi sìp sǎam) is “23^{rd” in Thai}
• วันที่ 24 (wan thîi yîi sìp sìi) is “24^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 25 (wan thîi yîi sìp hâa) is “25^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 26 (wan thîi yîi sìp hòk) is “26^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 27 (wan thîi yîi sìp jèt) is “27^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 28 (wan thîi yîi sìp bpàaet) is “28^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 29 (wan thîi yîi sìp gâo) is “29^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 30 (wan thîi sǎam sìp) is “30^th” in Thai
• วันที่ 31 (wan thîi sǎam sìp èt) is “31^st” in Thai

3. The Months in Thai

Now that you know what the days in Thai are, let’s learn how to say “month” in Thai and what each month is called. เดือน (duuean) is “month” in Thai, and the list below shows the month names.

1- “January” in Thai

Thai:

• Formal language: เดือนมกราคม (duuean mók-gà-raa-khom)
• Informal spoken language: เดือนหนึ่ง (duuean nùeng)

Abbreviation: ม.ค. (maaw-khaaw)

Example:

• ฉันเกิดเดือนมกราคม
  chǎn gòoet duuean mók-gà-raa-khom
  I was born in January.

Additional Note: Apart from New Year, another important day in Thailand is Children’s Day, which is the second Saturday of January.

2- “February” in Thai

Thai:

• Formal language: เดือนกุมภาพันธ์ (duuean gum-phaa-phan)
• Informal spoken language: เดือนสอง (duuean sǎawng)

Abbreviation: ก.พ. (gaaw-phaaw)

Example:

• เดือนกุมภาพันธ์เป็นเดือนแห่งความรัก
  duuean gum-phaa-phan bpen duuean hàaeng khwaam-rák
  February is the month of love.

Additional Note: February in Thailand is full of red. Apart from being the month of love, the Chinese New Year falls in this month almost every year. Most places are decorated with red, a color that represents both Valentine’s Day and the Chinese New Year.

3- “March” in Thai

Thai:

• Formal language: เดือนมีนาคม (duuean mii-naa-khom)
• Informal spoken language: เดือนสาม (duuean sǎam)

Abbreviation: มี.ค. (mii-khaaw)

Example:

• ประเทศไทยเริ่มเข้าสู่ฤดูร้อนตั้งแต่เดือนมีนาคม
  bprà-thêet thai rôoem khâo sùu rúe-duu ráawn dtâng dtàae duuean mii-naa-khom
  The summer in Thailand starts in March.

Additional Note: Thai students love March as it’s the start of their summer vacation. March in Thailand is also the starting period of summer. The weather clearly starts to get hotter.

4- “April” in Thai

Thai:

• Formal language: เดือนเมษายน (duuean mee-sǎa-yon)
• Informal spoken language: เดือนสี่ (duuean sìi)

Abbreviation: เม.ย. (mee-yaaw)

Example:

• เดือนเมษายนมีเทศกาลสงกรานต์ซึ่งเป็นวันหยุดยาวของประเทศไทย
  duuean mee-săa-yon mii thêet-sà-gaan sŏng-graan sûeng bpen wan yùt yaao khǎawng bprà-thêet thai
  The sǎawnggran Festival, which is a long Thai holiday, is in April.

Additional Note: As mentioned in the example, the Sŏng-graan Festival or Thai New Year period, is from April 13-15, and this is the hottest period of the year. It’s a long holiday for Thai people, who normally spend their time with family either going back to their hometown or going traveling. So April in Thailand is a time for family.

5- “May” in Thai

Thai:

• Formal language: เดือนพฤษภาคม (duuean phrúet-sà-phaa-khom)
• Informal spoken language: เดือนห้า (duuean hâa)

Abbreviation: พ.ค. (phaaw-khaaw)

Example:

• นักเรียนไทยเริ่มเปิดเทอมเดือนพฤษภาคม
  nák riian thai rôoem bpòoet thooem duuean phrúet-sà-phaa-khom
  Thai students start a new semester in May.

Additional Note: The middle of May in Thailand is the start of the rainy season.

6- “June” in Thai

Thai:

• Formal language: เดือนมิถุนายน (duuean mí-thù-naa-yon)
• Informal spoken language: เดือนหก (duuean hòk)

Abbreviation: มิ.ย. (mí-yaaw)

Example:

• ชื่อของเดือนที่มี 30 วันจะลงท้ายด้วยคำว่า “ยน” ในภาษาไทย เช่น เดือนมิถุนายน
• chûue khǎawng duuean thîi mii săam sìp wan jà long tháai dûuai kham wâa yon nai phaa-săa thai chêen duuean mí-thù-naa-yon
• The name of a month that has thirty days ends with yoen in Thai, such as เดือนมิถุนายน (duuean mí-thù-naa-yon).

7- “July” in Thai

Thai:

• Formal language: เดือนกรกฎาคม (duuean gà-rá-gà-daa-khom)
• Informal spoken language: เดือนเจ็ด (duuean jèt)

Abbreviation: ก.ค. (gaaw-khaaw)

Example:

• ชื่อของเดือนที่มี 31 วันจะลงท้ายด้วยคำว่า “คม” ในภาษาไทย เช่น เดือนกรกฎาคม
• chûue khǎawng duuean thîi mii săam sìp èt wan jà long tháai dûuai kham wâa khom nai phaa-săa thai chêen duuean gà-rá-gà-daa-khom
• The name of a month that has thirty-one days ends with khom in Thai, such as เดือนกรกฎาคม (duuean gà-rá-gà-daa-khom).

8- “August” in Thai

Thai:

• Formal language: เดือนสิงหาคม (duuean sǐng-hǎa-khom)
• Informal spoken language: เดือนแปด (duuean bpàaet)

Abbreviation: ส.ค. (sǎaw-khaaw)

Example:

• วันที่ 12 สิงหาคมของทุกปีเป็นวันแม่ของประเทศไทย
  wan thîi sìp sǎawng sĭng-hăa-khom khǎawng thúk bpii bpen wan mâae khǎawng bprà-thêet thai
  The 12^th of August every year is Mother’s Day in Thailand.

Additional Note: August in Thailand is full of events for mothers. The 12^th of August is the birthday of King Rama IX’s wife. Thai people perceive her as the mother of Thai people, so naturally, her birthday has become Mother’s Day in Thailand.

9- “September” in Thai

Thai:

• Formal language: เดือนกันยายน (duuean gan-yaa-yon)
• Informal spoken language: เดือนเก้า (duuean gâo)

Abbreviation: ก.ย. (gaaw-yaaw)

Example:

• เดือนกันยายนปีนี้ ฉันจะไปเที่ยวญี่ปุ่น
  duuean gan-yaa-yon bpii níi chăn jà bpai thîiao yîi-bpùn
  I will go traveling in Japan this September.

Additional Note: The 9^th of September in Thailand is considered to be a good day, as both the date and the month are pronounced gâo which means “moving forward” in Thai.

10- “October” in Thai

Thai:

• Formal language: เดือนตุลาคม (duuean dtù-laa-khom)
• Informal spoken language: เดือนสิบ (duuean-sìp)

Abbreviation: ต.ค. (dtaaw-khaaw)

Example:

• เทศกาลกินเจของไทยอยู่เดือนตุลาคม
  thêet-sà-gaan gin jee khǎawng thai yùu duuean dtù-laa-khom
  The Vegetarian Festival in Thailand is in October.

Additional Note: If February in Thailand is full of red, October in Thailand is full of yellow because of the ten-day Vegetarian Festival. During this period, some Thai people eat only vegetarian food for ten days in order to make merit by saving the lives of animals.

11- “November” in Thai

Thai:

• Formal language: เดือนพฤศจิกายน (duuean phrúet-sà-jì-gaa-yon)
• Informal spoken language: เดือนสิบเอ็ด (duuean sìp èt)

Abbreviation: พ.ย. (phaaw-yaaw)

Example:

• วันลอยกระทงของทุกปีมักอยู่เดือนพฤศจิกายน
  wan laauy grà-thong khǎawng thúk bpii mák yùu duuean phrúet-sà-jì-gaa-yon
  Loy Gratong Day is in November almost every year.

Additional Note: The date on which Loy Gratong Day falls each year is based on the Thai Lunar calendar. It’s the day that Thai people ask พระแม่คงคา (phrá mâae khong-khaa) or the “god of river” for forgiveness if they do something wrong toward the river. This ceremony is quite nice and unique, so foreigners often find it beautiful.

12- “December” in Thai

Thai:

• Formal language: เดือนธันวาคม (duuean than-waa-khom)
• Informal spoken language: เดือนสิบสอง (duuean sìp sǎawng)

Abbreviation: ธ.ค. (thaaw-khaaw)

Example:

• หลายคนชอบเดือนธันวาคมเพราะเดือนนี้มีวันหยุดหลายวัน
  lăai khon châawp duuean than-waa khom phráw duuean níi mii wan yùt lăai wan
  Many people like December because there are many holidays in this month.

Additional Note: December in Thailand is a month full of holidays. The fact that the weather in Thailand starts to cool down makes the atmosphere nicer. A lot of Thai people travel during this period.

4. The Year in Thai

Learning the years in Thai isn’t difficult. ปี (bpii) is “year” in Thai.

There are a few things you need to know about Thai years, which will be explained below to give you a better idea of how to read dates in Thai according to the year.

1- Ph.D. or B.E.

Thai people mainly use Ph.D., but they also understand if you use B.E. However, when it comes to formal communication in both speaking and writing, Ph.D. is used.

2- How to Say Thai Years (Ph.D.)

Thai: พุทธศักราช (phút-thá-sàk-gà-ràat) + year

Abbreviation: พ.ศ. (phaaw-sǎaw)

Example:

• ปีนี้คือพ.ศ.2562
  bpii níi khuue phaaw-sǎaw sǎawng-phan-hâa-ráauy-hòk-sìp-sǎawng
  This year is 2562 Ph.d.

Additional Note: พุทธศักราช (phút-thá-sàk-gà-ràat) is normally used in formal situations, while พ.ศ. (phaaw-sǎaw) can be used in both formal and informal situations.

3- How to Say Thai Years (B.E.)

Thai: คริสตศักราช (khrít-dtà-sàk-gà-ràat) + year

Abbreviation: ค.ศ. (khaaw-sǎaw)

Example:

• ปีนี้คือค.ศ.2019
  bpii níi khuue khaaw-sǎaw sǎawng-phan-sìp-gâo
  This year is 2019 B.E.

Additional Note: คริสตศักราช (khrít-dtà-sàk-gà-ràat) is normally used in formal spoken situations, while ค.ศ. (khaaw-sǎaw) can be used in informal spoken situations and formal written situations.

5. Combining Thai Days, Dates, Months, and Years

So, how are dates written in Thailand?

Let’s combine everything together that you’ve learned so far, and use it to see how to write dates in Thai. Keep in mind that Thai people start with the smallest unit. Below is an example of how Thai people say the day, date, month, and year altogether:

วัน (day) ที่ (date) เดือน (month) ปี (year)

wan (day) thîi (date) duuean (month) bpii (year)

Now, here are various ways you can say Thai days, dates, months and years, using the structures above. The date that will be used as an example is Tuesday 8^th, January 2019.

1- Full Version

Thai date: วันอังคารที่ 8 เดือนมกราคม ปีพ.ศ. 2562

Thai pronunciation: wan-ang-khaan thîi bpàaet duuean mók-gà-raa-khom bpii phút-thá-sàk-gà-ràat sǎawng-phan-hâa-ráauy-hòk-sìp-sǎawng

Usage: Thai people normally use this in formal situations. You simply say every part of the phrase.

2- Thai Date without Day

Thai date: วันที่ 8 เดือนมกราคม ปีพ.ศ. 2562

Thai pronunciation: wan thîi bpàaet duuean mók-gà-raa-khom bpii phút-thá-sàk-gà-ràat sǎawng-phan-hâa-ráauy-hòk-sìp-sǎawng

Usage: Thai people also use this in formal situations, when they don’t want to focus on the day. If you can say the full version, this is easy. You just cut the day out.

3- Short Version

Thai date: 8 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2562

Thai pronunciation: bpàaet mók-gà-raa-khom phaaw-sǎaw sǎawng-phan-hâa-ráauy-hòk-sìp-sǎawng

Usage: Thai people use this in less formal situations. They simply cut out the day, the word date, the month, and the year. For the year, the abbreviation is used. This is what Thai people use for speaking in daily life.

4- Abbreviated Version

Thai date: 8 ม.ค. 62

Thai pronunciation: bpàaet maaw-khaaw hòk-sǎawng

Usage: Thai people mostly use abbreviated versions for writing. When they read it, they either read it fully or read the abbreviation as shown above. For years, Thai people read each number separately.

6. Other Terms You Should Know

Apart from what you’ve learned so far, there are also terms about dates and times you should know:

1- “Today” in Thai

Thai language: วันนี้ (wan-níi)

Example:

• วันนี้เป็นวันอาทิตย์
  Wan-níi bpen wan-aa-thít
  Today is Sunday.

2- “Tomorrow” in Thai

Thai language: วันพรุ่งนี้ (wan-phrûng-níi); พรุ่งนี้ (phrûng-níi)

Example:

• พรุ่งนี้ฝนน่าจะตก
  Phrûng-níi fǒn nâa jà dtòk
  It may rain tomorrow.

Additional Note: วันพรุ่งนี้ (wan-phrûng-níi) is a little bit more formal than พรุ่งนี้ (phrûng-níi). Still, Thai people use both of them equally.

3- “The Day After Tomorrow” in Thai

Thai language: วันมะรืน (wan-má-ruuen); มะรืน (má-ruuen)

Example:

• พ่อต้องไปเชียงใหม่มะรืนนี้
  Phâaw dtâawng bpai chiiang-mài má-ruuen níi
  Dad has to go to Chiangmai the day after tomorrow.

Additional Note: วันมะรืน (wan-má-ruuen) is a little bit more formal than มะรืน (má-ruuen). Still, Thai people use both of them equally. They often put the word นี้ (níi) after วันมะรืน (wan-má-ruuen) or มะรืน (má-ruuen), but its English meaning is the same.

4- “Yesterday” in Thai

Thai language: เมื่อวาน (mûuea-waan)

Example:

• เมื่อวานนี้อากาศร้อนมาก
  Mûuea-waan níi aa-gàat ráawn mâak
  Yesterday was very hot.

Additional Note: Thai people often put the word นี้ (níi) after เมื่อวาน (mûuea-waan), but its English meaning is the same.

5- “Week” in Thai

Thai language: สัปดาห์ (sàp-daa); อาทิตย์ (aa-thít)

Example:

• อาทิตย์ที่แล้ว ฉันไปเที่ยวมา
  Aa-thít thîi-láaeo chǎn bpai thîiao maa
  I went traveling last week.

Additional Note: สัปดาห์ (sàp-daa) is more formal than อาทิตย์ (aa-thít). Thai people use อาทิตย์ (aa-thít) in conversation more.

6- “This…..” in Thai

Thai language: (name of day / เดือน / ปี) + นี้ (níi)

Example:

• วันพฤหัสบดีนี้เป็นวันครู
  Wan-phá-rúe-hàt-sà-baaw-dii níi bpen wan khruu
  This Thursday is Teacher Day.

Additional Note: In Thailand, Teacher Day is on January 16.

6- “Next…..” in Thai

Thai language: (name of day / เดือน / ปี) + หน้า (nhâa)

Example:

• เดือนหน้าอากาศจะเริ่มร้อนแล้ว
  Duuean nâa aa-gàat jà rôoem ráawn láaeo
  The weather will start to be hot next month.

6- “Last…..” in Thai

Thai language: (name of day / เดือน / ปี) + ที่แล้ว (thîi-láaeo)

Example:

• ปีที่แล้วเป็นปีที่ดีของฉัน
  Bpii thîi-láaeo bpen bpii thîi dii khǎawng chǎn
  Last year was a good year for me.

7. Must-Know Thai Phrases about Dates

Even after learning everything else in this article, you may still find it a bit hard to start a conversation about dates. To help you out, we’ve prepared some sentences you can use.

Thai language: วันนี้วันอะไร
Thai pronunciation: wan-níi wan à-rai
English meaning: What day is today?

Thai language: เดือนนี้เดือนอะไร
Thai pronunciation: duuean níi duuean à-rai
English meaning: What month is this?

Thai language: ปีนี้ปีอะไร
Thai pronunciation: bpii níi bpii à-rai
English meaning: What year is this?

Thai language: วันเกิดคุณคือวันไหน
Thai pronunciation: wan-gòoet khun khuue wan nǎi
English meaning: When is your birthday?

Thai language: วันครบรอบแต่งงานคือวันไหน
Thai pronunciation: wan-khróp-râawp dtàaeng-ngaan khuue wan nǎi
English meaning: When is your wedding anniversary?

Thai language: โรงเรียนเปิดเทอมวันไหน
Thai pronunciation: roong-riian bpòoet-thooem wan nǎi
English meaning: When does your school start?

8. Making an Appointment in Thai

Now, for the last section of this article, let’s learn sentences you can use to make an appointment.

Thai language: คุณว่าง (day / date) มั๊ย
Thai pronunciation: khun wâang …..mái
English meaning: Are you free on (day/date)?

Thai language: ว่าง
Thai pronunciation: wâang
English meaning: I’m free.

Thai language: ไม่ว่าง
Thai pronunciation: mâi wâang
English meaning: I’m not free.

Thai language: แล้ว (day / date) ล่ะ
Thai pronunciation: láaeo…..là
English meaning: What about (day / date)?

Thai language: เจอกัน (day / date) นะ
Thai pronunciation: jooe gan…..ná
English meaning: See you on (day / date).

9. Conclusion: How ThaiPod101 Can Help You Master Thai

There’s a lot to learn and remember when it comes to Thai dates, so be sure to practice often. Remembering the names of days and months will definitely take some time, but you can do it, so don’t give up. If you can, try using them with Thai people in daily life.

Once you get the hang of this, you can go and learn other interesting lessons such as our vocabulary list on Thai numbers or about the Thai New Year at ThaiPod101.com!

Before you go, let us know in the comments how you feel about Thai dates now. Do you feel more confident about writing and reading dates in Thai, or are you still struggling? Don’t forget to keep practicing and never hesitate to reach out for help. We look forward to hearing from you!

Most people love to travel. It’s nice to see new things and to learn how people in other places live. It’s exciting to try new foods and traditional clothes of other nations. Simply put, there are a lot of things to learn and try while traveling. For those of you who love Thailand and get to work or learn there, traveling in Thailand is something you don’t want to miss. Before you do, though, there are some Thai phrases to know when traveling to Thailand.

For instance, once you leave the bigger cities in Thailand, you may find that most Thai people don’t speak English. So if you know basic Thai phrases for travelers, your life will be so much easier. The common Thai phrases for travelers that ThaiPod101.com will provide for you in this article will help you to get necessary information for traveling. With this list of common Thai travel phrases, you’ll be able to travel to many places in Thailand. And during the trip, you can see how Thai people live and travel.

Ready to learn Thai travel phrases? Without further ado, here’s one of our travel guides in Thailand, all about the Thai language! First, we’ll learn Thai basic words when traveling to Thailand.

Table of Contents

1. Basic Expressions
2. Transportation
3. Shopping
4. Restaurants
5. Asking for and Giving Directions
6. Emergencies
7. Flattery Phrases
8. Useful Phrases to go through Language Problems
9. Handy Phrases During the Trip
10. Tips
11. Conclusion

1. Basic Expressions

Let’s start simple with basic Thai words for travelers. Below is a list of ways to greet in Thai when traveling to Thailand.

1- สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii)

• Meaning: “Hello; Goodbye”
• Language breakdown: สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii) is literally “goodness, beauty, prosperity, and safety” in Thai. And because of its positive meaning, Thai people use this word as a greeting to wish others well.
• Cultural background/relevance: Thai people have formally used สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii) as “hello” and “goodbye” since January 22, 1943. When Thai people say สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii), they often do an action called ไหว้ (wâi) as well. Generally, if you want to ไหว้ (wâi), mirror the pictures below.

2- ขอบคุณ (khàawp-khun)

• Meaning: “Thank you”
• Language breakdown: As opposed to สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii), there’s no literal meaning of this word in the Thai language. Thai people use this word to show that they appreciate what other parties do for them.
• Cultural background/relevance: Thai people often ไหว้ (wâi) when saying ขอบคุณ (khàawp-khun) as an action to show their gratitude, as they do when greeting.

3- ขอโทษ (khǎaw-thôot)

• Meaning: “Sorry”
• Language breakdown: ขอโทษ (khǎaw-thôot) is literally “ask for forgiveness” in Thai. Thai people use this word to show that they’re sorry for what they did.
• Cultural background/relevance: If you come to Thailand, you really should learn how to ไหว้ (wâi). Thai people also do this action when they say ขอโทษ (khǎaw-thôot).

4- ใช่ (châi)

• Meaning: “Yes”
• Cultural background: There’s a body gesture that Thai people do when saying ใช่ (châi); they sometimes nod their head a few times as a way to say ใช่ (châi).

5- ไม่ใช่ (mâi châi)

• Meaning: “No”
• Language breakdown: The word ไม่ (mâi) is “no” or “not” in Thai. Combined with ใช่ (châi), the word ไม่ใช่ (mâi châi), means “not yes,” which is “no.” Thai people often use ไม่ (mâi) as a word to make a sentence negative.
• Cultural background/relevance: Many Thai people use a gesture when saying ไม่ใช่ (mâi châi) as well. They sometimes shake their head a few times as a way to say ไม่ใช่ (mâi châi).

2. Transportation

There’s no denying that transportation is a huge part of any trip. Trying to travel in a country you’re not familiar with can be hard. However, if you know some Thai phrases for travelers, it will be a bit easier.

1- ไปที่….. (bpai thîi…..)

• Meaning: “I want to go to …..”
• Language breakdown: ไป (bpai) means “go” in Thai and ที่ (thîi) means “at.” This may seem a little bit weird as there’s no word that means “I want to.” As a Thai learner, you should know one characteristic of the Thai language: If Thai people know that another party understands who the subject of a sentence is, they just cut it out of the sentence. In this example, Thai people automatically know that the speaker is the one who wants to go, so they only say ไปที่….. (bpai thîi…..).

2- ไปที่…..ได้มั๊ย (bpai thîi…..dâi mái)

• Meaning: “Can you go to…..?”
• Language breakdown: Thai people put ได้มั๊ย (dâi mái) at the end of sentences, and it means “can you?” or “can I?” in Thai. Continuing from the sentence above, when putting ได้มั๊ย (dâi mái) at the end of a sentence, it means, “Can you go to…..?” Similar to the sentence above, Thai people just cut “you” out of the sentence as they assume the taxi driver understands that he/she is the one being asked.
• Cultural background/relevance: Taking a taxi is a convenient way of traveling in big cities. However, drivers don’t know all locations. So you should ask if the driver can get you to your destination or not.

3- ป้ายรถเมล์อยู่ที่ไหน (bpâai rót mee yùu thîi năi)

• Meaning: “Where is the bus stop?”
• Language breakdown: ป้ายรถเมล์ (pâi-ród-may) is “bus stop” in Thai. อยู่ (yùu) is one of the words for “be” in Thai. And ที่ไหน (thîi năi) is “where” in Thai. As opposed to English, Thai people switch the order of the sentence so it becomes ป้ายรถเมล์อยู่ที่ไหน (bpâai rót mee yùu thîi năi).
• Cultural background/relevance: Not all cities in Thailand have taxis, so another choice for traveling in the cities is taking a bus.

4- จะไปที่….ถ้าถึงแล้วบอกหน่อยได้มั๊ย (jà bpai thîi …. thâa thǔeng láaeo bàawk nàauy dâi mái)

• Meaning: “I’m going to ….., please tell me when we arrive.”
• Language breakdown: The first part of this sentence is similar to the one above, so we’ll skip that part and focus on the latter half. ถ้าถึงแล้ว (thâa thǔeng láaeo) means “when arrive.” บอก (bàawk) means “tell.” And หน่อยได้มั๊ย (nàauy dâi mái) is a phrase Thai people put at the end of a sentence, and means “Can you?” or “Can I?” in Thai. But as mentioned before, since the other parties should know that he/she is being asked, people cut “you” out of the sentence.
• Cultural background/relevance: If you plan to travel in the city by bus, it may be a bit hard and confusing. You may be able to find information in advance, such as which bus you should take and from where. However, as the names for each bus stop aren’t shown, you won’t know when you should get off. This is even a problem for Thai people.

  Sometimes, staff on a bus called กระเป๋ารถเมล์ (grà-bpǎo rót mee) will say the name of the bus stop, but you may not be familiar enough with Thai pronunciation to be sure of whether it’s the place you want to go or not. So it’s best to ask the กระเป๋ารถเมล์ (grà-bpǎo rót mee) about this when you pay for your ticket using this sentence.

• Additional note: When you take a bus in Thai, you’ll find two staff members on the bus. One is the driver and the other is called กระเป๋ารถเมล์ (grà-bpǎo rót mee). There’s no English word for กระเป๋ารถเมล์ (grà-bpǎo rót mee), but he/she is the one who sells you the ticket. When you get on the bus, you should first find an available seat. After that, the กระเป๋ารถเมล์ (grà-bpǎo rót mee) will come to sell the ticket to you.

5- จะไปที่…..ต้องลงสถานีไหน (jà bpai thîi ….. dtâawng long sà-thăa-nii năi)

• Meaning: “I’m going to……, which station should I get off?”
• Language breakdown: We’ll skip the first part and focus on the latter part, like we did above, since it’s the same. สถานี (sà-thăa-nii) is “station” in Thai. ไหน (nǎi) is “which” in Thai. And ต้องลง (dtâawng long) means “should get off” in Thai. Putting all of this together, it means, “Which station should I get off?” As you can guess, Thai people just cut out the word “I” since they assume other parties know that the one who asks is the one who wants to get off.
• Cultural background/relevance: Fortunately for BTS (which is only available in Bangkok) and the train, the names of the stations are shown. This means that you can ask the staff which station you should get off at in order to reach your destination.

6- ซื้อตั๋วที่ไหน (súue dtǔua thîi năi)

• Meaning: “Where can I buy a ticket?”
• Language breakdown: ซื้อ (súue) is “buy” in Thai. ตั๋ว (dtǔua) is “ticket” in Thai. And ที่ไหน (thîi năi) is “where” in Thai. Combining everything together, you get ซื้อตั๋วที่ไหน (súue dtǔua thîi năi), which means, “Where can I buy a ticket?” in Thai. You may notice that in the Thai language, the question words such as “where,” “can I?,” and “can you?” are put at the end of the sentence, which is opposite to English.
• Cultural background/relevance: When taking a bus, as mentioned above, you can pay after you get on. But for BTS and train, you have to buy the ticket before getting on. Normally, the ticket booth is near the station.

7- ซื้อตั๋วไปที่…..สำหรับ…..คน (súue dtǔua bpai thîi…..sǎm-ràp……khon)

• Meaning: “I want to buy ticket(s) for going to ….. for ….. persons.”
• Language breakdown: You already know the meaning of the first part of the sentence from above, so here we’ll focus on the last part. สำหรับ (sǎm-ràp) means “for” in Thai. And คน (khon) is “unit for person” in Thai. So all together it means, “I want to buy ticket(s) for going to ….. for ….. persons.” The word “I want” is naturally cut out of the sentence.

3. Shopping

Here comes many people’s favorite activity: shopping. Buying things from the local area is a must when you go on a trip. Of course, you’ll want to buy food, drinks, traditional products, as well as souvenirs. Learning Thai phrases for travel helps, particularly the Thailand travel phrases below.

1- ราคาเท่าไหร่ (raa-khaa thâo-rài)

• Meaning: “How much is this?”
• Language breakdown: ราคา (raa-khaa) means “price” in Thai. And เท่าไหร่ (thâo-rài) means “how much.” Since you may not know the name of the thing you want, you can point at it and say ราคาเท่าไหร่ (raa-khaa thâo-rài) in order to ask, “How much is this?”

2- มีโปรโมชั่นมั๊ย (mii bproo-moo-chân mái)

• Meaning: “Is there any promotion?”
• Language breakdown: มี (mii) is “have,” or in this case, “there is” in Thai. The word มั๊ย (mái) has no meaning, but Thai people put it at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
• Cultural background/relevance: If you’re shopping from locals, this phrase may not be very useful as they normally don’t have promotions. But if you buy from a big store, don’t forget to ask. If you buy a lot, they may even give you something for free even if there’s no promotion.

3- ลดได้มั๊ย (lót dâi mái)

• Meaning: “Can you give me a discount?”
• Language breakdown: You’ll see that Thai people cut a lot of words out of this sentence. ลดราคา (lót raa-khaa) is “discount” in Thai. However, people shorten this word here to ลด (lót). And as mentioned before, ได้มั๊ย (dâi mái) is the word Thai people put at the end of sentences and it means “Can you?” or “Can I?” in Thai. Basically, there’s no “you” or “me” in this sentence.
• Cultural background/relevance: For food and drink, normally, Thai people don’t ask for discounts. However, for other products, you can try asking for a discount, as some sellers already set their price a little bit higher just in case a customer does ask for a discount. Don’t forget to smile sweetly when you ask for a discount, that may help. ^^

4- ที่นี่อะไรขายดี (thîi nîi à-rai khǎai dii)

• Meaning: “What is the best seller here?”
• Language breakdown: ที่นี่ (thîi nîi) is “here” in Thai, อะไร (à-rai) is “what” in Thai, and ขายดี (khǎai dii) is “sell a lot” in Thai. Actually, the literal Thai meaning of this sentence is, “What is being sold a lot here?” But in English, people don’t normally ask like that, so it is equal to “What is the best seller here?”
• Cultural background/relevance: When you go to a souvenir shop, you may have no idea what to buy since you may not know what the products are. You can ask this and see what’s popular.

5- มีอันใหม่มั๊ย (mii an mài mái)

• Meaning: “Do you have a new one?”
• Language breakdown: มี (mii) is “have” in Thai, อันใหม่ (an mài) is “new one,” and as you may remember, the word มั๊ย (mái) has no meaning but Thai people put it at the end of sentences to make it a question. In this sentence, Thai people cut “you” out of the sentence as they assume people should know that you’re the one asking. So by combining everything together, we get มีอันใหม่มั๊ย (mii an mài mái).
• Cultural background/relevance: Sometimes, the product that’s shown may look a little dirty because a lot of people have touched it or tried it out. If you want to buy it, you can always ask and see if the seller has a new one or not.

6- มีสีอื่นมั๊ย (mii sǐi ùuen mái)

• Meaning: “Do you have another color?”
• Language breakdown: This sentence is pretty similar to the one above, so we’ll focus only on the part that’s different. สีอื่น (sǐi ùuen) means “other color” in Thai. The rest is the same.

7- มีขนาดอื่นมั๊ย (mii khà-nàat ùuen mái)

• Meaning: “Do you have another size?”
• Language breakdown: Again, this sentence is very similar to the one above so we’ll only focus on the part that’s different. ขนาดอื่น (khà-nàat ùuen) means “other size” in Thai. The rest is the same.
• Cultural background/relevance: When you buy clothes in Thailand, even with no fitting room, you can try the clothes on. Most of the time, the seller has a ผ้าถุง (phâa-thǔng), which means “sarong” in Thai, for you to use. You may feel a little bit weird, but that’s how Thai people do it when they buy clothes from a small shop.

8- จ่ายด้วยบัตรเครดิตได้มั๊ย (jàai dûuai bàt khree-dìt dâi mái)

• Meaning: “Can I pay with a credit card?”
• Language breakdown: จ่าย (jàai) means “pay” in Thai, ด้วย (dûuai) means “with,” บัตรเครดิต (bàt khree-dìtt) means “credit card,” and lastly, ได้มั๊ย (dâi mái) is the word Thai people put at the end of sentences and it means “Can you?” or “Can I?” in Thai. Of course, Thai people also cut the subject from the sentence, which is “I” in this case.
• Cultural background/relevance: If you go to a big department store, they normally accept credit cards with no additional charge. However, most local stores don’t allow credit cards. If they do, you should check if there’s an additional charge or not.

4. Restaurants

One of the activities people do—whether they travel or not—is eating. So let’s learn some useful Thai travel phrases you can use in restaurants in Thailand.

1- ขอเมนูหน่อย (khǎaw mee-nuu nàauy)

• Meaning: “Menu, please.”
• Language breakdown: ขอ (khǎaw) is “ask for” in Thai. And หน่อย (nàauy) has no meaning in this case. Thai people normally put this word at the end of a sentence.
• Cultural background/relevance: If you go to a small local restaurant, the menu is shown on the wall instead of in book form.

2- สั่งอาหารหน่อย (sàng aa-hǎan nàauy)

• Meaning: “Order, please.”
• Language breakdown: สั่ง (sàng) is “order” in Thai., อาหาร (aa-hǎan) is “food,” and just like above, หน่อย (nàauy) is no-meaning word Thai people put at the end of sentences.

3- เอา….. (ao…..)

• Meaning: “I want…..”
• Language breakdown: Actually, เอา (ao) means “take,” but in this case, it means “want.” Naturally, Thai people assume that the other party knows that the speaker is the one who wants food, so they cut “I” out of the sentence.

4- อันนี้เจมั๊ย (an níi jee mái)

• Meaning: “Is this vegetarian food?”
• Language breakdown: อันนี้ (an níi) means “this” in Thai, and อาหารเจ (aa-hǎan jee) is “vegetarian food.” But Thai people just shorten the word by cutting อาหาร (aa-hǎan) out, as when people say เจ (jee), Thai people automatically understand that it means “vegetarian food.” The word มั๊ย (mái) has no meaning, but Thai people put it at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
• Cultural background/relevance: In Thai, there’s a certain period during each year when some people will eat a vegetarian food called เทศกาลกินเจ (thêet-sà-gaan gin jee). Still, some restaurants serve vegetarian food year-round as well. You can look for the sign indicating that vegetarian food is served, which is a yellow flag.

5- แพ้…..กินได้มั๊ย (pháae…..gin dâi mái)

• Meaning: “I’m allergic to……, can I eat this?”
• Language breakdown: แพ้ (pháae) can mean “lose” or “allergic” in Thai. กิน (gin) means “eat,” and as already shown above, ได้มั๊ย (dâi mái) is the word Thai people put at the end of sentences and it means “Can you?” or “Can I?” in Thai. And as usual, Thai people cut out the subject of the sentence.
• Cultural background/relevance: Not many restaurants show the ingredients of the dishes on their menu, so if you’re not sure if you can eat it or not, you should ask to be safe.

6- เอาเผ็ดน้อย (ao phèt náauy)

• Meaning: “Please make it less spicy.”
• Language breakdown: As mentioned before, เอา (ao) means “take,” but in this case it means “want.” เผ็ด (phèt) means “spicy” or “hot” in Thai, and น้อย (náauy) means “little.” Literally, this sentence means “want little spicy” which is equivalent to “make it less spicy” in English.
• Cultural background/relevance: Thai food is known to be spicy. If you’re not sure whether you can eat spicy food or not, but still want to try spicy Thai food, you can ask them to make it less spicy.

7- เอาไม่เผ็ด (ao mâi phèt)

• Meaning: “Please make it not spicy.”
• Language breakdown: You’ve already learned each of these three words from this article. เอา (ao) means “take” but is “want” in this case. The word ไม่ (mâi) is “no” or “not” in Thai, and เผ็ด (phèt) means “spicy” or “hot” in Thai.
• Cultural background/relevance: For those who can’t endure spicy food, you can ask them to make it not spicy. For some recipes, if they can, they’ll do it for you.

8- เก็บเงินหน่อย (gèp ngooen nàauy)

• Meaning: “Bill, please.”
• Language breakdown: เก็บ (gèp) is “collect” in Thai, เงิน (ngooen) is “money,” and หน่อย (nàauy) has no meaning but Thai people put it at the end of sentences. So in total, it literally means, “Collect money please,” which is “Bill, please,” in English.
• Cultural background/relevance: You can also use a body gesture for this as well. Once you get your waiter’s or waitress’ attention, you point your forefinger to the food on your table and then make a circle. They’ll understand what you mean.

5. Asking for and Giving Directions

When you go someplace you’ve never been before, you naturally need help with directions. So you should remember the following Thai phrases for travelers.

1- ไป……ยังไง (bpai…..yang-ngai)

• Meaning: “How to go to …..?”
• Language breakdown: ยังไง (yang-ngai) is “how to” in Thai. ไป (bpai) is “go.” This one is quite simple. Combining both, it’s ไป……ยังไง (bpai…..yang-ngai).
• Cultural background/relevance: Thai people are kind and willing to help. If you’re not sure if your pronunciation of the place is correct or not, you can show the picture or the Thai name of the place to help you communicate better.

2- เลี้ยวซ้าย (líiao sáai)

• Meaning: “Turn left.”
• Language breakdown: This one is also very simple. เลี้ยว (líiao) is “turn” in Thai and ซ้าย (sáai) is “left” in Thai.

3- เลี้ยวขวา (líiao khwǎa)

• Meaning: “Turn right.”
• Language breakdown: From the phrase above, you already know what เลี้ยว (líiao) means. So let’s focus on the last word. ขวา (khwǎa) is “right” in Thai.

4- ตรงไป (dtrong-bpai)

• Meaning: “Go straight.”
• Language breakdown: This one is easy too. ตรง (dtrong) is “straight” in Thai. And as mentioned before, ไป (bpai) is “go” in Thai.

5- เดินไปได้มั๊ย (dooen bpai dâi mái)

• Meaning: “Can I walk there?”
• Language breakdown: เดิน (dooen) is “walk” in Thai, ไป (bpai) is “go,” and ได้มั๊ย (dâi mái) is the word Thai people put at the end of sentences and it means, “Can you?” or “Can I?” Combining everything together, its meaning isn’t like English. That’s because Thai people cut “I” and “there” out. They assume that the speaker is the one going there.
• Cultural background/relevance: You can ask local people whether you can walk to your destination or not. Sometimes, it may seem far on the map, but there’s a shortcut. You may hear these two words in the answer: ใกล้ (glâi) which is “close” and ไกล (glai) which is “far.”

6. Emergencies

Despite wishing against them, emergency situations can happen any time. In case you find yourself in an emergency, it’ll be very useful if you can communicate in Thai a little. So let’s practice some of these basic Thai phrases for travelers.

1- ช่วยด้วย (chûuai dûuai)

• Meaning: “Help.”
• Language breakdown: ช่วยด้วย (chûuai dûuai) is the phrase Thai people use to ask for help in Thai. It can be used to ask for help in most emergency situations.
• Cultural background/relevance: Thai people are very kind and willing to help. If you say ช่วยด้วย (chûuai dûuai), meaning “help,” Thai people will try to help you.

2- เรียกรถพยาบาลให้หน่อย (rîiak rót phá-yaa-baan hâi nàauy)

• Meaning: “Please call an ambulance for me.”
• Language breakdown: เรียก (rîiak) is “call” in Thai, รถพยาบาล (rót phá-yaa-baan) is “ambulance,” and ให้หน่อย (hâi nàauy) is the phrase Thai people put at the end of a requesting sentence.
• Cultural background/relevance: In case you want to be more specific that you need medical assistance, you can just say this sentence. The cost for Thai medical treatment isn’t very high compared to other countries. Thai hospitals are also known to be destinations for “medical tourism,” so you don’t have to worry much.

3- ฉันรู้สึกไม่ดี (chǎn rúu-sùek mâi dii)

• Meaning: “I don’t feel well.”
• Language breakdown: ฉัน (chǎn) is “I” in Thai and รู้สึก (rúu-sùek) is “feel.” As mentioned before, ไม่ (mâi) is “not” in Thai. And ดี (dii) is “good” or “well” in Thai. So combining everything together, you get: “I don’t feel well.”
• Cultural background/relevance: You can use this sentence to convey that you don’t feel alright. This is quite useful to know, as you don’t have to identify how you feel bad. This is enough for the listener to know that you need medical attention.

4- ฉันเจ็บ (chǎn jèp)

• Meaning: “I am hurt.”
• Language breakdown: As mentioned in the sentence above, ฉัน (chǎn) is “I” in Thai. And เจ็บ (jèp) is “hurt” in Thai.

5- สถานีตำรวจอยู่ที่ไหน (sà-thǎa-nii dtam-rùuat yùu thîi nǎi)

• Meaning: “Where is the police station?”
• Language breakdown: สถานี (sà-thǎa-nii) is “station” in Thai, ตำรวจ (dtam-rùuat) is “policeman”, อยู่ (yùu) is one of the words for “be” in Thai, and ที่ไหน (thîi nǎi) is “where.”
• Cultural background/relevance: If you lose something in Thailand, the sad fact is that getting it back is unlikely. You may need a document from the police for an insurance claim, or in order to get a new passport if you lost yours.

6- โรงพยาบาลอยู่ที่ไหน (roong-pháa-yaa-baan yùu thîi nǎi)

• Meaning: “Where is the hospital?”
• Language breakdown: This sentence is pretty similar to the one above, and is another of the most basic Thai travel words and phrases. The only difference is โรงพยาบาล (roong-pháa-yaa-baan), which is “hospital” in Thai.
• Cultural background/relevance: If you’re in Bangkok, it’s not too hard to find a hospital as there are plenty here. Some of these hospitals have staff members who can speak other languages, such as Japanese and Korean. But if you’re in a suburban area, there may not be many hospitals in those areas.

7- ร้านขายยาอยู่ที่ไหน (ráan khǎai yaa yùu thîi nǎi)

• Meaning: “Where is the drug store?”
• Language breakdown: Again, this is a similar sentence to the one above. The only difference is ร้านขายยา (ráan khǎai yaa) which is “drug store” in Thai.
• Cultural background/relevance: In Thailand, when you go to the hospital, it’s kind of a one-stop service. You meet the doctor and get the medicine from the hospital. However, if you’re not seriously ill, you can buy some medicine from a drug store without a medical prescription.

8- ฉันทำพาสปอร์ตหาย (chǎn tham pháat-bpàawt hǎai)

• Meaning: “I lost my passport.”
• Language breakdown: ฉัน (chǎn) is “I” in Thai, and ทำ…หาย (tham…..hǎai) is “lost….” There’s no “my” in Thai sentences because Thai people assume that other parties know that since “I” is the speaker, it should be “my” passport that is lost.
• Cultural background/relevance: In case you lose your passport in Thai, you need to go to the police station to get the document to use at the embassy.

7. Flattery Phrases

When you travel, you may like the food you eat, the places you see, or even start to like the people there. Here are common Thai phrases for travelers you can use to show how you feel.

1- ฉันชอบ….. (chǎn châawp…..)

• Meaning: “I like ……”
• Language breakdown: ฉัน (chǎn) is “I” in Thai, ชอบ (châawp) is “like.” Then, you can put anything you want to say that you like after this phrase, such as:
  • คนไทย (khon thai) is “Thai people” in Thai.
  • อาหารไทย (aa-hǎan thai) is “Thai food” in Thai.
  • ประเทศไทย (bprà-thêet thai) is “Thailand” in Thai.

2- ที่นี่สวยมาก (thîi nîi sǔuai mâak)

• Meaning: “This place is very beautiful.”
• Language breakdown: ที่นี่ (thîi nîi) is “this place” or “here” in Thai. สวย (sǔuai) is “beautiful” and มาก (mâak) is “very.”

3- อาหารอร่อยมาก (aa-hǎan à-ràauy mâak)

• Meaning: “This food is very delicious.”
• Language breakdown: อาหาร (aa-hǎan) is “food” in Thai, อร่อย (à-ràauy) is “delicious,” and as mentioned above, มาก (mâak) is “very.”

4- อันนี้กลิ่นหอมมาก (an níi glìn hǎawm mâak)

• Meaning: “This smells very nice.”
• Language breakdown: อันนี้ (an níi) is “this” in Thai, กลิ่นหอม (glìn hǎawm) is “smell nice,” and มาก (mâak) is “very.”

5- อันนี้น่ารักมาก (an níi nâa-rák mâak)

• Meaning: “This is very cute.”
• Language breakdown: This sentence is similar to the one above. The only difference is น่ารัก (nâa-rák), which is “cute” in Thai.

6- คุณใจดีมาก (khun jai-dii mâak)

• Meaning: “You are so kind.”
• Language breakdown: คุณ (khun) is “you” in Thai, ใจดี(jai-dii) is “kind,” and มาก (mâak) is “very.”
• Cultural background/relevance: Thai people are known to be kind. If you get help from Thai people and you really appreciate it, you can say this to them.

8. Useful Phrases to go through Language Problems

Generally, not all Thai people can speak English, so some people decide to learn basic Thai in order to communicate better during the trip. In this case, these common Thai travel phrases will be very useful for you. Be sure to study these Thai phrases for tourists and practice often!

1- คุณพูดภาษาอังกฤษได้มั๊ย (khun phûut phaa-săa ang-grìt dâi mái)

• Meaning: “Can you speak English?”
• Language breakdown: คุณ (khun) is “you” in Thai, พูด (phûut) is “speak,” ภาษา (phaa-săa) is “language,” and อังกฤษ (ang-grìt) is “English.” And as mentioned before, ได้มั๊ย (dâi mái) is the word Thai people put at the end of sentences and it means “Can you?” or “Can I?” in Thai.
• Cultural background/relevance: In case you want to ask someone something, but you’re not sure if they can speak English or not, you should ask them this. If they can’t speak English, they’ll shake their head to say “no.” But if they can speak English, they’ll reply back to you in English.

2- ฉันพูดภาษาไทยไม่ได้ (chǎn phûut phaa-săa thai mâi dâi)

• Meaning: “I can’t speak Thai.”
• Language breakdown: ฉัน (chǎn) is “I” in Thai, พูด (phûut) is “speak,” and ไม่ได้ (mâi dâi) is the word you put after a verb to show that you “can’t” do that action. ภาษา (phaa-săa) is “language” and ไทย (Thai) is “Thai.”
• Cultural background/relevance: If you’re Asian, Thai people may assume that you’re Thai and try to speak Thai to you. You can use this sentence to tell them that you can’t speak Thai.

3- ฉันไม่เข้าใจ พูดอีกครั้งได้มั๊ย (chǎn mâi khâo-jai phûut ìik khráng dâi mái)

• Meaning: “I don’t understand. Can you say that again?”
• Language breakdown: ฉัน (chǎn) is “I” in Thai, ไม่ (mâi) is “no” or “not,” เข้าใจ (khâo-jai) is “understand,” พูด (phûut) is “speak,” and อีกครั้ง (ìik khráng) is “again.” ได้มั๊ย (dâi mái) is the word Thai people put at the end of sentences and it means “Can you?” or “Can I?” in Thai.
• Cultural background/relevance: After you say this sentence to Thai people, they’ll either speak slower or use body language to help with communication.

4- ช่วยพูดช้า ๆ หน่อย (chûuai phûut cháa cháa nàauy)

• Meaning: “Speak slowly please.”
• Language breakdown: พูด (phûut) is “speak” in Thai, ช้า ๆ (cháa cháa) is “slow,” and as explained before, หน่อย (nàauy) is the word Thai people put at the end of sentences when asking for help. It has no meaning in this case.

5- เขียนให้ได้มั๊ย (khǐian hâi dâi mái)

• Meaning: “Can you write it down?”
• Language breakdown: เขียน (khǐian) is “write” in Thai, and ได้มั๊ย (dâi mái) is the word Thai people put at the end of sentences and it means “Can you?” or “Can I?” in Thai. The word ให้ (hâi) is the shortened version of ให้ฉัน (hâi chǎn), which means “for me” in Thai.
• Cultural background/relevance: Thai pronunciation can be hard. If you’re not sure of something, you can ask Thai people to write it down.

6- อันนี้อ่านยังไง (an níi àan yang-ngai)

• Meaning: “How to read this?”
• Language breakdown: อันนี้ (an níi) is “this” in Thai, อ่าน (àan) is “read,” and ยังไง (yang-ngai) is “how.”
• Cultural background/relevance: As mentioned before, Thai pronunciation is hard. With just a slight change of tone, the meaning of a word can become different. So if you’re not sure how to read each word, you should ask Thai people to help.

9. Handy Phrases During the Trip

Besides all of the sentences above, ThaiPod101.com thinks the following may also be handy for travelers.

1- ช่วยถ่ายรูปให้ได้มั๊ย (chûuai thàai rûup hâi dâi mái)

• Meaning: “Can you take a picture for me?”
• Language breakdown: ช่วย (chûuai) is “help” in Thai, ถ่ายรูป (thàai rûup) is “take picture,” and ได้มั๊ย (dâi mái) is the word Thai people put at the end of sentences and it means “Can you?” or “Can I?”
• Cultural background/relevance: Thai people love to take pictures and selfies. So you don’t have to be shy if you want to take a picture. Thai people are willing to help if you ask them to take a picture for you.

2- ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหน (hâawng-nám yùu thîi nǎi)

• Meaning: “Where is the toilet?”
• Language breakdown: ห้องน้ำ (hâawng-nám) is “toilet” in Thai, อยู่ (yùu) is one of the words for “be” in Thai, and ที่ไหน (thîi nǎi) is “where.”
• Cultural background/relevance: In big cities, toilets for males and females are separated most of the time. But if you go to a rural area, in some places there may not be separate bathrooms for males and females.

10. Tips

To make a sentence sound formal in Thai, Thai people put the words ครับ (khráp) and ค่ะ (khâ) at the end of sentences when speaking. ครับ (khráp) is used when the speaker is male, while ค่ะ (khâ) is used when the speaker is female. If you want to say sorry informally, there’s no need to put ครับ (khráp) or ค่ะ (khâ) at the end of a sentence.

Apart from ครับ (khráp) and ค่ะ (khâ), Thai people sometimes put นะ (ná) at the end of informal sentences to make them sound more friendly. These words are คำลงท้าย (kham-long-tháai) in Thai.

11. Conclusion

As you can see, in the Thai language, there are a lot of travel phrases for you to learn. Continue studying the Thai travel phrases in English above, because with these travel phrases in your Thai vocabulary, your trip will be more convenient and go a lot more smoothly. We also hope that you see now why travel phrases in Thai language learning are so important and useful.

So keep practicing and don’t be shy to use them in real situations, so that you’ll soon be able to more effectively talk with Thai people, including travel guides in Thailand that you meet!

Once you can remember all of these common phrases for travelers, you can begin studying other interesting lessons such as the most common text slang or ten lines you need to know for self-introduction at ThaiPod101.com.

In this world, numbers are a part of everyone’s life. You use numbers in calculation. You use numbers in communication. You use numbers to count things. This is no different for Thai people. They use numbers for many purposes in daily life.

Thus, it’s essential for Thai learners to learn how Thai people pronounce, write, and use Thai numbers. Thai numbers in language learning are of great importance.

Fortunately, Thai numbers isn’t a very hard Thai topic and you can learn everything you need to know about Thai numbers here at ThaiPod101.com.

ตัวเลข (dtuua-lêek) or เลข (lêek) is “number” in Thai. Thai people use numbers quite a lot in daily life, for example in pricing, telephone numbers, house addresses, postal codes, calculations, etc. If you want to live, study, or work in Thailand, it’s wise to learn how to use Thai numbers. This is especially important if you ever want to contact the Thai government.

Are you ready to learn Thai numbers ? If so, 3…2…1…let’s get started with our Thai numbers lists!

Table of Contents

1. Thai Numbers 0-9
2. Thai Language Numbers 0-9
3. Numerical Digits in the Thai Language
4. Numbers 10 – 9,999,999
5. How to Say Numbers Higher than 9,999,999
6. Decimals
7. Fractions
8. House Numbers
9. Postal Codes
10. Phone Numbers
11. Price
12. Conclusion

1. Thai Numbers 0-9

Let’s start with Thai basic numbers. Not only will you be learning Thai numbers 1-10 or Thai numbers 1-20, but you’ll need to learn Thai numbers 0-9 first.

Most of the time, Thai people use Arabic numerals in writing. It’s important that you try to master this part as it’s the foundation for other number-related topics. Below is the list of Thai numbers with pronunciation.

• 0 – ศูนย์ (sǔun)
• 1 – หนึ่ง (nùeng)
• 2 – สอง (sǎawng)
• 3 – สาม (sǎam)
• 4 – สี่ (sìi)
• 5 – ห้า (hâa)
• 6 – หก (hòk)
• 7 – เจ็ด (jèt)
• 8 – แปด (bpàaet)
• 9 – เก้า (gâo)

2. Thai Language Numbers 0-9

In the Thai language, there’s another way of writing numbers as well. ตัวเลขไทย (dtuua lêek thai) is “Thai number” in Thai. If you can remember and write Thai numbers, that’s great. But if you can’t write them, don’t worry as Thai people don’t use them much in daily life. Even Thai people don’t get to write these much.

Thai language numbers are mostly used in government documents and sometimes in the house address label. So you may not see them much.

That said, here’s another Thai numbers list you should study.

• 0 – ศูนย์ (sǔun)
• ๑ – หนึ่ง (nùeng)
• ๒ – สอง (sǎawng)
• ๓ – สาม (sǎam)
• ๔ – สี่ (sìi)
• ๕ – ห้า (hâa)
• ๖ – หก (hòk)
• ๗ – เจ็ด (jèt)
• ๘ – แปด (bpàaet)
• ๙ – เก้า (gâo)

3. Numerical Digits in the Thai Language

To learn numbers higher than 9, you have to understand about digits in the Thai language first. หลัก (làk) is “digit” in Thai. There are seven digits in the Thai language.

• หลักหน่วย (làk nùuai) — “unit”
• หลักสิบ (làk sìp) — “ten”
• หลักร้อย (làk ráauy) — “hundred”
• หลักพัน (làk phan) — “thousand”
• หลักหมื่น (làk mùuen) — “ten-thousand”
• หลักแสน (làk sǎaen) — “hundred-thousand”
• หลักล้าน (làk láan) — “million”

4. Numbers 10 – 9,999,999

Once you can remember the numbers 0-9 and the seven digits in Thai, you can pretty much say every number in Thai using the following principle. Basically, you can read the number in each digit followed by the name of that digit from left to right, except for the last digit for which you read only the number. In case 0 shows up in some numbers, you can skip that digit.

1- Special Numbers

• For 10, Thai people read it สิบ (sìp) instead of หนึ่งสิบ (nùeng sìp)
• For 20, Thai people read it ยี่สิบ (yîi sìp) instead of สองสิบ (sǎawng sìp)
• For numbers higher than 10, if 1 is in the unit digit, Thai people read it เอ็ด (èt) instead of หนึ่ง (nùeng)
• For one-hundred-something numbers (1XX), sometimes Thai people say it shortly by skipping the word หนึ่ง (nùeng) such as for 105 we read it ร้อยห้า (ráauy hâa) instead of หนึ่งร้อยห้า (nùeng ráauy hâa).

1. Example of 580

• 580 — five is in the hundred digit spot, so we read “five” followed by the name of the hundred digit in Thai which is ห้าร้อย (hâa ráauy).
• 580 — eight is in the ten digit spot, so we read “eight” followed by the name of the ten digit in Thai which is แปดสิบ (bpàaet sìp).
• 580 — since the number in unit digit is 0, we can skip reading this digit.
• 580 is ห้าร้อยแปดสิบ (hâa ráauy bpàaet sìp)

2. Example of 8,126

• 8,126 — eight is in the thousand digit spot, so we read “eight” followed by the name of the thousand digit in Thai which is แปดพัน (bpàaet phan).
• 8,126 — one is in the hundred digit spot, so we read “one” in Thai followed by the name of the hundred digit in Thai which is หนึ่งร้อย (nùeng ráauy).
• 8,126 — two is in the ten digit spot, so we read “two” followed by the name of the ten digit in Thai which is ยี่สิบ (yîi sìp). (Don’t forget that for 20, Thai people read it ยี่สิบ [yîi sìp]).
• 8,126 — six is in the unit digit spot, so we read “six” in Thai which is หก (hòk). (Don’t forget that for the unit digit, you read only the number and don’t read the name of the digit.)
• 8,126 is แปดพันหนึ่งร้อยยี่สิบหก (bpàaet phan nùeng ráauy yîi sìp hòk).

3. Example of 300,451

• 300,451 — three is in the hundred-thousand digit spot so we read “three” in Thai followed by the name of the hundred-thousand digit which is สามแสน (sǎam sǎaen).
• 300,451 — since the number in the ten-thousand and thousand digit spots is 0, we can skip reading these two digits.
• 300,451 — four is in the hundred digit spot, so we read “four” followed by the name of the hundred digit in Thai which is สี่ร้อย (sìi ráauy).
• 300,451 — five is in the ten digit spot, so we read “five” followed by the name of the ten digit in Thai which is ห้าสิบ (hâa sìp).
• 300,451 — one is in the unit digit spot, so we read one in Thai which is เอ็ด (èt). (Don’t forget that for numbers higher than 10, if 1 is in the unit digit spot, we read it เอ็ด [èt].)
• 300,451 is สามแสนสี่ร้อยห้าสิบเอ็ด (sǎam sǎaen sìi ráauy hâa sìp èt).

5. How to Say Numbers Higher than 9,999,999

Now, you may notice that there’s no name for digits higher than one-million. So to read numbers higher than 9,999,999, you have to do as follows:

1. Divide the number into parts for every six digits from right to left, as follows:
   XXX,XXX,YYY,YYY => XXX,XXX and YYY,YYY
   Note: The left part may have less than six numbers.
2. Read the left part (XXX,XXX) first the same way you read the numbers between 10 – 999,999 followed by ล้าน (láan) which is “million digit” in Thai.
3. Read the right part (YYY,YYY) the same way you read the numbers between 10 – 999,999.

1- Example of 21,700,098

• 21 and 700,098 — you divide the number into parts for every six digits from right to left first, so you get 21 and 700,098.
• 21,700,098 — you read the left part first followed by ล้าน (láan) which is ยี่สิบเอ็ดล้าน (yîi sìp èt láan).
• 21,700,098 — you read the right part after that which is เจ็ดแสนเก้าสิบแปด (jèt sǎaen gâo sìp bpàaet).
• 21,700,098 is ยี่สิบเอ็ดล้านเจ็ดแสนเก้าสิบแปด (yîi sìp èt láan jèt sǎaen gâo sìp bpàaet).

6. Decimals

ทศนิยม (thót-sà-ní-yom) is “decimal” in Thai. In the Thai language, you read decimals the same way you do in English. Thai people read the number before the point followed by จุด (jùt) which is “point” in Thai. And then they read each number without name of digit after the point.

1- Example of 321.5671

• 321.5671 — you read the number before the point first, followed by จุด (jùt) which is สามร้อยยี่สิบเอ็ดจุด (sǎam ráauy yîi sìp èt jùt).
• 321.5671 — you read each number after the point which is ห้าหกเจ็ดหนึ่ง (hâa hòk jèt nùeng).
• 321.5671 is สามร้อยยี่สิบเอ็ดจุดห้าหกเจ็ดหนึ่ง (sǎam ráauy yîi sìp èt jùt hâa hòk jèt nùeng).

7. Fractions

เศษส่วน (sèet-sùuan) is “fraction” in Thai. The following is how Thai people read fractions:

They read the number above the line first, followed by ส่วน (sùuan) which is “part” in Thai. And then they read the number below the line.

1- Example of 15/120

• 15/120— you read the number above the line, followed by ส่วน (sùuan) which is สิบห้าส่วน (sìp hâa sùuan).
• 15/120— you read the number below the line which is หนึ่งร้อยยี่สิบ (nùeng ráauy yîi sìp).
• 15/120 is สิบห้าส่วนหนึ่งร้อยยี่สิบ (sìp hâa sùuan nùeng ráauy yîi sìp).

8. House Numbers

บ้านเลขที่ (bâan lêek-thîi) is “house number” in Thai. There are two types of house numbers in Thai and they read differently which will be explained below.

1- Regular House Numbers

For normal house numbers with no sign, there are two ways of reading it. We can read it like we read normal numbers; for example, house no. 128 is บ้านเลขที่ 128 (bâan lêek-thîi nùeng ráauy yîi sìp bpàaet). Or we can read each number without the name of the digits, such as house no. 128 is บ้านเลขที่ 128 (bâan lêek-thîi nùeng sǎawng bpàaet).

2- House Numbers with “/” Sign

For condos or village houses, the house numbers normally have a “/” sign which is called ทับ (tháp) in Thai. The number before the “/” sign indicates the number of the village or condo as a whole, while the number after the “/” sign indicates the house number of each house in the village or each room in the condo.

This is how you read this type of house number: You read each number without the name of the digits for all the numbers. For example, house no. 71/98 is บ้านเลขที่เจ็ดหนึ่งทับเก้าแปด (bâan lêek-thîi jèt nùeng tháp gâo bpàaet).

9. Postal Codes

รหัสไปรษณีย์ (rá-hàt bprai-sà-nii) is “post code” in Thai. There are five digits in Thai postcodes. The way you read it is very easy: you read each number without the name of the digits. For example, 10500 is หนึ่งศูนย์ห้าศูนย์ศูนย์ (nùeng sǔun hâa sǔun sǔun).

10. Phone Numbers

เบอร์โทรศัพท์ (booe thoo-rá-sàp) is “phone number” in Thai. Although the country code for Thai phone numbers is +66, Thai people don’t write +66 or say +66 in their phone number when giving it. They use 0 instead of +66.

For Thai landlines, there are nine digits starting with 0 (0X-XXX-XXXX). For mobile phones, there are 10 digits starting with 0 as well (0XX-XXX-XXXX).

You may notice that Thai people sometimes put a “-” sign which is called ขีด (khìit) in Thai to make it easier to read. However, when Thai people read it, they read only the number and don’t say ขีด (khìit) despite writing the sign. They pause instead of saying ขีด (khìit).

When you tell someone your phone number, you say each number without the name of the digits. For example, 02-717-0203 is ศูนย์สอง เจ็ดหนึ่งเจ็ด ศูนย์สองศูนย์สาม (sǔun sǎawng jèt nùeng jèt sǔun sǎawng sǔun sǎam).

11. Price

ราคา (raa-kha) is “price” in Thai. When Thai people talk about the price, there are two currency units we use which are บาท (Bàat) and สตางค์ (Sà-dtang). 100 สตางค์ (Sà-dtang) is 1 บาท (Bàat). This is how we read price:

1- Prices with Decimals

You read the number before the point followed by บาท (Bàat) and then read the number after the point followed by สตางค์ (Sà-dtang). Please note that the way you read prices with a decimal and how you read a normal decimal is different.

For prices with a decimal, the number after the point is read normally, not reading each number without name of digit. For example, 10.25 is บาท is สิบบาท ยี่สิบห้าสตางค์ (sìp bàat yîi sìp hâa sà-dtang).

2- Prices with No Decimals

This one is easy. You just read the number followed by บาท (Bàat). For example, 9,145 บาท is เก้าพันหนึ่งร้อยสี่สิบห้าบาท (gâo phan nùeng ráauy sìi sìp hâa bàat).

12. Conclusion

If you’ve reached this part, it means you’ve learned every basic thing you should know about Thai numbers. You may feel a bit confused at this point, since some of these number rules seem to be similar yet different from what you’re used to.

Still, after reading it a few times and trying to use these numbers yourself, you should be okay. (You’ll be counting in Thai before you know it!)

So, the next thing you should do is to keep practicing so that you can use these Thai numbers fluently. After completing this topic, don’t forget to visit ThaiPod101.com to learn more interesting Thai lessons and vocabulary.

When you do something wrong, you apologize. When you accidentally hurt someone, you say sorry. When you want to get a waitress’ attention, you say “Excuse me.” When you see someone who’s feeling sad because of a bad situation they face, you say you’re sorry for them.

“Sorry” is one of the basic words you use in daily life and is one of the first words you learn when you start learning any language. And this article will teach you how to say sorry in Thai (because to learn sorry when living in Thailand would be tough!).

How do I say sorry in Thai? Well, this topic is easy. In Thai, when you want to show your empathy, give your condolences, or show that you feel bad or sorry for what you did, there are a few words Thai people use which will be explained below. Also, to help you say “I’m sorry” in Thai like a native, ThaiPod101.com will also show you various phrases you can use in numerous situations you may face, including “sorry” from Thai to English. Start with a bonus, and download your FREE cheat sheet – How to Improve Your Thai Skills! (Logged-In Member Only)

1. The Most Important Apologizing Word
2. Phrases for Sorry in Thai
3. Phrases for Condolences in Thai
4. Sentences to Use with “Sorry”
5. Reply Phrases for When Someone Says Sorry to You
6. Tips on How to Say Sorry in Thai
7. Conclusion

1. The Most Important Apologizing Word

As mentioned above, there are only a few words used for apologies in Thai. First, Thaipod101.com will teach you the words you need to know in order to say “I’m sorry” in Thai. ขอโทษ (khǎaw-thôot) means “sorry,” “apology,” and “excuse me” in Thai. ขออภัย (khǎaw à-phai) has similar meanings, which are “sorry” and “apology” in Thai.

The way to use these two words is slightly different; we’ll explain this below. Another word you should know is เสียใจ (sǐia-jai) which is used to show your condolences in Thai.

1- How Do You Say Sorry in Thai?

Now, for the most important part of this lesson: How to say “I am sorry” in Thai. Here, we’ll also show you some examples of “sorry” in Thai written in English.

For spoken language, the main word used to say sorry, apology, or excuse me in Thai is as follows:

ขอโทษ (khǎaw-thôot) — “Sorry” in Thai translates to this word, and this is the main word for “sorry” in Thailand. You can use this word in every situation, both formal and informal. Make sure you remember this word well.

โทดที (thôot thii) — This is a slang word for “sorry” in Thai. It’s an informal word so you should use this with friends or other people you’re close with. Don’t use this in business situations since it’s too casual.

ซอรี่ (saaw-rîi) — This is another slang word for “sorry” in Thai. As you can guess, this is an informal way to say sorry, so only use this word with friends or other people you’re close with. Actually, this word is “sorry” in Thai pronunciation. To put it simply, Thai people just say sorry in English when using this word.

Examples

• When you accidentally step on someone’s foot, you can say ขอโทษค่ะ (khǎaw-thôot khâ) meaning “sorry” to apologize.
• When you want to go to another part of the room but your group of friends is blocking your way, you can tell them โทดที ขอเดินหน่อย (thôot thii khǎaw dooen nàauy) which means, “Excuse me, I want to get through.”
• When your sister finds out that you ate her chocolate cake, you can say ซอรี่ (saaw-rîi) meaning “sorry” to her.

2- How Do You Write “Sorry” in Thai?

For written language, these are the words and phrase Thai people use:

ขอโทษ (khǎaw-thôot) — As mentioned before, this is the main word for “sorry.” Thus, it’s used in written language as well. It can be used for both formal and informal documents.

ขออภัย (khǎaw à-phai) — The difference between ขอโทษ (khǎaw-thôot) and ขออภัย (khǎaw à-phai) is that ขออภัย (khǎaw à-phai) is mainly used in written language and rarely used in spoken language. It’s a formal language for apologies in Thailand. Another phrase that’s used is ขออภัยเป็นอย่างสูง (khǎaw à-phai bpen yàang sǔung) which means “very sorry” in Thai written language.

ขอโทด (khǎaw-thôot) — This is a slang word in written language. The reason Thai people use this a lot is that it’s easier to type. The pronunciation of ขอโทษ (khǎaw-thôot) and ขอโทด (khǎaw-thôot) is the same.

โทดที (thôot thii) — This is a slang word for both written and spoken language, and gives a more informal feeling than ขอโทด (khǎaw-thôot) does.

Example

• You sent your report to your boss later than the deadline, so in the email you write ขอโทษครับ (khǎaw-thôot khráp) to apologize for your lateness.
• The toilet in the department store is now being fixed. To ask customers to use the toilet on the third floor instead and apologize for inconvenience, they put a label that reads ขออภัยในความไม่สะดวก กรุณาไปใช้ห้องน้ำที่ชั้น 3 แทน (khǎaw à-phai nai kwaam mâi sà-dùuak gà-rú-naa bpai chái hâawng nám thîi chán săam thaaen).
• You forgot to buy the book your friend asked you to buy for them today, so you text her that you’re sorry you forgot and that you’ll buy it for her tomorrow instead: โทดที เราลืมซื้อหนังสือให้ จะซื้อให้พรุ่งนี้แทนนะ (thôot thii rao luuem súue năng-sǔue hâi · jà súue hâi phrûng-níi thaaen ná). In this case, you can use ขอโทด (khǎaw-thôot) instead of โทดที (thôot thii) as well.

3- Body Language

Apart from spoken and written language, you should also know how Thai people act when they want to convey that they’re sorry. Here’s some body language to use when you want to convey “I’m sorry” in Thailand.

ไหว้ (wâi) — In addition to greeting, Thai people also ไหว้ (wâi) when saying ขอโทษ (khǎaw-thôot) to older people. To ไหว้ (wâi), you put your hands together at chest level and bend down your head until the tip of your nose touches your thumb.

Sincere and polite tone of voice — When saying sorry, Thai people use a sincere and polite tone of voice. If your tone of voice is disrespectful or too annoying, it indicates that you’re not really sorry for what you did.

Now that you essentially understand how to say sorry in Thai language, let’s delve a little deeper and learn some useful phrases.

2. Phrases for Sorry in Thai

In Thai, you can use ขอโทษ (khǎaw-thôot) in every situation. However, sometimes you may want to be more specific to the situation. In that case, you should know how to say sorry to a Thai girl, how to say “Sorry I am late” in Thai, and how to say “Excuse me” in Thai language. So ThaiPod101.com presents you with sorry quotes in Thai that you can use in various situations.

1- ขอโทษมาก ๆ

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-thôot mâak mâak
• Meaning: “I’m very sorry.”
• Example: ขอโทษมาก ๆ ที่ทำหนังสือเธอเปียก.
• Khǎaw-thôot mâak mâak thîi tham năng-sǔue thooe bpìiak.
• “I’m very sorry for wetting your book.”

2- ขอโทษจริง ๆ

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-thôot jing-jing
• Meaning: “I’m really sorry.”
• Example: ขอโทษจริง ๆ ที่ลืมนัดของเรา.
• Khǎaw-thôot jing jing thîi luuem nát khǎawng rao.
• “I’m really sorry I forgot our appointment.”

3- ขอโทษ เป็นอะไรมั๊ย / ขอโทษ เป็นอะไรรึเปล่า

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-thôot bpen à-rai mái / khǎaw-thôot bpen à-rai rúe bplào
• Meaning: “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
• Example: (You accidentally hit your friend’s chin.)
• ขอโทษ เป็นอะไรมั๊ย.
• khǎaw-thôot bpen à-rai mái.
• “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

4- ขอโทษแทน…ด้วย

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-thôot thaaen … dûuai
• Meaning: “I’m sorry on … behalf.”
• Example: ผมต้องขอโทษแทนลูกน้องของผมด้วย.
• Phŏm dtâawng khǎaw-thôot thaaen lûuk náawng khǎawng phŏm dûuai.
• “I’m sorry on my staff’s behalf.”

5- ขอโทษที่มาสาย

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-thôot thîi maa sǎai
• Meaning: “I’m sorry for being late.”
• Example: ต้องขอโทษที่มาสายด้วย วันนี้รถติดมากเพราะฝนตก.
• Dtâawng khǎaw-thôot thîi maa sǎai dûuai wan níi rót dtìt mâak phráw fŏn dtòk.
• “I’m sorry for being late. Today, the traffic is very bad because of the rain.”

6- ขอโทษที่ให้รอ

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-thôot thîi hâi raaw
• Meaning: “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.”
• Example: ขอโทษที่ให้รอนะคะ ได้ผลตรวจแล้วค่ะ.
• Khǎaw-thôot thîi hâi raaw ná khá dâai phŏn dtrùuat láaeo khâ.
• “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. I already got your result.”

7- ขอโทษที่ทำผิดพลาด

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-thôot thîi tham phìt phlâat
• Meaning: “I’m sorry for my mistake.”
• Example: ขอโทษที่ทำผิดพลาดค่ะ จะไม่ให้เกิดเรื่องแบบนี้อีกแล้วค่ะ.
• Khǎaw-thôot thîi tham phìt phlâat khâ jà mâi hâi gòoet rûueang bàaep níi ìik láaeo khâ.
• “I’m sorry for my mistake. This won’t happen again.”

8- ขออภัยในความไม่สะดวก

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw à-phai nai khwaam mâi sà-dùuak
• Meaning: “I’m sorry for this inconvenience.”
• Example: ขณะนี้เกิดเหตุขัดข้องทำให้ไม่สามารถใช้งานลิฟท์ได้ชั่วคราว ต้องขออภัยในความไม่สะดวกด้วยค่ะ.
• Khà-nà níi gòoet hèet khàt khâawng tham hâi mâi săa-mâat chái ngaan líp dâi chûua khraao dtâawng khǎaw à-phai nai khwaam mâi sà-dùuak dûuai khâ.
• “Elevator can’t be used now because of some issue. I’m sorry for this inconvenience.”
• Additional note: This phrase is special. In Thai, when apologizing for an inconvenience, Thai people use ขออภัย (khǎaw à-phai) in both spoken and written language. Thai people don’t use ขอโทษ (khǎaw-thôot) in this case.

9- ขอโทษที่แจ้งกระทันหัน

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-thôot thîi jâaeng grà-than-hăn
• Meaning: “I’m sorry for the short notice.”
• Example: ผมต้องขอยกเลิกบริการวันพรุ่งนี้ เพราะ ติดงานกระทันหัน ต้องขอโทษด้วยที่แจ้งกระทันหัน.
• Phŏm dtâawng khǎaw yók lôoek baaw-rí-gaan wan phrûng-níi phráw dtìt ngaan grà-than-hăn dtâawng khǎaw thôot dûuai thîi jâaeng grà-than-hăn.
• “I have to cancel service tomorrow because of sudden word. I’m sorry for the short notice.”

10- ขอโทษที่รบกวน

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-thôot thîi róp-guuan
• Meaning: “I’m sorry for disturbing.”
• Example: ขอโทษที่รบกวนนะคะ ขออนุญาตเข้ามาทำความสะอาดค่ะ.
• Khǎaw-thôot thîi róp-guuan ná khá · khǎaw à-nú-yâat khâo maa tham khwaam sà-àat khâ.
• “I’m sorry for disturbing you. May I come in to clean?”

11- ขอโทษที่ตอบช้า

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-thôot thîi dtàawp cháa
• Meaning: “I’m sorry for the late reply.”
• Example: ขอโทษที่ตอบช้านะคะ ช่วงนี้งานยุ่งมากค่ะ.
• Khǎaw-thôot thîi dtàawp cháa ná khá chûuang níi ngaan yûng mâak khâ.
• “I’m sorry for the late reply. I’m very busy recently.”

12- ขอโทษ ขอทางหน่อย

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-thôot khǎaw thaang nàauy?
• Meaning: “Excuse me, can I get through?”
• Example: (There are a lot of people in the room, making it hard to walk to the other side)
• ขอโทษค่ะ ขอทางหน่อยค่ะ?
• Khǎaw-thôot khà khǎaw thaang nàauy khâ?
• “Excuse me, can I get through?”

13- ขอโทษ ขอ…หน่อย

• Thai pronunciation: khǎaw-thôot khǎaw … nàauy
• Meaning: “Excuse me, can I get …?”
• Example: ขอโทษค่ะ ขอพริกน้ำปลาหน่อยค่ะ?
• Khǎaw-thôot khâ kkhǎaw phrík nám-bplaa nàauy khâ?
• “Excuse me, can you give me chilli in fish sauce?”
• Additional Note: พริกน้ำปลา (phrík nám-bplaa) is a Thai-style sauce made from fish sauce, chilli, and garlic. Thai people eat พริกน้ำปลา (phrík nám-bplaa) together with fried rice and fried egg.

3. Phrases for Condolences in Thai

Now, you may wonder how Thai people share condolences, such as how to say “Sorry for your loss,” in Thai. การแสดงความเสียใจ (gaan sà-daaeng khwaam sĭia-jai) is “condolence” in Thai. In English, you say “I’m sorry for ….” But it’s slightly different in Thai. Thai people don’t say what they’re sorry for, they just feel sorry with you. So there’s only one phrase Thai people use for this.

1- เสียใจด้วย

• Thai pronunciation: sĭia-jai dûuai
• Meaning: “I’m sorry for you.”
• Example: (Your friend knows that you just lost your beloved one)
• เสียใจด้วยนะ.
• sĭia-jai dûuain á.
• “I’m sorry for you.”

4. Sentences to Use with “Sorry”

Sometimes, you don’t say sorry alone. You may want to say other things to convey that you’re really sorry and that you want to make up for what happened. Here’s a list of sentences you can use:

1- ฉันไม่ได้ตั้งใจ

• Thai pronunciation: chǎn mâi dâi dtâng-jai
• Meaning: “I didn’t mean to do this.”
• Example: ขอโทษที่ทำเธอเจ็บตัว ฉันไม่ได้ตั้งใจ.
• Khǎaw-thôot thîi tham hâi thoow jèp dtuua chǎn mâi dâi dtâng-jai.
• “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I am sorry.”

2- ฉันไม่ได้ตั้งใจจะให้เป็นแบบนี้

• Thai pronunciation: chăn mâi dâi dtâng jai jà hâi bpen bàaep níi
• Meaning: “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
• Example: ขอโทษที่ทำให้ลำบาก ฉันไม่ได้ตั้งใจจะให้เป็นแบบนี้.
• Khǎaw-thôot thîi tham hâi lam-bàak chăn mâi dâi dtâng jai jà hâi bpen bàaep níie.
• “I’m sorry for causing trouble. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

3- ฉันจะไม่ทำแบบนี้อีกแล้ว

• Thai pronunciation: chăn jà mâi tham bàaep níi ìik láaeo
• Meaning: “I won’t do this again.”
• Example: ขอโทษจริง ๆ ฉันจำไม่ทำแบบนี้อีกแล้ว.
• Khǎaw-thôot jing jing chăn jà mâi tham bàaep níi ìik láaeo.
• “I’m really sorry. I won’t do this again.”

4- ดีกันนะ

• Thai pronunciation: dii gan ná
• Meaning: “Let’s reconcile.”
• Example: ขอโทษ ดีกันนะ.
• khǎaw-thôot dii gan ná.
• “I’m sorry. Let’s reconcile.”
• Additional note: This is an informal phrase. Thai people only say this to friends, family members, or people who they’re close with.

5- อย่าโกรธเลยนะ

• Thai pronunciation: yàa gròot looei ná
• Meaning: “Please don’t be mad at me.”
• Example: ขอโทษค่ะ อย่าโกรธหนูเลยนะ.
• khǎaw-thôot yàa gròot nǔu looei ná.
• “I’m sorry, please don’t be mad at me.”
• Additional note: This is also an informal phrase. Thai people only say this to friends, family members, or people who they’re close with.

6- ยกโทษให้ฉันเถอะ

• Thai pronunciation: yók thôot hâi chăn thòe
• Meaning: “Please forgive me.”
• Example: ขอโทษ ยกโทษให้เราเถอะนะ.
• khǎaw-thôot yók thôot hâi rao thòe ná.
• “I’m sorry, please forgive me.”

7- มันเป็นความผิดของฉันเอง

• Thai pronunciation: man bpen khwaam phìt khǎawng chăn eeng
• Meaning: “It is my fault.”
• Example: มันเป็นความผิดของฉันเอง ขอโทษนะ.
• man bpen khwaam phìt khǎawng chăn eeng khǎaw-thôot ná.
• “This is my fault. I’m sorry.”

5. Reply Phrases for When Someone Says Sorry to You

Now that we’ve gone over various ways to say sorry, we’ll now go over what to say when someone says sorry to us. The list below shows some of the phrases you can use.

1- ไม่เป็นไร

• Thai pronunciation: mâi bpen rai
• Meaning: “It is okay.” / “It is alright.”
• How to use: This is the main way to reply when you’re okay or no longer angry. This can be used in every situation, both formal and informal.

2- ฉันยกโทษให้

• Thai pronunciation: chǎn yók thôot hâi
• Meaning: “I forgive you.”
• How to use: You say this to show that you forgive the other party or parties.

3- ช่างมันเถอะ

• Thai pronunciation: châng man thòe
• Meaning: “Never mind.”
• How to use: This is another way you can say that you’re no longer angry. However, this is quite informal. Thai people only say this to friends, family members, or people who they’re close with.

4- ลืม ๆ มันไปเหอะ

• Thai pronunciation: luuem luuem man bpai hòe
• Meaning: “Just forget it.”
• How to use: This phrase also shows that you’re no longer angry and forgive them. It’s an informal phrase, so don’t use it in a business situation.

5- ฉันไม่ยกโทษให้

• Thai pronunciation: chǎn mâi yók thôot hâi
• Meaning: “I don’t forgive you.”
• How to use: You say this to show that you’re still mad for what the other party or parties did and don’t forgive them yet.

6. Tips on How to Say Sorry in Thai

If you’ve reached this part of the article, you’ll find that if you want to be able to say sorry like Thai people, there’s quite a lot to practice and remember. Here are some tips that will help you make your apology sound either formal or informal. To make the sentence sound formal or informal in the Thai language, it depends on pronouns and the word you put at the end of a sentence.

1- Pronoun

There are many Thai pronouns you can use to call yourself. Each one can be used in a different situation depending on the level of formality and the gender of the speaker. Here’s the list of Thai pronouns you can use, ordered by level of formality from the most formal to least formal.

• Male: ผม (phǒm); เรา (rao)
• Female: ดิฉัน (dì-chǎn); ฉัน (chǎn); เรา (rao); หนู (nǔu) [Nǔu is only used when talking to older people.]

Still, please note that in Thai, sometimes people cut off the subject if the speaker is the one who did the action. So, you may hear Thai people say ขอโทษนะ (khǎaw-thôot ná) instead of ฉันขอโทษนะ (chǎn khǎaw-thôot ná) when saying “I’m sorry.”

2- Khráp and Khâ

To make a sentence sound formal in Thai, Thai people put the word ครับ (khráp) or ค่ะ (khâ) at the end of a sentence when speaking. ครับ (khráp) is used when the speaker is male, while ค่ะ (khâ) is used when the speaker is female. If you want to say sorry informally, there’s no need to put ครับ (khráp) or ค่ะ (khâ) at the end of the sentence.

Apart from ครับ (khráp) and ค่ะ (khâ), Thai people sometimes put นะ (ná) at the end of an informal sentence to make it sound more friendly. These words are คำลงท้าย (kham long tháai) in Thai.

7. Conclusion

By now, you should know some basic words for how to say sorry in Thai. We hope you now have a better idea of the importance of “sorry” in learning Thai.

If nothing else, work on memorizing ขอโทษ (khǎaw-thôot) and ไม่เป็นไร (mâi bpen rai). You can use them in almost any situation. However, if you know many phrases, you can express your feelings better, so keep practicing. Once you know them all, don’t forget to learn other interesting and fun Thai lessons at ThaiPod101.com.

When you learn Thai language, introducing yourself in Thai is one of the most important things you’ll learn. How to introduce yourself in Thai is a basic Thai lesson for starters, and we’ll provide you with all you need to learn how to introduce yourself in Thai.

After reading this article, you’ll know the following things about how to speak Thai when introducing yourself:

• Things Thai people normally say in their self-introductions
• Things Thai people want to know when they meet a foreigner
• Things that can be said to describe yourself in Thai
• What to say in formal versus informal situations
• Some tips to impress Thai people during self-introductions

For people who have just started learning the Thai language, or are just beginning “introduce yourself in Thai” lessons, there’s a lot to remember. There are various Thai introduction phrases, both formal and informal, that you can use. So before you start learning how to present yourself in Thai, it will make things much easier to learn a little basic Thai grammar.

So if you’re ready to learn and explore how to introduce yourself (in Thai to English), then let’s get started.

Table of Contents

1. Basic Thai Grammar
2. Introducing Oneself in Thai
3. Tips
4. Conclusion

1. Basic Thai Grammar

When introducing yourself in Thai, grammar plays an important role. If you know some pronouns, as well as how to make sentences sound formal, you’ll find it easier to remember how to introduce yourself in Thai language.

1- Thai Pronouns

Before you can learn Thai language, introduce yourself in Thai, and move a conversation forward, you’ll need to a few pronouns. In Thai learning, introduce yourself using one of the many Thai pronouns you can use to call yourself. Each one can be used in different situations, depending on the level of formality and the gender of the speaker. Here’s a list of pronouns you can use, ordered by level of formality, from the most formal to the least formal. (Later on, we’ll also be going over additional “introducing yourself in Thai” vocabulary!)

• Male:
• ข้าพเจ้า (khâa-phá-jâo)
• ผม (phǒm)
• เรา (rao)
• Female:
• ข้าพเจ้า (khâa-phá-jâo)
• ดิฉัน (dì-chǎn)
• ฉัน (chǎn)
• เรา (rao)

2- Khráp and Khâ

To make a sentence sound formal in Thai, Thai people put the word ครับ (khráp) and ค่ะ (khà) at the end of a sentence when speaking. ครับ (khráp) is used when the speaker is male, while ค่ะ (khâ) is used when the speaker is female.

2. Introducing Oneself in Thai

One may wonder how to introduce myself in Thai language, or further, how to go about introducing yourself when in Thailand. That’s what we’ll go over in this section of the article. Below is a list of sentences you can use in self-introductions, and questions you may hear from another party. You can use them to introduce yourself in Thai in 10 lines.

When trying to give a self-introduction in Thai language-learning, introduce yourself by starting with your name. Below is some information on talking about your name in Thai.

1- Name / ชื่อ (chûue)

• คำถาม: คุณชื่ออะไรครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun chûue à-rai khráp / khá
  Question: “What is your name?”
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันชื่อ…..ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn chûue …… khráp / khâ
  Answer: “My name is ……”

2- Nickname / ชื่อเล่น (chûue-lêen)

• คำถาม: คุณชื่อเล่นชื่ออะไรครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun chûue-lêen chûue à-rai khráp / khá
  Question: “What is your nickname?”
• คำตอบ: ชื่อเล่นของผม / ฉันคือ…..ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: chûue-lêen khǎawng phǒm / chǎn khuue……khráp / khâ
  Answer: “My nickname is ……”

3- Age / อายุ (aa-yú)

• คำถาม: คุณอายุเท่าไหร่ครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun aa-yú thâo-rài khráp / khá
  Question: “How old are you?”
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันอายุ ….. ปีครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn aa-yú…..bpii khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I’m ….. years old.”

4- Family / ครอบครัว (khrâawp-khruua)

When you learn Thai, how to introduce yourself can be confusing in terms of what you should share. That said, talking about your family in Thai is a great way to keep a conversation flourishing!

Question 1: Marriage Status

• คำถาม: คุณแต่งงานหรือยังครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun dtàang-ngaan rǔue yang khráp / khá
  Question: “Are you married?”
• คำตอบ: แต่งงานแล้วครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: dtàang-ngaan láaeo khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I’m already married.”
• คำตอบ: มีแฟนแล้ว แต่ยังไม่ได้แต่งงานครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: mii faaen láaeo dtàae yang mâi dâi dtàang-ngaan khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I have a boyfriend / girlfriend. But I’m not married yet.”
• คำตอบ: ยังโสดครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: yang sòot khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I’m still single.”

Question 2: Children

• คำถาม: คุณมีลูกรึยังครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun mii lûuk rúe yang khráp / khá
  Question: “Do you have children?”
• คำตอบ: มี…..คนครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: mii…..khon khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I have ….. child(ren).”
• คำตอบ: ยังไม่มีครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: yang mâi mii khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I don’t have one.”

Question 3: Brother / Sister

• คำถาม: คุณมีพี่น้องรึเปล่าครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun mii phîi-náawng rúe-bplàao khráp / khá
  Question: “Do you have a brother or sister?”
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันเป็นลูกคนเดียวครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn bpen lûuk khon diiao khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I’m an only child.”
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันมีพี่น้อง…..คนครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn-mii phîi-náawng…..khon khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I have ….. brother(s) / sister(s).”

5- Address / ที่อยู่ (thîi-yùu)

Questions

• คำถาม: คุณพักอยู่แถวไหนครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun phák yùu thǎeeo nǎi khráp / khá
  Question: “Where do you live?”
• คำถาม: คุณพักอยู่ที่ไหนครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun phák yùu thîi nǎi khráp / khá
  Question: “Where do you live?”
• คำถาม: บ้านคุณอยู่ที่ไหนครับ/คะ
  Kham-thǎam: bâan khun yùu thîi nǎi khráp / khá
  Question: “Where is your house?”

Answers

• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันอยู่แถว…..ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn-yùu thǎaeo…..khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I live in ….. area.”
• คำตอบ: บ้านของผม / ฉันอยู่แถว…..ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: bâan khǎawng phǒm / chǎn yùu thǎaeo…..khráp / khâ
  Answer: “My house is in ….. area.”
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันอยู่ที่…..ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn yùu thîi…..khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I live in ……”
• คำตอบ: บ้านของผม / ฉันอยู่ที่…..ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: bâan khǎawng phǒm / chǎn yùu thîi…..khráp / khâ
  Answer: “My house is in……”

6- Nationality / สัญชาติ (sǎn-châat)

• คำถาม: คุณเป็นคนชาติอะไรครับ/คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun bpen khon châat à-rai khráp / khá
  Question: “What is your nationality?”
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันเป็นคน…..ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn bpen khon…..khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I am……”

Possible Answers

• “British” = อังกฤษ (ang-grìt)
• “American” = อเมริกา (à-mee-rí-gaa)
• “French” = ฝรั่งเศษ (fà-ràng-sèet)
• “German” = เยอรมัน (yooe-rá-man)
• “Italian” = อิตาลี (ì-dtaa-lîi)
• “Turkish” = ตุรกี (dtù-rá-gii)
• “Russian” = รัซเซีย (rát-siia)
• “Australian” = ออสเตเลีย (áawt-dtee-liia)
• “Mexican” = แม็กซิโก (máek-sì-goo)
• “Canadian” = แคนนาดา (khaaen-naa-daa)
• “Chinese” = จีน (jiin)
• “Japanese” = ญี่ปุ่น (yîi-bpùn)
• “Korean” = เกาหลี (gao-lǐi)
• “Singaporian” = สิงค์โปร (sǐng-khà-bpoo)
• “Malaysian” = มาเลเซีย (ma-lee-siia)
• “Vietnamese” = เวียดนาม (wîiat-naam)
• “Laos” = ลาว (laao)
• “Burmese” = พม่า (phá-mâa)
• “Indonesian” = อินโดนีเซีย (in-doo-nee-siia)
• “Filipino” = ฟิลิปปินส์ (fí-líp-bpin)
• “Indian” = อินเดีย (in-diia)

7- School / โรงเรียน (roong-riian) and University / มหาวิทยาลัย (má-hǎa-wít-thá-yaa-lai)

Question 1

• คำถาม: คุณเรียนที่ไหนครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun riian thîi nǎi khráp / khá
  Question: “Which school/university are you studying at?”
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันเรียนที่……ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn riian thîi…..khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I am studying at…..”

Question 2

• คำถาม: คุณเรียนจบจากที่ไหนครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun riian jòb jàak thîi nǎi khráp / khá
  Question: “Which school/university are you graduated from?”
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันเรียนจบจากที่……ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn riian jòb jàak thîi…..khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I am graduated from…..”

8- Occupation / อาชีพ (aa-chîip)

• คำถาม: คุณทำอาชีพอะไรครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun tham aa-chîip à-rai khráp / khá
  Question: “What is your occupation?”
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันเป็น……ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn bpen…..khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I am …..”

Possible Answers

• “Doctor” = หมอ (mǎaw)
• “Nurse” = พยาบาล (phá-yaa-baan)
• “Male cook” = พ่อครัว (phâaw-khruua)
• “Female cook” = แม่ครัว (mâae-khruua)
• “Secretary” = เลขานุการ (lee-khǎa-nú-gaan)
• “Teacher” = ครู (khruu)
• “Consultant” = ที่ปรึกษา (thîi-bprùek-sǎa)
• “Government officer” = ข้าราชการ (khâa-râat-chá-gaan)
• “Driver” = คนขับรถ (khon-khàp-rót)
• “Singer” = นักร้อง (nák-ráawng)
• “Musician” = นักดนตรี (nák-don-dtrii)
• “Male model” = นายแบบ (naai-bàaep)
• “Female model” = นางแบบ (naang-bàaep)
• “Actor / actress” = นักแสดง (nák-sà-daaeng)

9- Hobby / งานอดิเรก (ngaan à-dì-rèek)

• คำถาม: งานอดิเรกของคุณคืออะไรครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: ngan à-dì-rèek khǎawng khun khuue à-rai khráp / khá
  Question: “What is your hobby?”
• คำถาม: คุณทำอะไรในเวลาว่างครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun tham à-rai nai wee-laa wâng khráp / khá
  Question: “What do you do in your free time?”
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันชอบ……ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn châawp…..khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I like to…….”

Possible Answers

• “Listen to music” = ฟังเพลง (fang phleeng)
• “Watch television” = ดูทีวี (duu thii-wii)
• “Play games” = เล่นเกมส์ (lêen gaaem)
• “Draw pictures” = วาดรูป (wâat rûup)
• “Read books” = อ่านหนังสือ (àan nǎng-sǔue)
• “Cook food” = ทำอาหาร (tham aa-hǎan)
• “Take photos” = ถ่ายรูป (thàai rûup)
• “Play with my pet” = เล่นกับสัตว์เลี้ยง (lêen gàp sàt-líiang)
• “Plant tree” = ปลูกต้นไม้ (bplùuk dtôn-mái)
• “Browse social media” = เล่นโซเชียลมีเดีย (lêen soo-chîian mii-dìia)
• “Sing” = ร้องเพลง (ráawng phleeng)
• “Play piano” = เล่นเปียโน (lêen bpiia-noo)
• “Play guitar” = เล่นกีตาร์ (lêen gii-dtâa)
• “Play drum” = ตีกลอง (dtii glaawng)
• “Play violin” = เล่นไวโอลิน (lêen wai-oo-lin)
• “Play sports” = เล่นกีฬา (lên gii-laa)
• “Shopping online” = ซื้อของออนไลน์ (súue khǎawng aawn-laai)

10- Favorite Things / สิ่งที่ชอบ (sìng thîi châawp)

Question 1: Color

• คำถาม: คุณชอบสีอะไรครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun châawp sǐi à-rai khráp / khá
  Question: “Which color do you like?“
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันชอบสี…..ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎnchâawp sǐi…..khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I like …….”

Question 2: Food

• คำถาม: คุณชอบอาหารอะไรครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun châawp aa-hǎan à-rai khráp / khá
  Question: “Which food do you like?“

คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันชอบ…..ครับ / ค่ะ
Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn châawp …..khráp / khâ
Answer: “I like …….”

Question 3: Movies

• คำถาม: คุณชอบหนังเรื่องอะไรครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun châawp nǎng rûueang à-rai khráp / khá
  Question: “Which movie do you like?”
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันชอบ…..ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn châawp…..khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I like …….”

Question 4: Books

• คำถาม: คุณชอบหนังสือเรื่องอะไรครับ / คะ
  Kham-thǎam: khun châawp nǎng-sǔue rûueang à-rai khráp / khá
  Question: “Which book do you like?”
• คำตอบ: ผม / ฉันชอบ…..ครับ / ค่ะ
  Kham-dtàawp: phǒm / chǎn châawp…..khráp / khâ
  Answer: “I like …….”

3. Tips

“It’s hard to describe myself in Thai or to present myself in Thai.”

You may have this kind of thought if you’ve just started learning Thai and aren’t really confident in your Thai pronunciation. This is normal when you try to speak a language that’s new to you. So here are some tips that will help you with your first few self-introductions.

1- Smile

Thailand is a land of smiles; Thai people really do smile a lot. So any time you’re not confident or are unsure of what to do, just smile. During a self-introduction, smiling helps to create a good first impression.

2- Waî

In Thailand, wâi is an action that Thai people do to pay respect to older people. So when you first meet someone who’s older than you, you can greet them formally by doing this action, and saying sà-wàt-dii at the same time, before introducing yourself.

3- Nice to meet you

Even if you can’t speak fluently, you can convey that you are happy to know another party by saying ยินดีที่ได้รู้จัก (yin-dii-thîi-dâi-rúu-jàk) which is “nice to meet you” in thai language after being introduced to someone.

4- Formal / Informal Way to Introduce Yourself

In Thai, you talk differently to different people, depending on their age and the situation you’re in. In business or when talking with older people, it’s better to more formally introduce yourself in Thai.

But when you talk to friends or people of a similar age, you should use a more informal way to introduce yourself in Thai.

The sentence you speak will sound either formal or informal, depending on the pronoun you use to call yourself and whether you put khráp / khâ at the end of a sentence or not.

5- Introduce Yourself in Thai Essay

How can you introduce yourself in a Thai paragraph? Luckily for you, writing a Thai paragraph about yourself isn’t that different from speaking. You can put all the self-introduction sentences you learned above together in writing.

Sample Composition about Myself in Thai

ฉันชื่อญาดา ชื่อเล่นของฉัน คือ แนน ตอนนี้ฉันอายุ 25 ปี และฉันมีพี่สาว 1 คน บ้านของฉันอยู่แถวอารีย์ ฉันเป็นคนไทย เรียนจบจากมหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ ตอนนี้ทำอาชีพเป็นทนายความ ในเวลาว่างฉันชอบอ่านหนังสือ ฉันชอบเรื่องแฮร์รี่ พ็อตเตอร์เป็นพิเศษ

—

Chǎn chûue yaa-daa chûue-lêen khǎawng chǎn khuue naaen dtaawn-níi chǎn aa-yú yîi-sìp-hâa bpiii láe chǎn mii phîi-sǎao nùeng khon bâan khǎawng chǎn yùu thǎaeo aa-rii chǎn pen khon thai riian jòp jàak má-hǎ-wít-thá-yaa-lai tham-má-sàat dtaawn-níi tham aa-chîip bpen thá-naai-khwaam nai wee-laa wâng chǎn châawp àan nǎng-sǔue chǎn châawp rûueang haae-rîi-pháwt-dtôoe bpen phí-sèet.

—

My name is Yada. My nickname is Nan. I’m now twenty-five years old and I have one older sister. My house is in Aree area. I’m Thai and I have graduated from Thammasart University. Now, I work as a lawyer. In my free time, I like to read. My favorite book is Harry Potter.

4. Conclusion

We hope learning how to introduce yourself in Thai isn’t too hard for you. With our “introducing yourself in Thai” lessons, our tips, and a little practice, you’re surely going to get better at self-introduction. As a foreigner, if you introduce yourself in Thai, despite not pronouncing correctly, Thai people will be very impressed. Still, you need to remember to consider the situation you’re in so that you can adjust the level of formality you use. Also, don’t forget to smile, as this helps with first impressions as well.

Once you can introduce yourself perfectly, you should visit ThaiPod101.com to learn and practice other Thai lessons to further master your Thai.

So, reader, do you feel more prepared to introduce yourself in Thai? Why not do so in the comments below? We look forward to hearing from you!

Many people love Thailand. The food here is nice, and you can find food and beverages here almost twenty-four/seven. Thai people are known to be kind and live a relaxing lifestyle. Further, the cost of living in Thailand isn’t very high and the medical service here isn’t bad for foreignersw (Thailand is also known for its medical tourism!)

Knowing this, you may start to think to yourself, “This place is nice. I want to work in Thailand. I want to live here.” For those who don’t know where to start, ThaiPod101.com can help you find jobs in Thailand.

For foreigners, there are a few cities in Thailand where you can live comfortably: Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Huahin, Chaingmai, and Khonkaen. These are places with good infrastructures, hospitals, schools, and more.

To work in Thailand, you need to understand either Thai or English for communication unless you have a special skill that companies in Thailand can’t find elsewhere. Still, since you have to live in Thailand, it’s absolutely better and easier for you if you know some Thai.

With this in mind, let’s explore how to find a job in Thailand as a foreigner! We have information on various aspects of the process, from jobs types to the Thai resume.

Start with a bonus, and download the Business Words & Phrases PDF for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

Without further ado, here’s our guide on how to find a job in Thailand.

Table of Contents

1. Recommended Jobs for Foreigners, Categorized by Type of Jobs
2. How to Find a Job in Thailand?
3. Tips for Getting a Job in Thailand
4. Why Should You Learn Thai if You Want to Work in Thailand?
5. Conclusion

1. Recommended Jobs for Foreigners, Categorized by Type of Jobs

There’s a lot of work in Thailand for foreigners. If you have no idea what you can do in Thailand, here are some recommendations.

1- Teaching Jobs

There are several jobs in Thailand for English-speaking foreigners, and one of the most popular is teaching English. Thai parents want their kids to be able to communicate in English, not to mention the fact that the trend of international schools and universities has reached its peak.

Nowadays, it’s considered almost necessary to know even a 3rd language, such as Japanese, Chinese, and so on. Thus, there are plenty of job opportunities for both language teachers and non-language teachers. So if you have knowledge and love children, a teaching job may be right for you. Keep reading if you want to learn how to find a teaching job in Thailand!

Credentials

• To be an English teacher, you need a TEFL certificate. Keep in mind that for English teaching jobs, working in Thailand as an American or European can be a great advantage.
• For other language teachers, if you’re native, you’re very likely to be hired.
• For non-language teachers, you need a degree related to the subject you teach. If you want to teach in universities, you need a lot of work experience related to the subject you want to teach, or a degree from a top university.
  
  Language required
• English and non-language teachers need to be able to communicate in English. However, if you also know Thai, it will be a lot easier to explain to your students. So learning Thai may not be a must but it is recommended.
• Other language teachers don’t have to communicate in English. Still, basic knowledge in Thai will help you explain to your students more easily. So we recommend that you learn Thai.
  
  Visa and work permit
• For professional jobs, most of the time, if a company agrees to hire you, they’ll do the visa and work permit for you.
  
  Tips: Finding jobs to teach English in Thailand isn’t difficult. The reason is that there are several teaching job vacancies in Thailand, making this career path promising for foreigners. If you’re wondering how to get a teaching job in Thailand, here are some websites you should visit:
• https://www.ajarn.com/recruitment/jobs
• https://www.teachthailand.org/teach-in-thailand/
• Website of international school in Thailand

2- Professional Jobs

If you already have a degree or skill and want to work in Thailand, there are various jobs you can do. Still, you may not be able to participate in some occupations due to the laws in Thailand. You have to pass the test of Thai government, and most of these require that you know Thai language. However, there are still plenty of job offers in Thailand that require your skill and knowledge.

1. Medical occupation

To be able to perform medical practice in Thailand, you need a license from the Medical council of Thailand. In order to get a license, you have to pass the test, which requires you to know the Thai language which can be a big obstacle. But if medical care is your passion, tackling this obstacle will prove to be very rewarding as you live your life in Thailand as a doctor or nurse!

• Credential: Medical degree
• Language required: If you’re a researcher, there’s no need to know Thai. But if you have to do medical practice, you should know Thai so that you can communicate with co-workers and patients.

2. Engineer

According to the law, to work as an engineer in Thailand, you need to pass the test of Council of Engineers. Still, many foreign engineers can work in Thailand using the knowledge you learned as a consultant. There are plenty of jobs in BKK and other provinces that need engineering knowledge.

• Credential: Engineering degree
• Language required: You need to know English for sure. As for the Thai language, it depends on your job. If you’re working at a factory or not in Bangkok, not all staffs understand English. Knowing Thai is your advantage and can make your work a lot easier.

3. Lawyer

Similar to becoming an engineer, in order to become a lawyer in Thailand, you need to pass the Test of Lawyer Council. But even before you pass this test, there are still work opportunities for you in Thailand. Many international law firms in Thailand are very happy to hire foreigners as consultants as long as they have knowledge in Law.

• Credential: Law degree
• Language required: If you’re working in an international law firm, there’s no need to understand Thai as most of your co-workers will understand English. Still, understanding some Thai will certainly help you with living in Thailand.

4. Diving Instructor

Diving may not be the most popular sport or activity in Thailand, but many people are still interested in it. So there is a need for diving instructors.

• Credential: PADI-qualified
• Language required: At bare minimum, you need to be able to communicate in English. However, not all Thai people understand English, so knowing Thai will help you a lot.
• Visa and work permit: Most of the time, if a company agrees to hire you for a professional job, they’ll do the visa and work permit for you.

3- Blue-collar Jobs

In Thailand, there are a lot of blue-collar jobs foreigners can do. These include:

• Waiter
• Maid
• Nanny
• Helper
• Security guard

Nowadays, most Thai people prefer to work in factories rather than doing these jobs.

• Credential: There’s no credential required, but if workers have related skills and experience, this is a plus. Simply put, these are jobs in Thailand that you can do without a degree.
• Language required: Most of these jobs require workers to be able to communicate in Thai. So if you want to pursue one of these jobs, you should be able to at least speak Thai. Being able to read and write in Thai is an extra advantage.
• Visa and work permit: For blue collar jobs, workers have to do the visa and work permit by themselves.

4- Part-time Jobs

Part-time jobs may be an interesting endeavor for those who have too much free time. There are several part-time jobs that foreigners can do in Thailand. Here are some examples:

• Writing articles is a nice part-time job if you like writing. You can do this at home and choose the topic of your interest. There’s no cost and this can be a hobby as well. Most people get writing jobs through friends and networks.
• Teaching others how to play a musical instrument is also a great part-time job. There are many foreigners whose kids are interested in music and need an English-speaking teacher. You can find music jobs like this on community websites such as Craigslist and Thailand Starter Kit.



• If you’re in the academic field, doing research is another part-time job you can do. In Thailand, professors in universities are required to do research, and sometimes they collaborate with foreign professors.

2. How to Find a Job in Thailand?

Now that you have an idea of what job/occupation you can do in Thailand, the next thing to do is actually start looking for jobs in Thailand. Whether it’s a job in Bangkok for foreigners, jobs in Phuket for foreigners, filling in job vacancies in Thailand for foreigners/expats, Pattaya jobs for foreigners, or Thai jobs for foreigners, you can find them in the following channels.

1- Head-hunting Company

If the job you want is very specific and requires a special skill, it can be hard to find the right candidate. So many companies use the service of a head-hunting company. The most popular head-hunting companies in Thailand are listed below:

• Adecco: This company has been operating in Thailand for almost thirty years. It’s well-known for providing good consultancies to workers and finding good matches between companies and potential candidates.
• PRTR: PRTR is a recruitment outsourcing company that’s been operating in Thailand for twenty-eight years. This is another agency that’s pretty famous in Thailand.
• Robert Walters: This company is known among recruitment workers at an executive level. It’s been operating in Thailand since 2008.

2- Website

If you don’t want to use the services of a recruitment company, you can find work on your own. There are a few websites that you should visit if you want to find work in Thailand.

• JobsDB: JobsDB Thailand is one of the biggest job portal websites in Thailand. If Thai people want to find a job, there’s a high chance that they’ll visit this website. You can filter through jobs using the location you want to live, such as finding work in Pattaya. Or you can find jobs using the industry you want to work in, such as hotel jobs in Thailand for foreigners or jobs vacancies in Bangkok hospitals. This website can guide you to many job vacancies in Bangkok for foreigners as well as other parts of the country.
• Craigslist: Despite not being a job portal website, Craiglist is pretty famous among foreigners for job searching in Thailand. For those who just moved to Thailand, it’s a great website with lots of good information you should know. For example, one of the categories you’ll find involved finding expat jobs in Thailand. The name of the website may make you think there are only jobs in Bangkok, Thailand for foreigners, but you can find jobs in other provinces as well.
• Thailand Starter Kit: Similar to Craigslist, Thailand Starter Kit is another website that offers good information, know-how, and experience for foreigners who live in Thailand. So you can use it to find jobs in Thailand for foreigners as well.

3- Network

Social networking is a very powerful tool nowadays. So it isn’t surprising that in Thailand, career opportunities can be found using the following social networks:

• LinkedIn: Once settled in Thailand, many foreigners have said that they got a job using LinkedIn. All you need to do to get started is create an accurate and clear profile.
• Facebook: Another way to find a job is through the most popular social media in Thailand: Facebook. You can join a group of your interest or even a group for foreigners; sometimes, people will post job offerings there.

4- Printed Media

Despite the technology disruption, some printed media survives and many people still use it to find jobs. If you like reading, it’s a good idea to look at these printed media:

• Daco: For Japanese who are looking for jobs in Bangkok, this free magazine has a section for job searching. You can get this magazine at Max Value, in Japanese schools in Thailand, or at a Japanese restaurant.
• Bangkok Post: The Bangkok Post is a famous newspaper for foreigners. And like other newspapers, there’s a section for job opportunities in Bangkok, as well as other provinces, for foreigners.

3. Tips for Getting a Job in Thailand

The process of recruitment in Thailand isn’t so different from other countries in the rest of the world. Essentially, you just need to send in a resume, take a test if you need to, and go through the interview process. Still, there are some details in the process which may be a bit different. So here are a few tips you can use if you want to work in Bangkok or other provinces in Thailand.

1- Tips on Writing a CV/Resume

• If you’ve just graduated, it’s important to put the name of your university and the faculty in which you graduated on your resume. Thai HR uses university names as a standard in selecting employees. Further, if you worked part-time or participated in interesting activities during your study, you can include this as well.
• If you already have experience in work, you should focus on your work experience rather than your educational background.
• Don’t forget to highlight your skills or characteristics that are related to the position you applied for.
• Don’t put too much information on the resume. You should try to put everything on one page, maximum.
• Your resume and CV should look formal if you’re applying for professional work such as a consultancy job in a law firm or a teacher. Still, for some positions, you can be as creative as you want; this is especially true for professions such as a designer.
• Keep in mind that the Thai resume really isn’t that much different from resumes elsewhere!

2- Interview

Interviewing is the process that helps a company know more about you, and vice-versa. So you should prepare yourself well to create a good impression. On the interview day, you should arrive at the company a little bit earlier than the appointed time. And you should dress formal (no jeans, no shorts, no sandals) if you’re applying for professional work. Greeting, introducing yourself, and saying thank you in Thai will especially impress HR staff. And these are the questions you’re likely to be asked:

• “Tell me about yourself” — แนะนำตัวเองหน่อยครับ/ค่ะ (náe-nam dtuua-eeng nàauy khráp/khà)
• “Tell me your strengths and weaknesses” — บอกจุดแข็งและจุดอ่อนของคุณหน่อยครับ/ค่ะ (bàawk jùt khǎaeng láe jùt àawn khǎawng khun nàauy khráp/khà)
• “Why do you think this is the right job for you?” — ทำไมคุณถึงคิดว่างานนี้เหมาะกับคุณ (tham-mai khun thǔeng khít wâa ngan níi màw gàp khun)
• “Why should the company hire you?” — ทำไมบริษัทเราถึงควรจ้างคุณ (tham-mai baaw-rí-sàt rao thǔeng khuuan jâang khun)
• “Why do you want to change your job?” — ทำไมคุณถึงเปลี่ยนงาน (tham-mai khun thǔeng phlìian ngaan)
• You may also be asked about the company you’re applying for, so you should have some information about the company prepared.

4. Why Should You Learn Thai if You Want to Work in Thailand?

It’s better to know Thai if you want to work in Thailand. There are many reasons behind this fact. First, not all Thai people can speak English; knowing some Thai helps you to communicate with your co-workers, making it easier to work with Thai people. Also, if you know Thai, it’s easier for you to make a good impression and relationship with these co-workers. However, it is true that some companies don’t require you to know Thai, as everyone speaks English or some other language.

Still, if you work in Thailand, it means you live in Thailand and one way or another, you have to communicate with Thai people. Knowing some common Thai phrases makes it so much easier to order food, to buy things, to ask for help, to travel, and so on. To put it simply, it’s easier and more convenient to live and work in Thailand if you know the Thai language.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, it’s not very difficult to find a job in Thailand as a foreigner if you prepare and know where to look. The process of recruitment is similar to that of other companies in other countries. If you have the right characteristics and qualifications, a company won’t be hesitant to hire you.

Don’t forget that knowing and understanding Thai is your advantage if you want to work in Thailand. So if you plan to work in Thailand, you should learn as much about Thai as you can, such as the Thai alphabet or Thai business language, in preparation. It’ll make your life a lot easier as you work and live in Thailand. You can visit ThaiPod101.com to learn and practice your Thai for living and working in Thailand!

Do you often feel lonely and sad? Do you long for romance and are willing to do whatever it takes to meet that special person? Speaking another language could revolutionize your love life! So, why wait? Learning how to say ‘love’ in Thai could be just what you need to find it.

Or perhaps you were lucky, and have found your Thai partner already. Fantastic! Yet, a cross-cultural relationship comes with unique challenges. Learning how to speak your lover’s language will greatly improve your communication and enhance the relationship. At ThaiPod101, our team will teach you all the words, quotes and phrases you need to woo your Thai lover with excellence! Our tutors provide personal assistance, with plenty of extra material available to make Thai dating easy for you.

Table of Contents

1. Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date
2. The Most Romantic Ideas for a Date
3. Must-know Valentine’s Day Vocabulary
4. Thai Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day
5. Thai Quotes about Love
6. Marriage Proposal Lines
7. 15 Most Common Break-Up Lines
8. Will Falling in Love Help You Learn Thai Faster?

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1. Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date

So, you have met your Thai love interest. Congratulations! Who knows where this could take you…?! However, the two of you have just met and you’re not ready to say the Thai word for love just yet. Great, it is better to get to know him/her first. Wow your prospective love by using these Thai date phrases to set up a spectacular first date.

Would you like to go out to dinner with me?

• คุณต้องการที่จะไปทานมื้อค่ำกับผมไหม
• khun dtâwng-gaan thîi jà bpai thaan múue khâm gàp phŏm mái

The important question! In most cultures, this phrase indicates: ‘I’m romantically interested in you’. Flirting in Thai is no different, so don’t take your date to Mcdonald’s!

Are you free this weekend?

• เสาร์อาทิตย์นี้คุณว่างไหม
• săo aa-thít níi khun wâang mái

This is a preamble to asking your love interest on a date. If you get an immediate ‘Yes’, that’s good news!

Would you like to hang out with me?

• คุณต้องการที่จะออกไปเที่ยวกับฉันไหม
• khun dtâwng-gaan thîi jà àawk bpai thîiao gàp chăn mái

You like her/him, but you’re not sure if there’s chemistry. Ask them to hang out first to see if a dinner date is next.

What time shall we meet tomorrow?

• พรุ่งนี้เราเจอกันกี่โมงดี
• phrûng-níi rao jooe gan gìi moong dii

Set a time, and be sure to arrive early! Nothing spoils a potential relationship more than a tardy date.

Where shall we meet?

• เราจะเจอกันที่ไหนดี
• rao jà jooe gan thîi năi dii

You can ask this, but also suggest a place.

You look great.

• คุณดูดีจัง
• khun duu dii jang

A wonderful ice breaker! This phrase will help them relax a bit – they probably took great care to look their best just for you.

You are so cute.

• คุณน่ารักมาก
• khan nâa-rák mâak

If the two of you are getting on really well, this is a fun, flirtatious phrase to use.

What do you think of this place?

• คุณคิดว่าที่นี่ดีไหม
• khun khít wâa thîi-nîi dii mái

This another good conversation starter. Show off your Thai language skills!

Can I see you again?

• ฉันจะเจอคุณอีกครั้งได้ไหม
• chăn jà jooe khun ìik khráng dâai mái

So the date went really well – don’t waste time! Make sure you will see each other again.

Shall we go somewhere else?

• เราไปที่อื่นกันไหม
• rao bpai thîi ùuen gan mái

If the place you meet at is not great, you can suggest going elsewhere. It is also a good question to follow the previous one. Variety is the spice of life!

I know a good place.

• ฉันรู้จักที่ดีๆ
• chăn rúu-jàk thîi dii dii

Use this with the previous question. However, don’t say if you don’t know a good place!

I will drive you home.

• ฉันจะขับไปส่งคุณที่บ้าน
• chăn jà khàp bpai sòng khun thîi bâan

If your date doesn’t have transport, this is a polite, considerate offer. However, don’t be offended if she/he turns you down on the first date. Especially a woman might not feel comfortable letting you drive her home when the two of you are still basically strangers.

That was a great evening.

• นี่เป็นคืนที่ดีนะ
• nîi bpen khuuen thîi dii ná

This is a good phrase to end the evening with.

When can I see you again?

• เมื่อไรฉันจะเจอคุณได้อีก
• mûuea-rai chăn jà jooe khun dâai ìik

If he/she replied ‘Yes’ to ‘Can I see you again?’, this is the next important question.

I’ll call you.

• เดี๋ยวจะโทรหานะ
• dĭiao jà thoo hăa ná

Say this only if you really mean to do it. In many cultures, this could imply that you’re keeping the proverbial backdoor open.

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2. The Most Romantic Ideas for a Date

You learned all the Thai phrases to make a date – congratulations! Now you have to decide where to meet, which can be tricky. Discuss these options with your lover to gauge whether you like the same things. Check out romantic date ideas in Thai below!

museum

• พิพิธภัณฑ์
• phí-phít-thá-phan

If you’re looking for unique date ideas that are fun but won’t break the bank, museums are the perfect spot! You won’t be running out of things to say in the conversations.

candlelit dinner

• อาหารค่ำใต้แสงเทียน
• aa-hăan khâm dtâai săaeng thiian

A candlelit dinner is perhaps best to reserve for when the relationship is getting serious. It’s very intimate, and says: “Romance!” It’s a fantastic choice if you’re sure you and your date are in love with each other!

go to the zoo

• ไปเที่ยวสวนสัตว์
• bpai thîiao sŭuan-sàt

This is a good choice for shy lovers who want to get the conversation going. Just make sure your date likes zoos, as some people dislike them. Maybe not for the first date, but this is also a great choice if your lover has children – you’ll win his/her adoration for inviting them along!

go for a long walk

• ไปเดินเล่น
• bpai dooen lên

Need to talk about serious stuff, or just want to relax with your date? Walking together is soothing, and a habit you can keep up together always! Just make sure it’s a beautiful walk that’s not too strenuous.

go to the opera

• ไปดูละครโอเปร่า
• bpai duu lá-khaawn oo-bpee-râa

This type of date should only be attempted if both of you love the opera. It can be a special treat, followed by a candlelit dinner!

go to the aquarium

• ไปพิพิธภัณฑ์สัตว์น้ำ
• bpai phí-phít-thá-phan sàt-náam

Going to the aquarium is another good idea if you need topics for conversation, or if you need to impress your lover’s kids! Make sure your date doesn’t have a problem with aquariums.

walk on the beach

• เดินเล่นบนชายหาด
• dooen lên bon chaai-hàat

This can be a very romantic stroll, especially at night! The sea is often associated with romance and beauty.

have a picnic

• ไปปิกนิก
• bpai bpík-ník

If you and your date need to get more comfortable together, this can be a fantastic date. Spending time in nature is soothing and calms the nerves.

cook a meal together

• ทำอาหารด้วยกัน
• tham aa-hăan dûuai gan

If you want to get an idea of your date’s true character in one go, this is an excellent date! You will quickly see if the two of you can work together in a confined space. If it works, it will be fantastic for the relationship and create a sense of intimacy. If not, you will probably part ways!

have dinner and see a movie

• ไปทานอาหารค่ำและดูหนัง
• bpai thaan aa-hăan khâm láe duu năng

This is traditional date choice works perfectly well. Just make sure you and your date like the same kind of movies!

3. Must-know Valentine’s Day Vocabulary

Expressing your feelings honestly is very important in any relationship all year round. Yet, on Valentine’s Day you really want to shine. Impress your lover this Valentine’s with your excellent vocabulary, and make his/her day! We teach you, in fun, effective ways, the meanings of the words and how to pronounce them. You can also copy the characters and learn how to write ‘I love you’ in Thai – think how impressed your date will be!

4. Thai Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day

So, you now have the basic Valentine’s Day vocabulary under your belt. Well done! But, do you know how to say ‘I love you’ in Thai yet? Or perhaps you are still only friends. So, do you know how to say ‘I like you’ or ‘I have a crush on you’ in Thai? No? Don’t worry, here are all the love phrases you need to bowl over your Thai love on this special day!

I love you.

• ฉันรักคุณ
• chǎn rák khun

Saying ‘I love you’ in Thai carries the same weight as in all languages. Use this only if you’re sure and sincere about your feelings for your partner/friend.

You mean so much to me.

• คุณมีความหมายกับผมมาก
• Khun mii khwaam-mǎai gàp phǒm mâak

This is a beautiful expression of gratitude that will enhance any relationship! It makes the receiver feel appreciated and their efforts recognized.

Will you be my Valentine?

• มาเป็นวาเลนไทน์ของผมได้ไหม
• Maa bpen waa-len-thai khǎawng phǒm dâi mǎi

With these words, you are taking your relationship to the next level! Or, if you have been a couple for a while, it shows that you still feel the romance. So, go for it!

You’re so beautiful.

• คุณสวยมาก
• Khun sǔuay mâak

If you don’t know how to say ‘You’re pretty’ in Thai, this is a good substitute, gentlemen!

I think of you as more than a friend.

• ผมคิดกับคุณมากกว่าแค่เพื่อน
• Phǒm khít gàp khun mâak gwàa khâae phûuean

Say this if you are not yet sure that your romantic feelings are reciprocated. It is also a safe go-to if you’re unsure about the Thai dating culture.

A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you.

• หัวใจร้อยดวงยังไม่พอใส่ความรักทั้งหมดที่ผมมีให้คุณ
• Hǔua-jai ráauy duuang yang mâi phaaw sài khwaam-rák tháng-mòt thîi phǒm mii hâi khun

You romantic you…! When your heart overflows with love, this would be the best phrase to use.

Love is just love. It can never be explained.

• ความรักก็คือความรัก ไม่มีทางอธิบายได้
• Khwaam-rák gâw khuue khwaam-rák. Mâi mii thaang à-thí-baai dâi

If you fell in love unexpectedly or inexplicably, this one’s for you.

You’re so handsome.

• คุณหล่อมาก
• Khun làaw mâak

Ladies, this phrase lets your Thai love know how much you appreciate his looks! Don’t be shy to use it; men like compliments too.

I’ve got a crush on you.

• ฉันหลงรักเธออยู่
• Chǎn lǒng rák thooe yùu

If you like someone, but you’re unsure about starting a relationship, it would be prudent to say this. It simply means that you like someone very, very much and think they’re amazing.

You make me want to be a better man.

• คุณทำให้ผมอยากเป็นคนดีขึ้น
• Khun tham-hâi phǒm yàak bpen khon dii khûen

Gentlemen, don’t claim this phrase as your own! It hails from the movie ‘As Good as it Gets’, but it is sure to make your Thai girlfriend feel very special. Let her know that she inspires you!

Let all that you do be done in love.

• ขอให้ทุกอย่างที่คุณทำสำเร็จด้วยความรัก
• Khǎaw hâi thúk-yàang thîi khun tham sǎm-rèt dûuai khwaam-rák

We hope.

You are my sunshine, my love.

• ที่รัก เธอคือดวงตะวันของฉัน
• Thîi-rák thooe khuue duuang dtà-wan khǎawng chăn

A compliment that lets your lover know they bring a special quality to your life. Really nice!

Words can’t describe my love for you.

• รักที่ฉันมีให้เธอ ไม่สามารถอธิบายได้ด้วยคำพูด
• Rák thîi chǎn mii hâi thooe mâi sǎa-mâat à-thí-baai dâi dûuai kham-phûut

Better say this when you’re feeling serious about the relationship! It means that your feelings are very intense.

We were meant to be together.

• เราเกิดมาคู่กัน
• Rao gòoet maa khûu gan

This is a loving affirmation that shows you see a future together, and that you feel a special bond with your partner.

If you were thinking about someone while reading this, you’re definitely in love.

• ถ้าคุณคิดถึงใครขณะที่อ่านข้อความนี้ ก็แปลว่าคุณกำลังมีความรักอยู่แน่ ๆ
• Thâa khun khít-thǔeng khrai khà-nà thîi àan khâaw-khwaam níi gâw bplaae wâa khun gam-lang mii khwaam rák yùu nâae-nâae

Here’s something fun to tease your lover with. And hope he/she was thinking of you!

5. Thai Quotes about Love

You’re a love champ! You and your Thai lover are getting along fantastically, your dates are awesome, your Valentine’s Day together was spectacular, and you’re very much in love. Good for you! Here are some beautiful phrases of endearment in Thai that will remind him/her who is in your thoughts all the time.

6. Marriage Proposal Lines

Wow. Your Thai lover is indeed the love of your life – congratulations! And may only happiness follow the two of you! In most traditions, the man asks the woman to marry; this is also the Thai custom. Here are a few sincere and romantic lines that will help you to ask your lady-love for her hand in marriage.

7. 15 Most Common Break-Up Lines

Instead of moving towards marriage or a long-term relationship, you find that the spark is not there for you. That is a pity! But even though breaking up is never easy, continuing a bad or unfulfilling relationship would be even harder. Remember to be kind to the person you are going to say goodbye to; respect and sensitivity cost nothing. Here are some phrases to help you break up gently.

8. Will Falling in Love help you Learn Thai faster?

Most people will agree that the above statement is a no-brainer – of course it will! Your body will be flooded with feel-good hormones, which are superb motivators for anything. ThaiPod101 is one of the best portals to help help make this a reality, so don’t hesitate to enroll now! Let’s quickly look at the reasons why falling in love will speed up your learning of the Thai language.

Three Reasons Why Having a Lover will Help you Learn Thai Faster!

1- Being in a love relationship with your Thai speaking partner will immerse you in the culture
ThaiPod101 uses immersive methods and tools to teach you Thai, but having a relationship with a native speaker will be a very valuable addition to your learning experience! You will gain exposure to their world, realtime and vividly, which will make the language come alive even more for you. The experience is likely to expand your world-view, which should motivate you to learn Thai even faster.

2- Having your Thai romantic partner will mean more opportunity to practice speaking
Nothing beats continuous practice when learning a new language. Your partner will probably be very willing to assist you in this, as your enhanced Thai language skills will enhance the relationship. Communication is, after all, one of the most important pillars of a good partnership. Also, you will get to impress your lover with the knowledge gained through your studies – a win/win situation!

3- A supportive Thai lover is likely to make a gentle, patient teacher and study aid!
With his/her heart filled with love and goodwill for you, your Thai partner is likely to patiently and gently correct your mistakes when you speak. This goes not only for grammar, but also for accent and meaning. With his/her help, you could sound like a native in no time!

Three Reasons Why ThaiPod101 helps you learn Thai Even Faster when you’re In Love

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1- All the Resources and Materials Will Help Both of You
Falling in love with a man or woman speaking Thai is an opportunity for both of you to learn a new language! For this reason, every lesson, transcript, vocabulary list, and resource at ThaiPod101 is translated into both English and Thai. So, while your partner can help you learn Thai faster, you can potentially also help him/her learn and master English!

2- Lessons Are Designed to Help You Understand and Engage with Thai Culture
At ThaiPod101, our focus is to help our students learn practical vocabulary and phrases used by everyday people in Thailand. This means that, from your very first lesson, you can apply what you learn immediately! So, when your Thai partner wants to go out to a restaurant, play Pokemon Go, or attend just about any social function, you have the vocabulary and phrases necessary to have a great time!

3- Access to Special Resources Dedicated to Romantic Thai Phrases
You now have access to ThaiPod101’s specially-developed sections and tools to teach you love words, phrases, and cultural insights to help you find and attract your Thai soul mate. A personal tutor will assist you to master these brilliantly – remember to invite him/her to your wedding!

When you start learning a new language, “Hello” is one of the first words that you’re likely to learn. Saying hello in Thai is easy and it’s also a convenient and good way to start a conversation in many situations. How Thai people say hello in Thai and the way Thai people greet represent Thai culture and give a glimpse into how they live their lives. This article will teach you all you need to know about this, from saying “good morning” in the Thai language to finally concluding your conversation.

Understanding “hello” when making a trip in Thailand will be very important. Similar to other languages, there are many ways to say hello in Thai. Each one is used differently based on who you’re greeting and the situation you’re in.

Below, we outlined for you various ways to say hello in Thai along with detailed explanations. You’ll understand the context of the word more after reading this article, and as a result you’ll be able to say hello like a Thai native.

1. Hello

So, how do Thai people say “hello?”

Let’s start with a general explanation of the word “hello.” What is the Thai word for “hello?” How do you say “hello” in Thai? How do you spell “hello” in Thai? And what is “hello” in Thai translation?

“Hello” in the Thai language is สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii). The word “hello,” in Thai means goodness, beauty, prosperity, and safety. Because of its good meaning, Thai people use this word as a greeting to wish other parties well. Sà-wàd-dee has been formally used as “hello” and “goodbye” in Thailand since January 22, 1943.

Sà-wàt-dii is one of the ways to say “hello” or “hi” in Thai. And it’s probably the safest choice of hello words you can use in any situation and with anyone. You can say it anytime of the day. You can say it to anyone, whether they’re older or younger. So it’s wise to remember this word, though it’s not the only way to translate “hello” in Thai.

1- How to Use “Hello” in a Sentence

When putting “hello” in a sentence, there are a few ways you can use it, which are listed below:

1. Just say sà-wàt-dii. If the other party knows you’re talking to him/her, you can just say sà-wàt-dii to greet him/her. This case can be used when you don’t know the other party’s name, as well.

   Example: You walk into a Thai restaurant. The waitress may say สวัสดีค่ะ กี่ท่านคะ (sà-wàt-dii khâ gìi thân khá), which means “Hello, how many people?”

2. Sà-wàt-dii + name of people/noun/group of people. You can be more specific when greeting by saying the name of the person (or group of people) you want to greet after saying sà-wàt-dii.

   Example: A nephew greets his aunt with สวัสดีครับ น้าป้อม (sà-wàii-dii khráp náa bpâawm), which means, “Hello, Aunt Pom.”

3. Name of people/noun/group of people + sà-wàt-dii. Another way you can use this greeting is to call the person’s name (or the group of people) you want to greet first to get their attention, and say sà-wàt-dii afterward.

   Example: In a company meeting, a manager may greet with ทุกคน สวัสดีค่ะ (thúk khon sà-wàt-dii khâ), which means, “Hello everybody,” before starting the meeting.

**Note: Females put ค่ะ (khâ) at the end of sentences to make them polite, while males put ครับ (khráp) at the end of sentences to make them polite.

Examples of How to Say Hello

• “Hello children” in Thai is สวัสดี เด็ก ๆ (sà-wàt-dii dèk-dèk).
• “Hello my love” in Thai is สวัสดี ที่รัก (sà-wàt-dii thîi-rák).
• “Hello handsome” in Thai is สวัสดี สุดหล่อ (sà-wàt-dii sùt làaw).
• “Hello girl” in Thai is สวัสดี สาวน้อย (sà-wàt-dii sǎao náauy).
• “Hello boy” in Thai is สวัสดี หนุ่มน้อย (sà-wàt-dii nùm náauy).
• “Hello beautiful girl” in Thai is สวัสดี สาวสวย (sà-wàt-dii sǎao sǔuai).

2- Hello in Thai Slang

Sometimes, when people who are familiar with each other greet, they shorten the word สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii) to หวัดดี (wàt-dii) or ดี (dii). This is an informal way to greet, and is quite similar to the difference between “hello” or “hi” in English. This is a common way to say “hello” in Thai among friends.

2. Hello and Time

Now that you know what “hello” is in Thai, your next questions are likely to be: What is “good morning” in the Thai language? What is “good afternoon” in Thai? What is “good evening” in Thai? And so on and so on. So let’s learn Thai greetings for each time of day.

Also keep in mind before we get into it that there is a formal way of greeting, and an informal. The formal one is a bit hard to learn for foreigners. Fortunately, you’ll hear the formal greeting only in TV shows, radio shows, or in formal situations, but not much in daily conversation.

Thai people use the less-formal one in daily speaking, and it’s very easy to learn and remember. You just put the time after the word sà-wàt-dii.

1- “Good morning”

• Formal: อรุณสวัสดิ์ (à-run sà-wàt)
• Less formal: สวัสดีตอนเช้า (sà-wàt-dii dtaawn cháo)

2- “Good afternoon”

• Formal: ทิวาสวัสดิ์ (thí-waa sà-wàt)
• Less formal: สวัสดีตอนบ่าย (sà-wàt-dii dtaawn bàai)

** The formal word for “good afternoon” is rarely used, even on TV or radio shows.

3- “Good evening”

• Formal: สายัณห์สวัสดิ์ (sǎa-yan sà-wàt)
• Less formal: สวัสดีตอนเย็น (sà-wàt-dii dtaawn yen)

4- “Goodnight”

• Formal: ราตรีสวัสดิ์ (raa-dtrii sà-wàt)
• Less formal: –

** raa-dtrii sà-wàt can be used in all situations, both in media and in daily conversation.

3. Hello in Various Situations

There are many situations where you can use Thai “hello” or sà-wàt-dii. Further, there’s a best way to say “hello” in Thai, depending on the context. Since you may be new to the language, we’ll show you sentences and phrases that you can use along with sà-wàt-dii in various situations.

1- Greeting When You First Meet Someone

This is the situation when you meet someone, greet him/her, and introduce yourself to him/her. Basically, it’s how to say “Hello, my name is…” in Thai.

Example:

• ทศพล: สวัสดีครับ ผมชื่อทศพล ยินดีที่ได้รู้จักครับ
  Thót-sà-phon: sà-wàii-dii khráp phǒm chûue Thót-sà-phon yin-dii thîi dâi rúu-jàk khráp
  “Todsapol: Hello, my name is Todsapol. Nice to meet you.”
• ตฤณ: สวัสดีครับ ผมชื่อตฤณ ยินดีที่ได้รู้จักเช่นกันครับ
  Dtrin: sà-wàii-dii khráp phǒm chûue dtrin yin-dii thîi dâi rúu-jàk chêen gan khráp
  “Trin: Hello, my name is Trin. Nice to meet you too.”

2- Greeting People You Already Know, but Haven’t Met in a While

When you meet people you already know but aren’t very close with, you can greet them and have a little chat with them. So this is how you say “Hello, how are you?” in Thai.

Example:

• ทศพล: สวัสดีครับ คุณตฤณ ไม่เจอกันนาน สบายดีมั๊ยครับ
  Thót-sà-phon: sà-wàii-dii khráp khun dtrin mâi jooe gan naan sà-baai dii mái khráp
  “Todsapol: Hello, Trin. Long time no see. How are you?”
• ตฤณ: สวัสดีครับ คุณทศพล ไม่เจอกันนานเลย ผมสบายดี แล้วคุณทศพลเป็นยังไงบ้างครับ
  Dtrin: sà-wàii-dii khráp khun Thót-sà-phon mâi jooe gan naan looei phǒm sà-baai dii láaeo khun Thót-sà-phon bpen yang-ngai bâang khráp
  “Trin: Hello, Todsapol. Long time no see. I’m fine, what about you?”
• ทศพล: ช่วงนี้ผมงานเยอะครับ แต่ก็โอเค
  Thót-sà-phon: chûuang níi phǒm ngaan yóe khráp dtàae gâaw oo-khee
  “Todsapol: I have a lot of work to do recently but I’m okay.”

3- Greeting a Lot of People at the Same Time

These greetings are used in situations where you want to greet many people at the same time, such as before a presentation, before a speech in a company party or at a university reunion party, etc. Here are some examples:

How to Say “Hello my friends” in Thai

• สวัสดี เพื่อน ๆ ของฉัน (sà-wàt-dii phûuean phûuean khǎawng chǎn)

How to Say “Hello everyone” in Thai

• สวัสดี ทุกคน (sà-wàt-dii thúk khon)

How to Say “Hello to all the staff” in Thai

• สวัสดี พนักงานทุกคน (sà-wàt-dii phá-nák-ngaan thúk khon)

How to Say “Hello students” in Thai

• สวัสดี นักเรียนทุกคน (sà-wàt-dii nák riian thúk khon)

4- Greeting in Shops or Restaurants

When you go into some shops or restaurants in Thailand, the staff, waiter, or waitress normally greets you and asks if you want any help. It’s not rude to simply tell them what you want or just answer their questions without greeting them back. But if you want to greet them back, that’s okay as well. Here are some examples of how to do this:

Greeting in Shops

• พนักงาน: สวัสดีค่ะ ยินดีต้อนรับค่ะ สนใจสินค้าตัวไหนคะ
  phá-nák-ngaan: sà-wàt-dii khâ yin-dii dtâawn-ráp khâ sǒn-jai sǐn-kháa dtuua nǎi khá
  “Staff: Hello, welcome to our shop. What are you looking for?”
• ทศพล: (สวัสดีครับ) ผมต้องการซื้อทีวี มีรุ่นไหนแนะนำบ้างครับ
  Thót-sà-phon: (sà-wàt-dii khráp) phǒm dtâawng-gaan súue thii-wii mii rûn nǎi náe-nam bâang khráp
  “Todsapol: (Hello) I want to buy a television. Do you have any recommendations?”

Greeting in Restaurants

Hello, what do you want to order?

• พนักงาน: สวัสดีค่ะ ยินดีต้อนรับค่ะ จะรับอะไรดีคะ
  phá-nák-ngaan: sà-wàt-dii khâ yin-dii dtâawn-ráp khâ jà ráp à-rai dii khá
  “Staff: Hello, welcome to our restaurant. What do you want to order?”
• ตฤณ: ร้านนี้มีเมนูแนะนำอะไรครับ
  Dtrin: ráan níi mii mee-nuu náe-nam à-rai khráp
  “Trin: Which dish do you recommend?”
• พนักงาน: ก๋วยเตี๋ยวต้มยำเป็นเมนูแนะนำของเราค่ะ
  phá-nák-ngaan: gǔuai-dtîiao dtôm-yam bpen mee-nuu náe-nam khǎawng rao khâ
  “Staff: Our signature dish is tôm-yum noodle.”
• ตฤณ: ถ้าอย่างนั้นเอาบะหมี่ต้มยำหนึ่งที่ครับ
  Dtrin: thâa yàang nán ao bà-mìi dtôm-yam nùeng thîi khráp
  “Trin: Then, I will get one bowl of bà-mhèe-tôm-yum.”

5- Replying to Greetings from Staff

In some condos or department stores, the staff is trained to greet residents or customers. You can simply say “hello” in Thai back if you want. Still, it’s not rude to just nod your head back, or just smile. Here’s an example of how you can reply when a staff member says “Hello, sir,” in Thai to you as you pass by:

• พนักงาน: สวัสดีตอนเช้าค่ะ
  phá-nák-ngaan: sà-wàt-dii dtaawn cháo khâ
  “Staff: Good morning.”
• ตฤณ: สวัสดีครับ
  Dtrin: sà-wàt-dii khráp
  “Trin: Hello.”

4. To Greet without Saying “Hello”

In Thai, saying sà-wàt-dii or “hello” in Thai isn’t the only way you can say hello. There are other words and phrases you can use for greeting in both Thai and English.

Among friends or close relatives, Thai people don’t really say sà-wàt-dii when they meet each other, especially if they meet each other everyday (though they certainly can if they choose to). They call the other party’s name instead of saying hello, and if they haven’t met in a long time, they ask “How are you?”

It’s like saying “What’s up?” in Thai or “How’s it going?” in Thai. This is an informal or casual way to greet for people who already know each other or are close to each other.

Here are some other Thai ways to say “hello”:

1- How are You?

These phrases all have the same meaning: “How are you?” or “What’s going on in your life?”. However, the level of casualness of each phrase is different. The shorter the phrase is, the more casual it is.

• เป็นอย่างไรบ้าง (bpen yàang-rai bâang)
• เป็นยังไงบ้าง (bpen yang-ngai bâang)
• เป็นไงบ้าง (bpen ngai bâang)

2- Are You Fine?

Another way of saying hello in Thai is to ask if someone is doing okay. Similar to the phrase “How are you?” in Thai, despite having the same meaning, the shorter the phrase is, the more casual it is.

• สบายดีรึเปล่า (sà-baai-dii rúe bplào)
• สบายดีมั๊ย (sà-baai-dii mái)

3- Long Time No See

Apart from calling someone’s name and asking “How are you?” in Thai or “Are you fine?” in Thai, Thai people also use the phrases listed below when they meet people who they haven’t met for a long time. These sentences mean “Long time no see.”

• ไม่ได้เจอกันตั้งนาน (mâi dâi jooe gan dtâng naan)
• ไม่เจอกันตั้งนาน (mâi jooe gan dtâng naan)
• ไม่เจอกันนานมาก (mâi jooe gan naan mâak)
• ไม่เจอกันนาน (mâi jooe gan naan)

4- Example

• Situation 1: Todsapol and Trin are friends. They haven’t seen each other in two years.

  ตฤณ: ทศพล ไม่เจอกันตั้งนาน เป็นยังไงบ้าง
  Dtrin: Thót-sà-phon mâi jooe gan dtâng naan bpen yang-ngai bâang
  “Trin: Todsapol. Long time no see. How are you?”

  ทศพล: ตฤณ ฉันสบายดี นายล่ะ
  Thót-sà-phon: Dtrin chǎn sà-baai-dii naai là
  “Todsapol: Trin, I’m fine. What about you?”

  ตฤณ: ดีๆ ไปกินข้าวกันมั๊ย
  Dtrin: dii dii bpai gin khâao gan mái
  “Trin: I’m good. Do you want to have a meal together?”

• Situation 2: Ann and Bee are high school friends. They meet each other on a daily basis at school.

  แอน: บี ทำการบ้านเสร็จยัง
  Aaen: Bii tham gaan-bâan sèt yang
  “Ann: Bee, have you finished homework?”

  บี: ทำเสร็จแล้ว แอนหละ
  Bii: tham sèt láaeo Aaen là
  “Bee: Already finished. What about you?”

  แอน: เกือบแล้ว ขอลอกหน่อยดิ
  Aaen: gùueap láaeo khǎaw lâawk nàauy dì
  “Ann: Almost finished, can I copy you?”

5. Interesting Facts About Hello

When speaking of the word “hello” in Thai, these interesting facts pop up:

1- Wâi

In Thai, when people greet each other, they do an action called ไหว้ (wâi) along with saying sà-wàt-dii. There are many ways to wâi depending on whom you’re doing the action for and how old that person is. Generally, if you want to wâi, mirror the pictures below.

1. Thai style of greeting

2. Wâi action from the front

2- Hello in Thai Song

If thinking about the word “hello” and songs, Thai people who were born in the 80s and 90s automatically think of the song Hello by Mos Pathiparn. When Thai people pick up the phone, they normally say “hello” or ฮัลโหล to let the person on the other end know they’ve picked up. This song represents this action; it’s about a man who keeps calling a woman to ask where she is, so in the song, the word “Hello” is sang repeatedly.

3- สะบายดี

As mentioned above, Thai people can use the word สบายดี (sà-baai-dii). Coincidentally, สะบายดี (sà-baai-dii) is a word for hello in Laos. (Despite different spellings, their pronunciations are the same.)

4- Hello and Days

In Thai, there’s a type of picture that people in Generation X like to send to others via the Line app or on Facebook. On the picture will be one of the following greetings:

• สวัสดีวันจันทร์ (sà-wàt-dii wan jan) = “Hello, Monday”
• สวัสดีวันอังคาร (sà-wàt-dii wan ang-khaan) = “Hello, Tuesday”
• สวัสดีวันพุธ (sà-wàt-dii wan phút) = “Hello, Wednesday”
• สวัสดีวันพฤหัสบดี (sà-wàt-dii wan phá-rúe-hàt-sà-baaw-dii) “Hello, Thursday”
• สวัสดีวันศุกร์ (sà-wàt-dii wan sùk) “Hello, Friday”
• สวัสดีวันเสาร์ (sà-wàt-dii wan sǎo) “Hello, Saturday”
• สวัสดีวันอาทิตย์ (sà-wàt-dii wan aa-thít) “Hello, Sunday”

On the picture, apart from the day’s greeting, there’s usually nice picture as the background, such as a flower, beautiful scenery, or a cute animal. The color tone of each picture is often based on the day; for example, yellow for Monday and pink for Tuesday. So if you’re friends with Thai people in Generation X, you’re likely to get this picture from them as a greeting.

6. Conclusion

In summary, learning how to say “hello” is a nice way to start learning Thai, as you can use this word to start conversations with Thai people. Knowing “hello” when travelling to Thailand is the first step in forming new friendships and relationships.

And as shown in this article, there are many ways to say “hello” in Thai, so keep practicing how to use it in various situations. Once you’ve mastered how to say “hello,” you can visit ThaiPod101.com to learn and practice other Thai lessons. Sà-wàt-dii khâ ^^