Delicious (a-roi)
After a delicious meal the cook would love to hear that you found the food delicious. You never know, the next time you go back to the same place she might give you an extra helping!
This page is useful for you to be able to comment on the food your are tasting.
You can taste it first. = (chim gorn dai))
Sweet (wahn) , Bitter (khom) , Sour (briaw) , Salty (khem) , Spicy (phet)
When you are eating, someone will probably say to you "a roi mai?" which means "Is it delicious?"
Delicious = (a-roi) , Not Delicious = (mai a-roi)
Thai food can be quite hot and spicey. Most noodle stall vendors might ask you if you can eat spicey food (gin phet dai mai?). Answer
"dai" for yes,
"mai dai" for no and "
dai nit noi" for a little.
Is it spicy? (phet mai)
I don't want spicy. (mai ow phet)
I want it a little spicy. (ow phet nit deow)
The Thai word "nit deow" is the same as "nit noi".
I like spicy food. (chorb ar-han phet)
2007/10/09
Sorry (khor toat)
Sorry (khor toat)
Another useful phrase to help you be polite. Use this when you have to push by someone on the train or you accidentally stepped on their feet
Always use "krub" (for men) and "ka" (for women) when you want to be polite. Add these words to the end of all the examples below.
"khorb khun" means "Thank you".
"mai ben rai" means "it's ok".
For example when someone tries to give you something but you don't want it or someone says thanks to you, you say mai ben rai.
"khor thot" means "sorry".
You will say it when you want to interrupt someone, when you want to pass someone or when you do something wrong.
"sia jai" means "sorry" too.
But in this case it means different thing. Like if someone died or got hurt, you say "phom/di-chan sia jai" which means "I am sorry".
Another useful phrase to help you be polite. Use this when you have to push by someone on the train or you accidentally stepped on their feet
Always use "krub" (for men) and "ka" (for women) when you want to be polite. Add these words to the end of all the examples below.
"khorb khun" means "Thank you".
"mai ben rai" means "it's ok".
For example when someone tries to give you something but you don't want it or someone says thanks to you, you say mai ben rai.
"khor thot" means "sorry".
You will say it when you want to interrupt someone, when you want to pass someone or when you do something wrong.
"sia jai" means "sorry" too.
But in this case it means different thing. Like if someone died or got hurt, you say "phom/di-chan sia jai" which means "I am sorry".
I don't want (mai ow)
I don't want (mai ow)
When you are walking down the street or even sitting on the train you will sometimes be approached by vendors who are trying to sell you something. Some of them are very insistent so try this useful phrase.
I don't want any (mai ow khrab*)
I don't have any money (mai mee dtung)
I forgot my money (leum ow dtung ma)
for women you must say kaa not khrab.
When you are walking down a street you might hear someone ask you "bai nai?" This means "Where are you going?" Usually it will be a tuk tuk driver but sometimes just an ordinary person. Some visitors get annoyed because they hear it so often. But really, "bai nai" is like a greeting and the person isn't really interested in your answer.
A: Where are you going? (bai nai?)
B: going out for pleasure (bai teeo)
That might be enough for most people. But, if a tuk tuk driver is insistant try:
I want to walk (ja dern bai)
A common complaint we get are about tuk tuk drivers or other people telling tourists that a temple or museum is closed for the day. They then take the tourists to another place and then eventually a gem shop. This is a scam. Try some of these replies:
I don't believe you (mai chue)
Not true (mai jing)
I want to go and see for myself (ja bai do eng)
I have been there already (ker-ree bai ma lao)
I don't want to go (mai yak bai)
When you are walking down the street or even sitting on the train you will sometimes be approached by vendors who are trying to sell you something. Some of them are very insistent so try this useful phrase.
I don't want any (mai ow khrab*)
I don't have any money (mai mee dtung)
I forgot my money (leum ow dtung ma)
for women you must say kaa not khrab.
When you are walking down a street you might hear someone ask you "bai nai?" This means "Where are you going?" Usually it will be a tuk tuk driver but sometimes just an ordinary person. Some visitors get annoyed because they hear it so often. But really, "bai nai" is like a greeting and the person isn't really interested in your answer.
A: Where are you going? (bai nai?)
B: going out for pleasure (bai teeo)
That might be enough for most people. But, if a tuk tuk driver is insistant try:
I want to walk (ja dern bai)
A common complaint we get are about tuk tuk drivers or other people telling tourists that a temple or museum is closed for the day. They then take the tourists to another place and then eventually a gem shop. This is a scam. Try some of these replies:
I don't believe you (mai chue)
Not true (mai jing)
I want to go and see for myself (ja bai do eng)
I have been there already (ker-ree bai ma lao)
I don't want to go (mai yak bai)
Where is ...? (... yoo tee nai)
Where is ...? (... yoo tee nai)
I think you will find this phrase very useful. Just point at a place on your map or in your guide book and say "yoo tee nai". Also useful when you are trying to find the right bus to go to Phuket etc.
English Thai
Where is ...? = ...You tee nai ?
I want to go to = Chun ja pai
Bus stop = Tar rot may
Toilet = Hong nam Airport= sa-nam bin
Jetty = Tar rua
Train station = sa-tar-nee rot-fai
Which way ? = Bai tang nai
Left = Sai
Right =Kwar
Straight on = dtrong bai
Is it far ? = Mai glai
Floor = chun
1 st floor = Chun neung
I think you will find this phrase very useful. Just point at a place on your map or in your guide book and say "yoo tee nai". Also useful when you are trying to find the right bus to go to Phuket etc.
English Thai
Where is ...? = ...You tee nai ?
I want to go to = Chun ja pai
Bus stop = Tar rot may
Toilet = Hong nam Airport= sa-nam bin
Jetty = Tar rua
Train station = sa-tar-nee rot-fai
Which way ? = Bai tang nai
Left = Sai
Right =Kwar
Straight on = dtrong bai
Is it far ? = Mai glai
Floor = chun
1 st floor = Chun neung
How much? (gee baht)
How much? (gee baht)
If you are shopping you wil need to ask "how much?" You don't really need to learn "..is this?" or "...is that?" as you can use sign language at the same time.
How much is this? =(ra ka thao rai)
That is a little expensive. =(paeng bai)
Can you make it cheaper?= (lot noi dai mai)
The Thai word "noi" means little and is used to make a request sound more polite. All "dai mai" questions are answered with "dai" for "yes" and "mai dai" for "no".
How about ... baht? = (... baht dai mai)
Numbers : Zero = soon , One = nueng , Two = song , Three = sam
Four = see , Five = har , Six = hok , Seven = jed , Eight = bad
Nine = gao , Ten = sib , Eleven = sib et , Twelve = sib song , Thirteen = sib sam
Once you can count 1-11 the rest will be very easy. In fact easier than English. Thai students are very good in learning Math. This is partly due to the way the numbers are named. Take thirty as an example. To us it is just a name but to a Thai student it is three blocks of ten. In Thai thirty is "sam sib" or literally "three tens". Thirty six is "three tens six".
From twelve to nineteen you just repeat the same formula:
14 = 10 + 4 (sib see)
15 = 10 + 5 (sib ha)
Twentyyee sib
Twenty One yee sib et
Twenty Two = yee sib song , Twenty Three = yee sib sam
Again, from twenty two to twenty nine you repeat the same formula
24 = 20 + 4 (yee sib see)
25 = 20 + 5 (yee sib ha)
Thirty = sam sib , Forty = see sib
By now you should be able to count all the way to one hundred.
60 = 6 x 10 (hok sib)
70 = 7 x 10 (jed sib)
One Hundred = nueng roi , Two Hundred = song roi
One Thousand = nueng pun , Two Thousand = song pun
Ten Thousand = nueng muen
Can you help me? (chuay dai mai)
Can I see that? (khor doo dai mai)
I am just looking. (khor doo thao nun)
will come back later. (ja ma mai)
Do you have something bigger? =(mee yai gwar mai)
The thai word "yai" means "big". Adding "gwar" after it makes it "bigger".
Do you have something smaller?= (mee lek gwar mai)
The thai word "lek" means "small". Adding "gwar" after it makes it "smaller".
Do you have something cheaper= (mee took gwar mai)
The thai word "took" means "cheap". Adding "gwar" after it makes it "cheaper".
Do you have another colour? = (mee see auen mai)
Colour = see
The Thai word for colour is "see". When naming a colour you should say "see" first.
For example: Red is "see daeng" or "colour red".
If you want to say "light pink" you would say "see chompoo aorn"
Light=aorn , Dark =gae
White= kow , Orange = som , Red = daeng , Pink = chom poo , Beige= keem
Yellow= lueang , Light = Bluefa , Blue = nam ngern , Violet = muang , Green = kiaw
Brown = nam dtan , Grey = tow , Black= dam , Silver = ngern , Gold = tong
What colour do you like? (khoon chawp see a-rai?)
I like white. (pom chawp see kow)
The Thai word for "I" is "pom" and is only used by men.
Women should say "chan" among friends or "di-chan"
Where do I pay? (jai ngoen tee nai)
If you are shopping you wil need to ask "how much?" You don't really need to learn "..is this?" or "...is that?" as you can use sign language at the same time.
How much is this? =(ra ka thao rai)
That is a little expensive. =(paeng bai)
Can you make it cheaper?= (lot noi dai mai)
The Thai word "noi" means little and is used to make a request sound more polite. All "dai mai" questions are answered with "dai" for "yes" and "mai dai" for "no".
How about ... baht? = (... baht dai mai)
Numbers : Zero = soon , One = nueng , Two = song , Three = sam
Four = see , Five = har , Six = hok , Seven = jed , Eight = bad
Nine = gao , Ten = sib , Eleven = sib et , Twelve = sib song , Thirteen = sib sam
Once you can count 1-11 the rest will be very easy. In fact easier than English. Thai students are very good in learning Math. This is partly due to the way the numbers are named. Take thirty as an example. To us it is just a name but to a Thai student it is three blocks of ten. In Thai thirty is "sam sib" or literally "three tens". Thirty six is "three tens six".
From twelve to nineteen you just repeat the same formula:
14 = 10 + 4 (sib see)
15 = 10 + 5 (sib ha)
Twentyyee sib
Twenty One yee sib et
Twenty Two = yee sib song , Twenty Three = yee sib sam
Again, from twenty two to twenty nine you repeat the same formula
24 = 20 + 4 (yee sib see)
25 = 20 + 5 (yee sib ha)
Thirty = sam sib , Forty = see sib
By now you should be able to count all the way to one hundred.
60 = 6 x 10 (hok sib)
70 = 7 x 10 (jed sib)
One Hundred = nueng roi , Two Hundred = song roi
One Thousand = nueng pun , Two Thousand = song pun
Ten Thousand = nueng muen
Can you help me? (chuay dai mai)
Can I see that? (khor doo dai mai)
I am just looking. (khor doo thao nun)
will come back later. (ja ma mai)
Do you have something bigger? =(mee yai gwar mai)
The thai word "yai" means "big". Adding "gwar" after it makes it "bigger".
Do you have something smaller?= (mee lek gwar mai)
The thai word "lek" means "small". Adding "gwar" after it makes it "smaller".
Do you have something cheaper= (mee took gwar mai)
The thai word "took" means "cheap". Adding "gwar" after it makes it "cheaper".
Do you have another colour? = (mee see auen mai)
Colour = see
The Thai word for colour is "see". When naming a colour you should say "see" first.
For example: Red is "see daeng" or "colour red".
If you want to say "light pink" you would say "see chompoo aorn"
Light=aorn , Dark =gae
White= kow , Orange = som , Red = daeng , Pink = chom poo , Beige= keem
Yellow= lueang , Light = Bluefa , Blue = nam ngern , Violet = muang , Green = kiaw
Brown = nam dtan , Grey = tow , Black= dam , Silver = ngern , Gold = tong
What colour do you like? (khoon chawp see a-rai?)
I like white. (pom chawp see kow)
The Thai word for "I" is "pom" and is only used by men.
Women should say "chan" among friends or "di-chan"
Where do I pay? (jai ngoen tee nai)
Thank you (khorb koon)
Thank you (khorb koon)
When you are in Thailand don't forget you are representing your country so please always try to be polite. This is a useful word to say "thank you" if someone gives you something.
Always use "krub" (for men) and "ka" (for women) when you want to be polite. Add these words to the end of all the examples below.
"khorb khun" means "Thank you".
"mai ben rai" means "it's ok". For example when someone tries to give you something but you don't want it or someone says thanks to you, you say mai ben rai.
"sia jai" means "sorry" too. But in this case it means different thing. Like if someone died or got hurt, you say "phom/di-chan sia jai" which means "I am sorry".
When you are in Thailand don't forget you are representing your country so please always try to be polite. This is a useful word to say "thank you" if someone gives you something.
Always use "krub" (for men) and "ka" (for women) when you want to be polite. Add these words to the end of all the examples below.
"khorb khun" means "Thank you".
"mai ben rai" means "it's ok". For example when someone tries to give you something but you don't want it or someone says thanks to you, you say mai ben rai.
"sia jai" means "sorry" too. But in this case it means different thing. Like if someone died or got hurt, you say "phom/di-chan sia jai" which means "I am sorry".
Hello (sa-wat dee)
Hello (sa-wat dee)
The most common greeting you will hear in Thailand is "sawatdee". This is quite often used for both hello and goodbye. With most of the phrases on this page you need to end with the polite words : khrab for men and kaa for women. There are also a few phrases where I say "phom" which is "I" for men. Woman would normally say 'di-chun" in formal situations and "chun" among friends
A. How are you?= (sabai dee mai)
B. I am fine.=(sabai dee)
B. And you?= (lao khun lae)
A. I am fine. (sabai dee)*
*Quite often in Thai you don't need to say "I". But, you can if you like. For men say "phom sabai dee". for women say "di-chun sabai dee".
A.What is your name? =(khun chue arai)
B. My name is.... (phom chue....)
A. Nice to know you (yin dee tee dai roo-juk)
B. Nice to know you too (chen gun)
The most common greeting you will hear in Thailand is "sawatdee". This is quite often used for both hello and goodbye. With most of the phrases on this page you need to end with the polite words : khrab for men and kaa for women. There are also a few phrases where I say "phom" which is "I" for men. Woman would normally say 'di-chun" in formal situations and "chun" among friends
Hello = sawat-dee
Goodbye = la-gon
See you again= lao jer gun
A. How are you?= (sabai dee mai)
B. I am fine.=(sabai dee)
B. And you?= (lao khun lae)
A. I am fine. (sabai dee)*
*Quite often in Thai you don't need to say "I". But, you can if you like. For men say "phom sabai dee". for women say "di-chun sabai dee".
A.What is your name? =(khun chue arai)
B. My name is.... (phom chue....)
A. Nice to know you (yin dee tee dai roo-juk)
B. Nice to know you too (chen gun)
Learning Thai the easy way
1.Hello (sa-wat dee)
For sure this is the word that all tourists need to learn first. It is used
for both "hello" and "goodbye".
2 Thank you (khorb koon)
When you are in Thailand don't forget you are representing your country so please always try to be polite. This is a useful word to say "thank you" if someone gives you something.
3.How much? (gee baht)
If you are shopping you wil need to ask "how much?" You don't really need to learn "..is this?" or "...is that?" as you can use sign language at the same time.
4.Where is ...? (... yoo tee nai)
I think you will find this phrase very useful. Just point at a place on your map or in your guide book and say "yoo tee nai". Also useful when you are trying to find the right bus to go to Phuket etc.
5. I don't want (mai ow)
When you are walking down the street or even sitting on the train you will sometimes be approached by vendors who are trying to sell you something. Some of them are very insistent so try this useful phrase
6.Sorry (khor toat)
Another useful phrase to help you be polite. Use this when you have to push by someone on the train or you accidentally stepped on their feet.
7. One-ten (neung-sib)
I recommend to everyone that they should at least learn how to count up to ten.
8. Can you make it cheaper? (lot noi dai mai)
If you are doing a lot of shopping then try this handy phrase. By speaking a little Thai you might get a better discount.
9.Delicious (a-roi)
After a delicious meal the cook would love to hear that you found the food delicious. You never know, the next time you go back to the same place she might give you an extra helping!
10. Never mind (mai ben rai)
One of my favourites. If someone apologizes to you for doing something wrong (khor toat) reply with "mai ben rai". If someone says "thank you" for a present just say "mai ben rai".
For sure this is the word that all tourists need to learn first. It is used
for both "hello" and "goodbye".
2 Thank you (khorb koon)
When you are in Thailand don't forget you are representing your country so please always try to be polite. This is a useful word to say "thank you" if someone gives you something.
3.How much? (gee baht)
If you are shopping you wil need to ask "how much?" You don't really need to learn "..is this?" or "...is that?" as you can use sign language at the same time.
4.Where is ...? (... yoo tee nai)
I think you will find this phrase very useful. Just point at a place on your map or in your guide book and say "yoo tee nai". Also useful when you are trying to find the right bus to go to Phuket etc.
5. I don't want (mai ow)
When you are walking down the street or even sitting on the train you will sometimes be approached by vendors who are trying to sell you something. Some of them are very insistent so try this useful phrase
6.Sorry (khor toat)
Another useful phrase to help you be polite. Use this when you have to push by someone on the train or you accidentally stepped on their feet.
7. One-ten (neung-sib)
I recommend to everyone that they should at least learn how to count up to ten.
8. Can you make it cheaper? (lot noi dai mai)
If you are doing a lot of shopping then try this handy phrase. By speaking a little Thai you might get a better discount.
9.Delicious (a-roi)
After a delicious meal the cook would love to hear that you found the food delicious. You never know, the next time you go back to the same place she might give you an extra helping!
10. Never mind (mai ben rai)
One of my favourites. If someone apologizes to you for doing something wrong (khor toat) reply with "mai ben rai". If someone says "thank you" for a present just say "mai ben rai".
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)