Good Morning In Thai (& 40+ Other Phrases To Get By)
In the English-speaking world, we are extremely lucky when we visit other destinations, that English is widely spoken all over the world. Often, we can get by without learning a word of the other language, with over-the-top gestures, and increasingly loud voices (don’t be this person) but whenever you visit a new place you should be able to speak at least the basics in their language. Today, we’ll be teaching you to say good morning in Thai as well as 40+ other well-used phrases which will ensure you have a great time AND respect the locals (without spending hours with your legs crossed because you don't know how to ask where the bathroom is).
Thai Phonetics
European languages tend to be the easiest for English speakers to learn, as most of the languages are derived from Latin, just like English is. This means we see words that look very similar in both languages, such as ‘hello’ and ‘¡Hola!’, and can often figure out the context by looking at the word. However, the Thai language uses a different alphabet, which makes learning the language a little harder, as unless you are an absolute pro with languages (in which case, this is not the blog post for you), when reading Thai, you won’t understand how to pronounce the symbols.
This is why, when teaching you good morning in Thai, as well as all of the other phrases below we will be spelling the words phonetically. Let’s face it, languages are tough enough to learn, without throwing in a whole new bunch of symbols for you to memorize. If you have some other phrases or tips that you feel are important to share with your fellow female travelers, please do! Join our community and help out other women who are considering heading to Thailand and are looking for some helpful hints.
Don’t be put off from practicing your Thai phrases when you’re away for fear of bad pronunciation, as the saying goes, it’s the thought that counts, and if you pronounce something wrong, a Thai local will be sure to let you know, and probably have a good chuckle with you about it.
Thai Do’s And Don’ts
In Thailand, it’s important to show respect when speaking with anyone. The way to do this is by adding 'ka' or 'khrap' at the end of sentences. Women should add the word 'ka' to the end of all sentences and men should add the word 'khrap'.
When it comes to pronunciation, 'ka' is pronounced like 'caw', with the emphasis on the 'ah' sound. 'Khrap' is pronounced like 'krup' and there is no particular emphasis on any part of the word. These terms always go at the end of a sentence.
When talking about yourself, you'll once again need to add a feminine or masculine pronoun. If you're a woman, you'll use 'chan' in place of 'I', and if you're a man, you'll use 'pom'.
40+ Easy Thai Phrases
These 40+ phrases will help you in most situations, from making general conversation to asking for help. Don't forget to add khrap or ka to the end of all of your sentences, depending on your gender, to ensure you are polite and respectful.
Remember that we've written these phrases as they sound phonetically, so it will be easy for you to practice.
Greetings
Hello/Bye - Sawatdee
Sawatdee is the thai word for both hello and goodbye, which makes it one of the most useful phrases when you learn Thai. Some other greetings include:
Good morning - Sawatdee don
Goodbye - Lah gorn
See you - Pai laew na
I'll be back - Laew ja maa mai
Out And About
When you're out and about, you'll face different situations where knowing a little Thai will be a great help to you, whether that's making sure your dinner doesn't blow your head off from too much spice, or trying to get a good price while shopping.
How much? - Tâo Rài
I am just looking - Kor doo thao nun
May I have the menu - Aow meenuu noi
I would like to order - Chan/pom kho sang
Not spicy - Mai pet
I like spicy - Chan/pom chawp pet
Delicious - Aroi
Water - Nam
The bill - Kep tang
Can I use the wifi? - Mee wifi mai?
Conversation
One of the best parts of traveling is connecting with other people, especially locals with a different life experience to you. You can learn a lot about different cultures by simply striking up a conversation with a local. Here are some easy phrases you'll definitely need.
How are you? - Sabai dee mai?
I’m fine - Sabai dee
I’m not fine - Mai sabai
Yes - Chai
No - Mai
Thank you - Khob khun
No worries - Mai pen rai
I’m sorry - Kor thoad
What is your name? - Kun chuu arai?
My name is____ - Pŏm / Chán chuu ___
Where are you from? Mah jahk prah-teht ah-rai?
I’m from ____ - Koon mah jakk prah-tet ____
Speak slowly - Puut chaa chaa noi
Stop - Yut
I don’t understand - Mai khao jai
I can’t speak Thai - Poot pah-sah tai mai dai
Help/Emergencies
Everyone needs a little help on their travels. From asking where the bathroom is, to more serious situations. While we hope you never need to know where the hospital is, it's good to know how to ask.
Can you speak English? - Kun pood paasaa anggrit dai mai?
I am not well - Mai sabaii
I need a doctor - Phom dong gaan hai mor maa raak sa
Call an ambulance - Dahm rot pa-ya-ban
I’m lost - Long thang
Can you help? - Choo-ay dai mai?
Where is _____? - _____ yoo te nai?
Where is the hospital? - Rongpayaabaan yoo te nai?
Where is the police station? - Sataanii dtamruat yoo tee nai?
Where is the bathroom? - Haawng naam yoo te nai?
Thai Numbers
Numbers can be helpful when it comes to directions, prices, and many other things.
Zero - Suun
One - Nung
Two - Song
Three - Sam
Four - See
Five - Haa
Six - Hok
Seven - Jet
Eight - Bpeet
Nine - Gaao
Ten - Sip
One hundred - Nung rooi
One thousand - Nung pan
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to say good morning in Thai (and many other phrases), you're ready to book that flight, soak up the culture, and enjoy many enlightening conversations with locals along the way. Thailand is a friendly country, and Thai people are often keen to practice their English skills, so you should have an easy time while you're away. Make sure you remember how to ask if a person can speak English (it's Kun pood paasaa anggrit dai mai? in case you forgot).