Must-Know Thai Phrases for All Occasions
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Ever been to a country where a simple “hello” in the local language earns you a warm smile or even a helping hand? That’s exactly what happens in Thailand. While English signs and menus are common, making the effort to speak Thai shows that you respect the culture—and trust us, the locals notice. Whether you’re ordering street food in Bangkok or bargaining for handmade scarves in Chiang Mai a few Thai phrases make your experience smoother, funnier, and far more memorable.
in today’s article, we bring you a guide of essential Thai phrases for all occasions—from greetings and polite expressions to phrases that help when you’re shopping, socialising, or even flirting. Ready to wow some locals? Let’s get into it.
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What Are Some Basic Greetings and Words in Thai?
Here are seven essential greetings to start you off right. Just remember: if you’re male, end sentences with khrap (ครับ), and if you’re female, use kha (ค่ะ) to sound polite.
1. Hello – สวัสดี (sawasdee). Male: sawasdee khrap. Female: sawasdee kha
2. How are you? – สบายดีไหม (sabai dee mai?)
3. I’m fine, thank you – สบายดี ขอบคุณ (sabai dee, khob khun)
4. Nice to meet you – ยินดีที่ได้รู้จัก (yin dee tee dai roo jak)*
5. Goodbye – ลาก่อน (laa gon) Casual? You’ll often hear “bye bye” too.
6. Thank you – ขอบคุณ (khob khun) Male: khob khun khrap. Female: khob khun kha
7. Excuse me / Sorry – ขอโทษ (khor thot)
What Are Some Useful Thai Phrases for Travellers?
Whether you’re navigating a market, ordering a meal, or asking for directions, knowing the right Thai phrase makes all the difference. These expressions will help you handle everyday situations smoothly and show locals that you’re making the effort to connect.
Thai Phrases for Shopping
8. How much is this? – อันนี้เท่าไหร่ (an nee tao rai?)
9. Can you lower the price? – ลดหน่อยได้ไหม (lot noy dai mai?)
10. I’ll take it – เอาอันนี้ (ao an nee)
11. Can I try it on? – ลองใส่ได้ไหม (long sai dai mai?)
12. Too expensive! – แพงไป! (paeng bpai!)
Thai Phrases for Eating Out
13. Delicious – อร่อย (aroy)
14. Not spicy – ไม่เผ็ด (mai phet)
15. Check, please – เช็คบิล (check bin) or เก็บตังค์ (kep tang)
16. I’m vegetarian – Male: phom gin jay. Female: chan gin jay
17. Can I see the menu? – ขอดูเมนูหน่อย (khor doo menu noy)
Thai Phrases for Socialising
18. Cheers! – ชน! (chon!)
19. Do you speak English? – พูดอังกฤษได้ไหม (pood ang-grit dai mai?)
20. Where are you from? – คุณมาจากไหน (khun maa jak nai?)
21. What’s your name? – คุณชื่ออะไร (khun chue arai?)
22. Let’s grab some coffee – ไปดื่มกาแฟกันไหม (bpai deum gaa-fae gan mai?)
Thai Phrases for Flirting
23. You’re beautiful / handsome – Female: คุณสวยจัง (khun suay jang) . Male: คุณหล่อจัง (khun lor jang)
24. Can I get your number? – ขอเบอร์ได้ไหม (khor ber dai mai?)
25. I like you – ฉันชอบคุณ (chan chob khun)
26. You have a nice smile – คุณยิ้มสวยนะ (khun yim suay na)
27. Let’s hang out sometime – ไปเที่ยวกันไหม (bpai thiao gan mai?)
How to Say Numbers, Dates, and Time in Thai
Whether you’re negotiating a price, booking a tour, or trying to catch the right bus, knowing how to talk about numbers and time in Thai will make your life way easier. Here’s how to cover the basics.
Numbers 1–10, 100, and 1,000
Thai numbers are short, snappy, and pretty easy to pick up. Master these and you’ll be able to handle prices, addresses, and quantities like a pro.
- 1 – neung (หนึ่ง)
- 2 – song (สอง)
- 3 – sam (สาม)
- 4 – si (สี่)
- 5 – ha (ห้า)
- 6 – hok (หก)
- 7 – jet (เจ็ด)
- 8 – paet (แปด)
- 9 – kao (เก้า)
- 10 – sip (สิบ)
- 100 – neung roi (หนึ่งร้อย)
- 1,000 – neung phan (หนึ่งพัน)
Tip: To say 22, for example, you just combine them — yee sip song (ยี่สิบสอง), which literally means “twenty-two.”
Days of the Week
- Monday – wan jan (วันจันทร์)
- Tuesday – wan angkhan (วันอังคาร)
- Wednesday – wan phut (วันพุธ)
- Thursday – wan pha-reu-hat (วันพฤหัสบดี)
- Friday – wan suk (วันศุกร์)
- Saturday – wan sao (วันเสาร์)
- Sunday – wan a-thit (วันอาทิตย์)
Asking for the Time: “What Time Is It?”
Whether you’re catching a minivan to the islands or meeting a local friend for coffee, this one’s essential.
- What time is it? – gee mong laeo? (กี่โมงแล้ว)
- AM/PM isn’t used the same way, so context is key—watch for body language or specify morning (chao) or evening (yen).
Saying “Today,” “Tomorrow,” and “Yesterday”
- Today – wan nee (วันนี้)
- Tomorrow – phrung nee (พรุ่งนี้)
- Yesterday – meua waan (เมื่อวาน)
Try: “phrung nee bpai Chiang Mai” – “Tomorrow I’m going to Chiang Mai.”
Thai Phrases for Asking for Help
- Help! – ช่วยด้วย! (chuay duay!)
- I don’t understand – ไม่เข้าใจ (mai khao jai)
- Where is the bathroom? – ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหน (hong nam yoo tee nai?)
- I’m lost – ฉันหลงทาง (chan long thang)
- Call the police – เรียกตำรวจ! (riak tamruat!)
What Are Some Funny Thai Phrases?
Thai is full of colourful expressions that sound downright bizarre when translated word for word—but that’s what makes them so fun. These funny Thai phrases reflect the humour of the Thai people, their, attitude, and even a bit of life wisdom. Use them to make locals laugh or just to enjoy the language’s playful side.
- “Don’t be a frog in a coconut shell”
อย่าเป็นกบในกะลาครอบ (ya bpen gop nai kala krop)
Meaning: Don’t be narrow-minded or unaware of the bigger world. It’s the Thai version of “living under a rock.” - “Ants are biting my heart”
มดกัดหัวใจ (mot gat hua jai)
Meaning: You’re feeling jealous, usually about love. Imagine the drama of ants swarming your chest—yep, that’s the vibe. - “The dog has licked it”
หมาเลียไปแล้ว (maa lia bpai laew)
Meaning: Something’s ruined or no longer perfect—like a cake that’s already had a visit from the dog. - “The wind ate my homework”
ลมพัดการบ้านหาย (lom pad gaan-baan haai)
A playful excuse kids use when they haven’t done their homework. Way more creative than blaming the dog! - “Sticky rice and mango love”
ความรักข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง (kwaam rak khao niao ma muang)
A sweet, made-up phrase that sounds romantic and tasty at the same time. Use it jokingly for couples who are inseparable.
What Are Some Examples of Rude Thai Words?
Thai people are famously polite, and rudeness—especially from foreigners—tends to stand out. Still, understanding some of the most common rude Thai words can help you avoid accidentally offending someone or recognise when someone’s crossing the line.
⚠️ Heads-up: These Thai phrases are best learned so you know not to say them unless you’re very sure of the situation. Use with caution (or not at all)!
- ไอ้… (ai…)
Prefix added before an insult, usually directed at a man. It’s roughly like saying “you damn…” in English. Not nice. - อี… (ee…)
Feminine version of ai, often followed by a nasty word. Really disrespectful when used about a woman. - ควาย (khwai)
Literally means “buffalo,” but it’s used to call someone stupid. In Thai culture, being compared to a buffalo is a serious insult. - เหี้ย (hia)
Technically a kind of monitor lizard, but this one’s a full-on curse word. It’s extremely rude and should be avoided entirely. - สัด (sat)
Derived from the word for “animal.” Like hia, this one’s used in angry outbursts and is very disrespectful.
Thai culture places a lot of importance on keeping things light, friendly, and non-confrontational. So while it’s helpful to recognise these words, using them will likely backfire or cause offence.
→Sign Up Now: Free Trial Thai Lesson With a Native Teacher!←
Learning a few Thai phrases is a great start, but having real conversations is where the magic happens. Whether you’re planning a trip or simply fascinated by the language, our native Thai teachers are here to help. Join our online Thai classes from anywhere or take face-to-face Thai lessons in Brisbane and other cities. Start speaking with confidence and connect more deeply with Thai culture—one phrase at a time.