Thailand, also called as “Land of Smiles,” is a destination known for its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and city life. It attracts millions of visitors throughout the year. If you’re also in that queue, our personal advice is to learn a few basic Thai phrases to enhance your travel experience.
We at TripFactory, gathered some essential Thai travel phrases which will help you at Introduction, Greetings & Politeness, Getting Around, Eating & Drinking, Shopping & Bargaining, Help & Emergencies. This blog will focus on basic Thai phrases for tourists travelling to Thailand. You will get to know some of the most popular, useful and most frequently used Thai phrases that you should learn before you enter Thailand.
Easy Thai Phrases for Beginners
Here is some good news for you. It is found that Thai people appreciate tourists who at least try to speak some Thai language. Here you will know those phrases which you can use while asking for directions, help, dining and shopping too. Focus on learning some of these phrases, it will surely help you.
Thai Greetings & Politeness for Tourists
| English | Thai (Phonetic) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / Hi | Sa-wat-dee krap/ka | “Krap” (ครับ) for males, “ka” (ค่ะ) for females. |
| Goodbye | La-gon / Sa-wat-dee krap/ka | “Sa-wat-dee” is often used for both hello and goodbye. |
| Thank you | Khop-khun krap/ka | Add “krap” or “ka” for politeness. |
| You’re welcome | Mai pen rai / Yin dee | “Mai pen rai” = “No problem”; “Yin dee” = “Glad to.” |
| Please | Ga-roo-naa / Chuay | “Ga-roo-naa” is formal; “Chuay” is used when asking for help. |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Kho-thot krap/ka | Also used to apologize or get someone’s attention politely. |
| Yes | Krap / Ka | “Krap” (ครับ) for males, “ka” (ค่ะ) for females—used alone for “yes.” |
| No | Mai | Simple and widely used. |
| Maybe | Baang tee | Used when uncertain or non-committal. |
Getting Around (Transportation) Thai Phrases
Here’re some Thai transportation and direction phrases which will help you while booking cab or travelling on a public transport.
| English | Thai (Phonetic) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Where is…? | …yoo tee nai krap/ka? | Use “krap” (ครับ) for males, “ka” (ค่ะ) for females. |
| Where is the toilet? | yoo tee nai krap/ka? | Handy for everyday use when asking directions. |
| How much is it? | Ra-kaa tao-rai krap/ka? | Use when shopping or using taxis. |
| Go straight | Trong pai | Useful when giving or following directions. |
| Turn left | Liao saai | — |
| Turn right | Liao khwaa | — |
| Stop here | Jot tee nee | Great for telling a taxi or tuk-tuk driver to stop. |
| I want to go to… | Phom/Di-chan tong-kaan pai… | “Phom” (ผม) = I (male), “Di-chan” (ดิฉัน) = I (female). |
Essential Thai Phrases for Eating and Drinking
| English | Thai (Phonetic) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I’m hungry | Phom/Di-chan hew | “Phom” (ผม) for males, “Di-chan” (ดิฉัน) for females. |
| I’m thirsty | Phom/Di-chan gra-haai naam | Use when ordering drinks or asking for water. |
| Delicious | A-roi | Common expression to compliment food. |
| Not spicy | Mai phet | Essential if you’re sensitive to spicy food. |
| A little spicy | Phet nit noi | Good if you want some spice but not too much. |
| Vegetarian | Mang-sa-wi-rat | Useful when ordering food without meat or fish. |
| Water | Naam | Often served free at restaurants, but ask to be sure. |
| Beer | Bia | Widely available; brands like Singha and Chang are common. |
| Check, please | Gep ngoen duay krap/ka | Use when you’re ready to pay—”krap” (ครับ) for males, “ka” (ค่ะ) for females. |
Shopping and Bargaining Thai Phrases
| English | Thai (Phonetic) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| How much? | Tao-rai? | A simple, essential phrase when asking for prices. |
| Too expensive! | Phaeng gern pai! | Use this to express that something costs too much—often part of bargaining culture. |
| Can you make it cheaper? | Lot noi dai mai krap/ka? | Very useful for negotiating a better price—add “krap” (ครับ) or “ka” (ค่ะ) politely. |
| I’ll take it | Ao an nee krap/ka | Use this when you’ve decided to buy something. |
| I’m just looking | Khae doo chuey chuey krap/ka | Helps to politely indicate you’re browsing, not ready to buy yet. |
Thai Words for Help and Emergencies
| English | Thai (Phonetic) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Chuay duay! | Shout this in an emergency to get immediate attention. |
| I need help | Phom/Di-chan tong-kaan khwam chuay-luea | Use when you need assistance—“Phom” (ผม) for males, “Di-chan” (ดิฉัน) for females. |
| Police | Tam-ruat | Ask for the police if you need law enforcement. |
| Hospital | Rohng-pha-yaa-baan | Essential for medical emergencies. |
| I’m lost | Phom/Di-chan long taang | Use when you need directions or assistance. |
| Do you speak English? | Khun phuut pha-saa ang-grit dai mai krap/ka? | A polite way to ask if someone speaks English. |
| Call the police | Riak tam-ruat duay! | Used in emergencies when you need immediate police help. |
| I’m sick | Phom/Di-chan mai sabai | A general way to say you’re feeling unwell. |
| I need a doctor | Phom/Di-chan tong-kaan maw | When you need medical assistance or consultation. |
| Where is the nearest hospital? | Rohng-pha-yaa-baan tee glai tee-sut yoo tee nai? | Asking for directions to the nearest hospital. |
| I lost my passport | Phom/Di-chan tam pàs-pòrt mai jer | Useful for emergencies at immigration or embassies. |
| I was robbed | Phom/Di-chan toe laawk | If you’ve been robbed and need to report it. |
| I’m injured | Phom/Di-chan dai rap baat-chet | For reporting injuries in need of medical help. |
| Emergency number | Bert chook-chuen | Ask for emergency contact numbers like ambulance, fire, or police. |
Phrases for Numbers in Thai
Pro tips for Indian travellers
Indian tourists love to visit Thailand for a soothing travel experience. Here are some problem tips for Indian travellers :
- Just understand that Thai people do not go for perfection. Try speaking some local language without worrying about the pronunciation. Thais love tourists trying to speak their language.
- Add “Khrap” if you are a man and “Kha” if you are a woman.
- Make use of a screenshot in your phone or download a Thai learning app.
- Learn some basic phrases before leaving for Thailand. This will help you for sure.
Why Should You Learn Thai Phrases ?
If you are visiting Thailand then it is important for you to know about the local language over there. Because it is observed that all those tourists who do not understand the local languages wherever they go for a tour incur some or the other kind of losses. So if you are planning to visit Thailand then you should see to it that you know the basic phrases used in Thailand.
Nextly if you learn Thai phrases then it will ensure that the public in Thailand recognizes you as a respectable tourist because as it is said, “Give respect and take respect.” If you know the language that the Thai people speak around then this creates a sense of belonging towards you and your trip will be a grand success.
Next, if you learn Thai phrases then it can even improve your experience when you are on your Thailand tour. Your experience over there will be smooth and you will enjoy every moment spent in the land of Thailand. Many people do not understand this important thing when they are in Thailand.
If you are shopping in Thailand then you can use these basic phrases to make sure that the seller knows what you are talking about and you know what the seller is telling you. You can easily earn some economic benefits through these basic Thai phrases which are explained in this blog. Knowing basic Thai phrases will increase the level of your confidence when you are in Thailand. You will know what is happening around what is talked about.
If you know the basic phrases of the region where you are going then this is gonna help you to know the culture too. Only a Thailand trip package is not enough, knowing some basic Thai phrases is necessary.
Conclusion
A little Thai goes a long way in making your trip smoother and more fun. Whether you’re bargaining in a market or ordering pad Thai, these phrases help. This blog is here to explain to you some of the most used and the most popular Thai phrases. I think you should try to learn about these basic phrases and enjoy a memorable trip to Thailand.