Thai Phrase list
Note that that the polite suffix 
khráp (for men) and 
khâ (for women) can and should be attached to all
phrases when talking with strangers. The suffix depends solely on
your gender. Also note that the pronoun for "I" is 
phom for men and 
di-chan for
women.
When addressing people, 
khun is a safe, respectful all-purpose equivalent to
"Mr/Ms/Mrs". People you're familiar with can be addressed as
phii (if they are elders) or 
nong (if they are younger). These are always used
with first names, so your business partner Supachai Sakulwattana is
khun Supachai and your secretary
Nipaporn Khampolsiri is nong Nipaporn.
All Thais also have short nicknames, but these are only used
informally.
The closer two friends are, the less often you
will hear khráp and
khâ being spoken. This is especially prominent
in lower and middle classes, but is a general trend. This can be
compared to western languages, where adding "Sir" at the end of
each sentence when speaking to somebody in authority is becoming
less and less common, and already entirely removed in many
languages. on another note, there is a trend among the upper and
middle classes, especially among younger men, to call each other
phii, no matter the age difference.
This is part of greater age equality in Thailand.
Basics
Mai pen rai
Many a visitor has suggested, perhaps slightly tongue in cheek, that mai pen rai should be the national motto of Thailand. Literally "is no problem", this is most commonly used where an English speaker would say "oK", "no problem" or "never mind". But watch out, as this can also be used in the negative sense: a mai pen rai in response to a complaint about missing your bus or being overcharged now means "it's not my problem" or "it shouldn't be a big deal for you".
Hello.
(sa-wat-dii) (informal)
Hello.
(sa-wat-dii, khráp) (polite, speaker is
man)
Hello.
(sa-wat-dii, khâ) (polite, speaker is
woman)
Hello.
(haloh, khráp/khâ) (answering the
phone)
How are you?
(sabaai-dii rue?)
Fine (sabaai-dii)
Fine, and you?
(sabaai-dii láe khun lá,
khráp/khâ)
What is your name?
(khun chue arai?)
My name is ______.
(phom/dì-chàn cheu _____ )
Nice to meet you.
(yin-dii thii dai ruu-jak)
Please. (karunaa)
Thank you [very much].
(khop khun [mâak])
You're welcome.
(mai pen rai)
Yes. (chai)
No. (mai
chai)
Excuse me. (begging
pardon)
(kho thot)
I'm sorry. (kho
thot)
Goodbye
(laa kon) (sa-wat-dii [khráp/khâ])
How (yangrai)
Where? (thii
näi')
What? (à'rai')
When? (muea-rai')
Who? (khrai)
Why? (thammai')
How much, how many?
(thâo'rai') or (kii)
I want/would like to _____.(verb)
_____(phom/dì-chàn yàak)
I want/would like _____.(noun)
_____(phom/dì-chàn khàw)
I need_____.
_____(phom/dì-chàn tông kaan)
Make a question
to end of sentence add (mài)
I can't speak Thai
[well].
(phuut phaasaa thai mai dai
[dii])
Do you speak English?
(phuut phaasaa ang-krit dai
mai?)
I don't understand.
(mai khao jai)
I understand.
(kâo jai)
Please speak more slowly
(phûut cháa cháa nòi)
How do you say this in
Thai?
(phûut pen phaa-sàa thai
yàang-rai)
Please repeat it
(phûut iik thii)
o.K./All right
(tòk long)
Really?
(jing jing rue)
Thank you very much
(khòp khun mâak)
That's all right
(mâi pen-rai)
I don't know
(mâi sâap (formal)/mâi róo)
I think so
(hen dûai)
What do you think?
(khun kít yàang-rai)
Are you sure?
(khun nâe-jai mài)
It's fine ('dii láew)
Is it possible?
(pen pai dâi mài)
Is it good? (dii mài)
Be careful! (rá-wang nòi ná)
What is this? (nii a-rai)
Near/far
When you're asking whether somewhere is far, the answers Near/Far are almost the same, but the tones are different. Klai means it's far, and Klâi means it's near, but people usually answer Mâi Klai (not far) instead. This is quite a difficult thing for traveller's ears.
Is it
far? (klai mai)
Beautiful (suai)
Delicious (a-ròi)
Wonderful (dii,
wí-sèt)
Interesting (nâa son-jai)
What's the matter?
(pen a-rai pai)
Are you all right?
(khun mâi pen-rai ná)
Hot [temp] (rón)
Hungry (hiw)
Thirsty
(hiw nám)
Tired (nùeai)
Happy (mii
khwaam sùk)
Sad (sâo)
Sorry/Excuse me (kho thot)
Angry
(mo-ho)
Problems
Leave me
alone.
(yàa yung kap phom (for men)/chan (for
women))
Don't touch me!
(yàa jàp phom (men)/chan (for
women))
I'll call the police.
(phom/chan ja jaang taamruat)
Police!
(taamruat)
Stop! Thief!
(yut jon/khamoy)
I need your help.
(phom/chan tongkaan khwaam chuai
luea)
It's an emergency.
(rueang chuk chern)
It's urgent
(rueang duan)
I'm lost.
(phom/chan long thaang)
I lost my bag.
(krapao khong phom/chan haai)
I lost my wallet.
(krapao taang khong phom/chan
haai)
I'm sick.
(phom/chan mai sabaai) (phom/chan puai)
I've been injured.
(phom/chan baat jep)
I need a doctor.
(phom/chan tongkaan mö)
Can I use your phone?
(phom/chan kho chai thorasap dai
mai)
Numbers
Thai numbering is quite regular and speakers of Cantonese will find many quite familiar. Note that in casual speech it is common to drop the "sip" from numbers over twenty, eg. 23 is yii-saam instead of yii-sip-saam.
Thai has its own set of numerals, shown below, but these are used quite rarely — the major exception being sites with double pricing for Thais and foreigners, the Thai price being often disguised with Thai numbers. Being able to read the Thai price just might get you in at the Thai rate.
0 (suun)
1 (nueng)
2 (song)
3 (saam)
4 (sii)
5 (haa)
6 (hok)
7 (jet)
8 (paet)
9 (kao)
10 (sip)
11 (sip-et)
12 (sip-song)
13 (sip-saam)
14 (sip-sii)
15 (sip-haa)
16 (sip-hok)
17 (sip-jet)
18 (sip-paet)
19 (sip-kao)
20 (yii-sip)
21 (yii-sip-et)
22 (yii-sip-song)
23 (yii-sip-saam)
30 (saam-sip)
40 (sii-sip)
50 (haa-sip)
60 (hok-sip)
70 (jet-sip)
80 (paet-sip)
90 (kao-sip)
100 (nueng
roi)
200 (song
roi)
300 (saam
roi)
1000 (nueng
phan)
2000 (song
phan)
10 000 (nueng
muen)
100 000 (nueng
saen)
1 000 000 (neung laan)
1 000 000 000 (phan laan)
1 000 000 000 000 (laan laan)
number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
_____ (ber)
half (krueng)
less (noi
kwa)
more (maak
kwa)
________
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