Learning Thai for Travel Purposes

hotels in  Bangkok, Thailand; Thailand Hotels in Koh Samui, Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai temple chedi in thailand waterfall northern thailand bophut beach, koh samui thailand elephant working, thailand flowers, thailand
Search This Site
 

Thai Phrases Transliterated

thai travel phrases Stress is placed on syllables differently in Thai than in English. In a multi syllabic word, it is often the second syllable that gets the stress (but not always). So when in doubt, stress all syllables equally.

Tones (h),(l),(r),(f) review

"Polite words" are used at the ends of sentences. A man will use "(h)krahp!", while a woman will use "ka!". Note the high tone versus the neutral tone.

Reminders for   Tones   Consonant Sounds   Vowel Sounds   Notes

A   ...    before or after a phrase indicates a personal pronoun or a gender specific "polite word" should also be used.

PhraseTransliteration
I, me (r)pohm! formal for male (r)dichahn! formal for female
Youkoon! polite (f)tahn very respectful
Hello or goodby     (any time of day)sa-wat! dee     followed by polite word (h)krahp! or ka!
Thank you(l)kawp koon! (h)krahp!/ka!
Never mind or you're welcome note 1 (f)my! bpen! ry! ...
Excuse me or I'm sorry(r)kaw (f)toht ...
How are you? sa-by dee (r)reu ...
I am fine, thanks(r)phom!/(r)chahn! sa-by dee ...
Good Luck (f)chohk dee ...
Do you speak English?koon! (f)poot! pah-(r)sah ahng!-(l)grit! (f)dy! (r)my!...
I speak Thai a little bit note 2... (f)poot! pah-(r)sah ty (f)dy! (h)nit!-(l)nawy ...
I cannot speak Thai ... (f)poot! pah-(r)sah ty (f)my! (f)dy! ...
Please (Kindly) speak more slowlyga-roo!-nah! (f)poot! (h)chah (chah) ...
I don't understand... (f)kow!-jy! (f)my! (f)dy! ...
Do you understand? koon! (f)kow!-jy! (f)dy! (r)my! ...
Where is the toilet?(f)hawng!-(h)nahm (l)yoo (f)tee (r)ny! ...
Where is a telephone?toh-ra-(l)sahp! (l)yoo (f)tee (r)ny! ...
I like Thaland very much? ... (f)chawp bpra-(f)tet ty (f)mahk (f)mahk ...
What is your name? koon! (f)cheu ah!-ry! ...
My name is ...... (f)cheu ...
I want ...... ow! ...
I do not want ...... (f)my ow! ...
Notes:
1- "(f)my! bpen! ry!" is used in many contexts including forgiveness.
2- Saying that you speak Thai a little can allow the listener to assume you actually speak quite a lot of Thai. It is often better to say in Thai, "I don't speak Thai"
More phrases about ... shopping ... food ... emergency, locations and directions


About Us  Privacy Statement   Disclaimer   Resources
site designed for 800 x 600 to 1024 x 768 viewing - certain features require JavaScript
© 2003 - 2008 GuidetoThailand.com. All rights reserved.
thailand travel spacer thailand travel spacer