Learn Thai
Master 21 simple Thai phrases that every tourist should know to navigate daily situations, connect with locals, and enjoy a smoother trip.
Essential Thai expressions with phonetic pronunciation to help you communicate confidently during your trip to Thailand. Perfect for beginners!
| No. | Thai | Phonetic | English | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | สวัสดีครับ/ค่ะ | sà-wàt-dee kráp/kâ | Hello / Goodbye | Greeting anyone |
| 2 | ขอบคุณครับ/ค่ะ | kòp-kun kráp/kâ | Thank you | After receiving help or service |
| 3 | ขอโทษครับ/ค่ะ | kǒr-tôht kráp/kâ | Sorry / Excuse me | Apologizing or getting attention |
| 4 | ใช่ / ไม่ใช่ | châi / mâi-châi |
Practise what you have learnt with Fern, a native Thai tutor from Chiang Mai. Personal lessons, useful language and room to ask questions.
Five tones, a handful of useful examples and a calmer way to train your ear. Start with listening, then build your confidence.
You do not need to learn every letter in one sitting. Build a small reading toolkit and connect it to words you already use.
Learn the patterns behind the numbers, then put them to work with café prices, shopping and everyday listening.
Looking for the bigger picture? Explore our Thailand guides.
| Yes / No |
| Confirming or denying |
| 5 | ไม่เป็นไร | mâi-bpen-rai | No problem / It's okay | When something goes wrong |
| No. | Thai | Phonetic | English | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | อร่อย | à-ròi | Delicious! | After eating good food |
| 7 | อร่อยมาก | à-ròi mâak | Very delicious! | When food is excellent |
| 8 | สุดยอด | sùt-yôht | Awesome / Amazing! | Expressing excitement |
| 9 | ดีมาก | dii mâak | Very good | Complimenting something |
| 10 | ชอบ | chôrp | I like it | When you enjoy something |
| 11 | ไม่ชอบ | mâi-chôrp | I don't like it | When you don't enjoy something |
| No. | Thai | Phonetic | English | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | เอาอันนี้ | ao an-níi | I'll take this one | Pointing at food or items |
| 13 | ไม่เผ็ด | mâi-pèt | Not spicy | Ordering food without spice |
| 14 | เผ็ดน้อย | pèt-nói | A little spicy | For mild spice level |
| 15 | น้ำเปล่า | náam-plàao | Plain water | Ordering water |
| 16 | เช็คบิล | chék-bin | Check, please | Asking for the bill |
| No. | Thai | Phonetic | English | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | เท่าไหร่ | thâo-rài | How much? | Asking for price |
| 18 | แพงไป | paeng-bpai | Too expensive | Bargaining at markets |
| 19 | ลดได้ไหม | lót-dâi-mǎi | Can you reduce the price? | Asking for discount |
| No. | Thai | Phonetic | English | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | ช่วยได้ไหม | chûay-dâi-mǎi | Can you help me? | When you need assistance |
| 21 | อยู่ที่ไหน | yùu-tîi-nǎi | Where is...? | Asking for locations |
| Tone Mark | Sound Pattern | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| à (low) | Low | sà (สะ) | |
| á (high) | High | sá (สะ) | |
| â (falling) | Falls down | sâ (สะ) | |
| ǎ (rising) | Rises up | sǎ (สะ) | |
| no mark (mid) | Mid tone | sa (สะ) |
💡 Pro Tip: Always add ครับ/ค่ะ to sound nice. Thais appreciate the effort.
Behind ThaiWith.Me
Fern is a native Thai speaker from Chiang Mai and has been teaching since 2019. Her lessons connect practical language with everyday cultural context.
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