Thailand Travel Information

Thai Phrases Transliterated

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.

Phrase	Transliteration
I, me	(r)pohm! formal for male (r)dichahn! formal for female
You	koon! polite (f)than very respectful
Hello or goodbye     (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 slowly	ga-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 Thailand