Learn Basic Thai Before You Travel to Thailand
95Before you travel to Thailand, it is a smart idea to learn some basic Thai words and phrases. (Even if you are not going to Thailand any time soon, wouldn't it be cool to know how to say a few phrases in a foreign language?) Most people in Thailand don't speak much English, except in Bangkok and some big cities. By knowing how to say some simple Thai phrases, you can make friends with the local people, make your trip easier without having to depend on an interpreter and perhaps help yourself bargain for stuff more successfully.
Before we jump into the lessons, I would like you to keep these few things in mind:
Learning a foreign language is never easy. Having lived in California for several years, I'm still struggling with English sometimes. Even when I say something that is grammatically correct, sometimes people still don't understand me because of my accent! If Thai people seem to be confused about what you say, don't be discouraged. Just try to speak more slowly and they will get it eventually.
If you try to speak Thai to Thai people and they laugh, please don't be offended. Thais love to laugh. They are just laughing with you, not at you. In fact, we really admire foreigners who try to speak our language. In Thai culture, most of the time laughing is a way to show admiration, not disrespect.
If you would like to learn the Thai language or any language more broadly and deeply, a fun way to do it is learning through humor. I spent my first couple years in America watching a lot of Seinfeld and Friends. It helped me improve my conversational English a lot. This method of learning is much more enjoyable and effective than learning from a textbook.
Democracy Monument, Bangkok
Greetings and some other simple phrases
Hello = Sawaddee
The word "sawaddee" is like "Ciao" in Italian. We use it to say both hello and goodbye.
How are you? = Sabai dee mai
I'm fine. = Sabai dee
I'm not feeling well. = Chan mai sabai
Thank you = Kob kun ("u" in "kun" is pronounced "oo" as in "foot")
I'm sorry. = Kaw tode
Never mind./You're welcome. = Mai pen rai
My name is.... = Chan cheu...
What's your name? = Kun cheu arai
Nice to meet you. = Yin dee tee dai rue juk
Yes = Chai
No = Mai chai
If you want to sound extra polite, you can do that by adding a modifier at the end of each phrase or sentence. If you are a man, say "krub". And if you are a woman, say "Ka". For example, to say hello in a very polite way, a male speaker can say "Sawaddee krub" and a female speaker can say "Sawaddee ka".
A Hardworking Monkey on Samui Island
Floating Market
Numbers
1 = neung
2 = song
3 = sam
4 = see
5 = ha
6 = hok
7 = jed
8 = pad
9 = kao
10 = sip
11 = sip-ed
12 = sip-song
20 = ye-sip
21 = ye-sip-ed
22 = ye sip song
30 = sam-sip
100 = neung-roy
1000 = neung-pun
10,000= neung meun
100,000= neung san
1,000,000= neung-lan
Shopping
How much is this? = Nee tow rai
How much is that? = Nan tow rai
Can you lower the price? = Lod raka dai mai (Whenever you say this, it's a very good idea to also say "krub" or "ka".)
Do you have a bigger one? = Mee tua yai kwa nee mai
Do you have a smaller one? = Mee tua lek kwa nee mai
It's a bit too expensive. = Pang pai noy
I really like it. = Chob maak
Expressing Your Feelings
I like....= Chan chob...
I don't like...= Chan mai chob...
I'm having fun. = Sanook mak
I'm hot. = Chan ron
I'm cold. = Chan now
I'm hungry. = Chan hew
I'm full. = Chan im
I want to eat...= Chan yak gin... ("g" in the word "gin" here is pronounced "g" as in "gain", not "j" as in "jeans")
I want to go to...= Chan yak pai...
I've got a headache. = Chan puad hua
I've got a stomachache. = Chan puad tong
I like Thailand. = Chan chob muang thai
I like Thai people. = Chan chob kon thai
I don't want to go back home. = Chan mai yak klub baan
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Karen Hill Tribe, Northern Thailand
Flirting
You are very beautiful. = Kun suay mak
I really like you. = Chan chob kun jing jing
Do you want to go out with me? = Kun yak pai tiaw kub chan mai
Do you want to go see a movie with me? = Kun yak pai du nang kub chan mai
I enjoy talking to you. = Chan chob kui kub kun
I want to know you better. = Chan yak rue jak kun mak kwa nee
I love you! = Chan rak kun
Phuket Island
Bangkok at night
Emergency
Where is the restroom? = Hong nam yu nai
I must go to a hospital! = Chan tong pai rong payaban
I lost my wallet. = krapao satang chan hai
I'm lost. = Chan long taang
Where am I? = Chan yu tee nai OR Tee nee tee nai
Can anyone here speak English? = Mee krai pood pasa angkrit dai mai
I need to go to...= Chan tong pai....
It's so hot! I'm going crazy! = Ron jah pen baa (Hopefully, you won't have to say this.)
Help me! = Chuay duay (Hopefully, you won't have to say this, either.)
Have a wonderful trip! If you want to know how to say anything else in Thai, feel free to ask me. If it's not too rude or nonsensical, I will answer.
Follow me on Twitter to Learn one Thai word a day!
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Thanks for dropping by, sweetiepie. So you've been to Thailand also? Right?
I have never been to Thailand, I meant my dad. Sorry.
Ah, I see. :-)
The Thai language is a very beautiful one. Being half-Thai, I am somewhat fluent but I don't know the deeper words. This is a wonderful hubpage. :)
Hi, DaraRai. Kob kun ka for your comments! :)
Chan cheu Funnebone
Kun suay mak
Kun yak pai pe?t sa?m-pan kub chan mai
"Kun yak pai pe?t sa?m-pan kub chan mai"???????
Where did you learn that from?
And my answer is no, thanks. :-)
I took a thai class after you sent me all of those perfume scented undergarments
LOL I see. Those undergarments belonged to my grandma. Hope you like them.=D
ewwwww Chan tong pai rong payaban
Sawadee kha :)
are you able to tell people their children are beautiful (As I know how much thais value children) and if so what is an appropriate comment? :D
Of course you can tell them their children are beautiful. You can say "Luk (pronounced like 'look') kun na rak dee" or "Dek na rak maak." :-)
thanks (I know in india it is considered to be placing an 'evil eye' on a child by saying they are beautiful as you are saying you are jealous)
Amazing hub and very good thai language practicing :)
I love Thailand too (of course it's my country!). There are many amazing places to go.
If you wanna travel thailand. I think this is a good read. It's about Phuket and Samui Island.
Chellebelle, yes we actually have an old belief in Thai culture that when you say a child is beautiful, a ghost would come to steal that child. But it's such an ancient belief. No one cares about it anymore. So you can tell Thai parents their children are cute without getting in trouble. :-)
Travelamp, I have been to Phuket once but not Samui Island. (Maybe next summer I'll go there though) Thanks for commenting. :-)
Very interesting...I knew some people who worked for an oil company and they were living in Thailand and absolutely loved it. I would not stray that far for long but would love to go and see it. The language sounds difficult, I imagine the sounds are hard to imitate...but beautiful. Nice job and well written.
marisue, thanks for stopping by and commenting. I guess Thai could be hard for foreigners because it is a tonal language. The word "maa", for example, can be pronounced 3 different ways and has 3 different meanings, which are "horse", "dog" and "come"!
Interesting hub! Well after seven trips to Bangkok, I now speak enough Thai to converse freely, thanks to that bookshop in Patpong! :)
As a matter of interest, how do you say in Thai "New wood burns does it?" :)
Thanks for stopping by, quicksand.
"mai mai mai mai!"
That's the answer! But I guess you actually knew that already. :)
Thanks On Paramapoonya! Of course, those seeking to learn Thai find the various tones a bit confusing at first!
sawadee krup! does anyone know the meaning of na ka?
"na ka" doesn't really mean anything. It's just a phrase that we put at the end of a sentence to show politeness, kind of like "ka". "Ka" is usually used in general sentences and questions. "Na ka" is almost never used in a question, and it has a bit more affirmative tone than "ka". :)
I have a Thai friend whos father is ill, what would be a kind message along the line of my thoughts and prayers are with them both at this time??
Thank you
Hi Peter, you can say "Wang wah paw kong khun ja hai puoi nai reoh reoh ni", meaning "I hope your father will recover very soon."
Sabai dee mai Oma Paramapoonya? Yin dee tee dai rue juk hubpages. Chan chob kun jing jing. Kob kun Om Paramapoonya for teaching me thai.
Kob kun ka, countrywomen! Chan sabai dee. Chan chob kun also ;)
Chan yak pai Thailand. Kob kun Om Paramapoonya
And Chan yak pai India. Kob kun countrywomen!
Yin dee tee dai rue juk
Yin dee tee dai rue juk you too, Camryn :-)
Phom chop phasa thai mak mak
Hi Halim, kob kun ka. I'm glad you do :-)
Its a shame you can't embed audio files on hubpages it would make learning languages a lot easier! But thanks for the tips. I can order fried noodles with pork or chicken in Thai politely and say 'sorry I don't understand' but that is about it!
yeah, I agree that audio files would be helpful for language learners. I think maybe I'll make videos teaching how to pronounce thai words correctly. Thanks for your suggestion :)
I was so happy to find this on here! I spent a month in Thailand over a year ago, and I have forgetten most of the Thai language which I had previously learned. It was nice to find an easy way to re-learn it! Thanks
thanks its really helpful wrote it all down! im travelling to bangkok nextweek! thanks
Have a nice trip :-)
hi my husband is in thailand how can i tell him in thati that i love and miss him
Hi Angie, just say "Chan rak lae kit teung khun mak" :-)
my inlaws are going to Thailand in a few weeks! I will let them know about this article! Great job!
Thanks for dropping by, Jenny30. I hope your inlaws have a great time in Thailand =D
i like this, absolutly 'n you GUru
Thanks! :)
What a very lovely and informative article.
Thank-you,
Jalene Rose
hi how do you order food and say that you prefer it not spicy politely of course ;)
Hi sheila, there're many ways you can say it. You can say "mai ped na ka", meaning "not spicy please." Or you can say, "taan ped mai dai ka", meaning "I can't eat spicy food." :)
I'm heading to Bangkok in December. I want to thank you for posting such a useful list of words. You seem knowledgeable about Thailand, what would be an awesome place to spend NY's Eve in Bangkok? I apprecitae if you direct me in the right direction.
Sumaya, I haven't been back to Bangkok for years, so my advice probably wouldn't be so helpful to you. But you can go to http://www.jukaroo.com It's a review site that can give you updated info about restaurants, nightlife, shopping centers and many other things in Bangkok. The reviews are written in both Thai and English. Have a great trip :)
Thats a great hub... I travelled the world in 2008 and I must admit I did spend a long time in Thailand. Thanks for bringing back the memories.
I agree on embedding the audio files (hint hint hint to hubpages.com :-)
With Thai being a tonal language, learning by transliteration is a tough way to go. But the students can take your wonderful tips, then do a search for online files.
how do i say i like you in Thai Language? not love but like
Hi ferdinan, you can say "chan chob khun." (chob = like)
Man I love Thailand. Out of the 18 countries I have been to it ranks probably the highest.
The food, climate, people... are amazing.
Glad to hear that. Most people I know said the weather there is too hot. You're the first one who doesn't complain about the climate :)
Hi, thanks for the great hub and the language tipps I spent two weeks in Thailand in March and I enjoyed it so much will definitely be back for more!
How can I say "thanks and goodbye" in Thai when leaving a place? Would "Laa gaawn, khop khun kha" be ok or is there a better way of saying it?
"laa gaawn" is fine but a bit formal. Actually most Thais like to say "Bye-Bye". I don't know why we like to say it twice. But yeah, you can just say "bye-bye, kop khun kha" :)
How do I say " Om, I am with child and I think it is yours?" and also " Can I name it Meathead"?
LOL...I refuse to teach you how to say that! Merry Christmas, Dr. Defries :D
Ok, but that doesn't mean you are off the hook! And a Merry Christmas to you also
may i know the meaning of 'tho rat kan'?
i'm learning thai language in school,
and this word come out from exam,
i cant found the meaning ...
Are you sure it's spelled like that? What's the context? The closest term I can think of is "Thu ra kan", which means administration.
it's something like, "mary dont like go market becoz..."
mary mai chop pai talat phro ta lat ...tho rat kan, i'm not sure about the spelling becoz it is a listening section
Weiwei, maybe it was "taw ra ka" which means bargaining. "Mary doesn't like going to the market because she doesn't like to bargain."....well, that doesn't make much sense, does it? Most people probably like to be able to bargain the prices down. I'm sorry but that's the only term I know that is related to the context. By the way, where do you study Thai? Is it in high school or university? Or a language institute?
haha...if its answer is really bargaining then i get it correct, i dunno wat is the meaning but i did answer it as "bargaining", thanks for your help, feel happy now.
ya, i'm taking Thai language in maha wit tha ya lai in Malaysia ^^ only for one semester, i like it, coz it is easy to understand, although only 3 months but i learn much, chan chop a jan chan mak mak, a jan chan sut yot~!
Glad you like the Thai language and have a great teacher. The grammar is very simple. Pronunciation can be a bit challenging. But I think you can be fluent in Thai some day. Merry Xmas :)
Merry Christmas to u too~^^
Thanks for providing great tips for traveling to Thailand.
George,
Thanks for the great site! I'm learning Thai right now and finding it surprisingly easy especially since I was politely asked to leave French and German classes at school (mind you I didn't have a French or German fiancée at that time, so the motivationwas not quite as great as now :-)
anyway - thanks again!
This really helped me when I visited Pattaya in September. I had a blast. Great food. I'm Jamaican, love spicy food and fit in just right when it came to all the eats! I am anticipating a retirement there in Pattaya. It is a very beautiful country and the hospitality reminds me a lot of my country. Thank you for the lesson. I will frequent this page to continue my education.
Thanks Om Paramapoonya,
Kevin M.
My pleasure, guys! :)
Hi I'm heading to Thai in 8 or 9 weeks as a first trip overseas, and final trip with my family.
Thanks for the phrases and tips. I think if i sit here studying this and youtube videos I should be able to hold my own in a week or so =)
hi:) Im going to Bangkok in a few weeks, and Im going to be staying at a friend's house. I'd like to know how to say some phrases to the host parents, I want to be extra polite!
"Thank you very much for letting me stay here"
"Im sorry to cause trouble"
"Max(my friend) is always so kind to me"
any Thai Manners / Etiquettes I should be aware of?
Thanks alot!!
Kob khun maak tee hai chan yu tee nee = Thank you very much for letting me stay here
Kaw tode tee tong rop kwuan = I'm sorry to cause trouble
Max jai dee kub chan sa meu = Max is always so kind to me
And one tip: don't wear your shoes inside the house. :)
Have a great trip, Marie.
Hi,
Thank you for you useful words.
I have been living in Singapore for 6 months and i used to go to Thailand (a wonderful country).
I have a friend there who always writes in her sms: "na ka".
What does it mean ? I read a lot of things on internet, but everything is the opposite of another one, lol.
Many thanks in advance,
Sebastien.
Hi, Sebastien. "Na ka" doesn't mean anything. It's just something we add to the end of a sentence to show politeness. Guys will say "na krub" instead of na ka, though. :)
I have been to Thailand 4 times and I usually stay 28 days. It has truly woken all of my senses up when you see people who have nothing based on our western way of thinking, but they have the most important things. Great food,family , tropical weather and a the land of smiles :) If you haven't been please do visit! The language is easy to pick up and everyone will help you learn the basic words and sayings...:)
Hey - Great Page! I love the Thai Language
Maybe you should mention that all the phrases you include are feminine? If you are man you must say "Pom" and not "Chan".
Hi, Jay. Thanks for visiting my hub. Guys can say "chan" too, actually. It is "dee chan" that is absolutely for females only.
What is the following phrase means???
Sabay dee kha
Kit tueng khun mak mak.
Doo lae tour aeng duay na.
Hi dio,
Sabay dee kha = I'm fine (That's how girls say it. For guys, they have to say "sabay dee krup")
Kit tueng khun mak mak. = I really miss you
Doo lae tour aeng duay na. = Take care of yourself.
Hi! I'm going to thailand tomorrow. I would like to know how do you say
can you take us to golden orchid hotel? In thai
Just say "Pai Rong-ram Golden Orchid". (pai = go to, rong-ram = hotel) =D
I would just like to make a suggestion (hope you don't mind)
For the guys, please use "Phom which is "I" for boys" where it says "Chan which is "I" for girls".
Excellent page Khun Om. :)
i want to learn thai language, can you teach, am bhutanese guy for Bhutan
Raj Bangkok, yes "phom" will be more correct and absolutely more polite. But some of my guy friends call themselves "chan" too (and they're not gay!). I guess it might be more common for guys to use chan with their close friends, and use phom with other people. Thanks a lot for dropping by and commenting. I appreciate it. :)
Chokiss, why do you want to learn Thai? Are you visiting Thailand? :)
You are absolutely right..."some" guys do use it.
It was my pleasure dropping by K.Om. Keep up the good work :)
Very nice information.
Nice thread.
How would one say:- I hear some noise?
Maximus, you can say "Chan dai-yin sieng arai bangyang"
hi om, is it pronounced as read? or is there are special way to pronounce it or something? :)
Yep, it's pronounced as read. :)
Sooner or later I must visit the Floating Market. Very interesting hub, very well written and very well explained. Rated up, saved and stumbled.
Thanks a lot, hypnodude. I bet you'll love the floating market. So much fun there. :)
What is the translation of 'Pen Dek Dee' in english ?
It means "be a good kid" :)
Sawaddee…You are right. To know a few phrases of a foreign tongue in their country does help. I try my best to learn the greetings section and the ‘Please I need help do you know English’ parts and look my most hopeful.
Now this is something really great.. You mean before visiting Thailand everyone can learn Thai? Ok let me try "Chan chob muang thai" haha look i spoke Thai. :)
haha what a fast learner you are!
P Om, yu te nai ka? Noo kid wah P yu koh samui mai chai la ka? tommai P Om pood pasa angkrit sudyot loy?
Kop khun kha, Pimpa. I'm in California, not koh samui na kha. Where are you? :)
ahh California!!! iyaaah, pim mai koey bpai. suay mai ka? p tammarai yu te calfornia ka? long rien lor? Pim yu te Koh Samui ka! Yu gap mae yu gap por :) chuay mae por tam ngan nai Lamai ka.
Yes, California is very nice ka. I'm living here now. Koey pai koh samui krang diew, tae jum dai wa suay maak. Nice to meet you here.
555 donnee koh samui mai muern derm ka deh wah yung suay yu. nice to meet you too ja. P bpen kun te nai ka? krai sorn pasa angkrit? geng mac loy. are you coming back to thailand soon?
I'm from Bangkok ka. Probably won't go back any time soon...not until BKK resumes its peace.
yes i think so too, i have to go school in about 2 months in bangkok but if its not quiet again i will wait abit longer. in samui we are not affected at all by it.
Kob kun! This is really helpful... I'm planning a trip to Thailand in a few months...
Have a nice trip! :)
Hi, do you know what "Mai Mi" means? I think it means "don't have" or "don't know".
don't have! :)
Thanks!
Kap kun kap !
I have joined numerous Thai forums and trying to learn as much as I can. Been to Thailand 5 times so far, going again in October for 1 week. But this time I am touring the country side by myself on motorbike so want a better grasp of the basics. Up until now I only knew the very very basics hehe.
Commend you on a great page and good to see you are still replying to comments well after the page was created.
Have printed off your list and will be memorising it :D. Will just be hard if I get replies in Thai and I am left dumbfounded haha. 55555 :P
You're welcome, Ash. Hope you make some Thai friends in Thailand. Mingle with the natives. That way you can learn Thai much faster. :)
Pom chob this site.. I hear many kon thai pood pasa thai but learn slow..
Kob Kun kap for your help..
Dee mak mak..
Kob khun ka. Thanks for stopping by :)
Hi, I see a lovely old thai lady who sells the lottery tickets everyday and she is always smiling and waving to me when she sees me. So i would like to give her something as I am moving soon. How do you say i would like to give this to you or something similar?
Thanks
You can say "chan hai khun" meaning "i'm giving this to you." Or you can just say "kong kwan sumrup khun" which means "a gift for you". :)
Kob Khun Krub :-)
I think your hub is really going to help improve my thai
You're very welcome :)
:] very nice I'm also thai :] but born here in FL haha
Cool! I also have cousins in FL. Haven't talked to them for years, though. Anyway, thanks for dropping by. :)
Thailand is a great place to visit.
I remember some of those words from my travel there. It is always good to know some words as locals do appreciate the effort when visiting their country.
I always admire Thai language as much as its culture. Both are so gentle and polite.
I think your idea to use humour to learn a foreign language is great !
Sawaddee ka. This is a wonderful page! I'm am an American-born Thai and have been speaking Thai to my 1 year old son. I have always learned to say khop khun ka for thank you. But I saw on another website that when older people thank younger people, they say "khob jai ka". Is that used in modern times? Or what do you say when friends or acquaintances of similar age thank each other?
On the flirting section is said eg I love you! = Chan rak kun so for a guy generally would it be phom rak kun. Phonetically how do you say phom? Is it fom or p-hom?
@Twixga - Yes, that's correct. Older people usually say "kob jai" instead of "kob khun" when they want to thank youngsters. For people of about the same age, either "kob khun" or "kob jai" is fine. "kob jai" will just make it sound more informal I think.
@Bav - "ph" in the word "phom" is pronounced like a "p", not "f".
very informative hub! I like to learn languages.
How Do You Say The Simple Phrases Like "Are" And More Simple Words, I Have A Thai Auntie And Its Hard To Talk To Her
"Are"? You mean "be"? There are many ways to say that, depending on the context. What are other simple words you'd like to know? Be more specific.
Very Informative Hub. I will love to learn Thai Language. Thailand is a great place to visit.
Wonderful Hub, Thank you for the quick Thai lesson
Sa-wat dee krub! Do You Know How To Say ''too'' meaning as an example ''I miss you too'', ''I like you too'' Diaprod?
khob khun maak! for the lesson pom chob kon thaiii , want to go there >.<
jub jub (kisses) xD
"muan kan" = too. For example, "Chan chob kon Thai muan kan" = "I like Thai people, too."
Incredible hub, very very useful. I would love to visit Thailand one of these days.
Om ,
Perhaps another word for too = Duay
For example, " Chan chob kon Thai Duay "
" I like Thai people too "
Let me know if that is correct .. and GREAT HUB! Thanks!
Yep, that's another way to say it! :)
Hi! What does "Mai mi leaw.." means?
It means "no longer have."
sawasdee'
pom sa`bai dee with this forum. i just know some thai words. i'm going there by first week of november. pom rak mung Thai.
chok dee!
Kop Khun ka. Have fun in Thailand! :)
thanks for this hub...:) been living in thailand for more than a year, yet i can't seem to get a hold of the language...this is a big help :)
Sawadee krub..phom yu tee Malaysia..phom yak pai muang thai deh wah mai mi okat...mae phom ben kun thai malaysia,phor phom ben kun cin krab..chob put thai na krab..hehe
bi nee phom ayu sip pet,lian mor hok na krub..ka mi okat,phom ja pai tiaw krungthep leaw rau pai jue gan..=)
ben ngai bang?ok mai krub phasa thai phom?so,how was my performance in Thai language?if got any error or difficulty to read what i've wrote just nw please forgive me..i'll make my efforts to learn mre,and hope to be like a thai native speaker..hehe
thanks for willing to read my comments and i hopes u'll get the blessings frm the god for ur kindness.
Your grammar is very good. (But since you said you have a Thai mom, I'm not surprised that you're so fluent in Thai.) Thanks a lot for dropping and commenting. Hope you'll have a chance to go to Bangkok soon. :)
great language tips on here!
rely nice hub intresting my bro is still in thailand i have a desire to learn it more can u help me
How may I help you? :)
Hey...Om i just came back from thailand ...loved the place man and the hospitality....hey do u know any simple way to learn Thai language...please update....thanx
Simple way? Hmmmm by using it in daily communication I guess. That's the best way to learn any languages. (Use it or lose it!) :)
Wow, thank you so much for this brief and concise thai basic words... am going to thailand by Feb 2011, and i wonder how i would start there...so decided to look for some thai basic, and luckily i hit this hub... thank you so much.... God Bless to you, and more power......
Have a wonderful trip, Joe. :)
Thanks for the informative Hub. It looks like a beautiful country. Learning a language through humour is great advise!
I visited Thailand in November 2010 for 3 weeks and fell in love with the country / culture so much so, I decided I should take some Thai lessons before returning again. Thank you for the informative hub as it has helped me immensely. I have now enrolled to undertake structured Thai lessons at home in Sydney, Australia at a language school. I plan to visit Thailand again in November 2011 for 4 weeks. This time it will be so much easier to communicate with everyone.
Wow, you are taking Thai-language classes! I'm impressed. Most people won't put that much effort into it unless they plan to live in Thailand or need to know the language for a business purpose. I'm sure you'll be able to make many more Thai friends in your trip. Good luck :)
I lived in Thailand nearly two years and became nearly fluent in Thai; the trouble with your site is that it doesn't include tones, so people don't know when to use rising/falling....if you want to say ghost you have to say "pee" with a rising tone. And the word "kai" has different meanings depending on tone (duh, I realize you know this). But if a native speaker of English says "Khob kun maag kop" with flat intonation, well (I know, because my dad's Thai was awful). I have forgotten a lot of the Thai that I knew, but my pronunciation is still very geng!
You're right, Lark. I guess I should make a youtube video for this so people can hear how they're supposed to pronounce each word. I'll try to find some time to do that. :)
Hello OM Paramapoonya! I wonder what's the meaning of the word Oum (like Oum Ruk/Thai Lakorn)??? Some people say it means Chain, but some say it means Care...????
It means an embrace. It could mean care too, but not chain. :)
hi
what does
pom chop kui kup khun same same
mean please?
It means "I like talking to you, too." :)
Hi Om. Isnt chan use for females only? and Pom for men? like when u say chan yak pai should be pom yak pai for men?
Yes and no. It's true men usually say "pom", especially when they want to sound polite, formal or professional. But a lot of men sometimes say "chan" in a casual conversation. :)
Thanks Om. Sawadee. I am going to Phatum Thani (AIT) to go see about a girl. Any tip would be helpful how to go there from Khao san road where I plan to check in. She mentioned there are special trip vans from the Mo chit BTS station...:)
Very informative hub thanks. You should always try and learn the basics of a language while there. It's a lot more fun that way.
@Robert - Sawadee ka! I'm afraid I can't help you with the trip planning. I haven't been back to Thailand for years. I don't remember directions to places very well anymore. Hope you have a wonderful trip. :)
@Edwin Chan - Exactly! Thanks for dropping by, Edwin. :)
Om, Kob kun krub. I hope so too. :)It's my first time. Khao san here I come.
Very informative post you have there.....very helpful I leave for Thailand in 17 days to meet my girlfriend who is already there visiting family....helpful indeed I knew a little bit but this should help a great deal thanks
@ "a different rob" - You're welcome. Have a great trip! :)
hello i would like to ask what is the meaning of mai mow mai muern derm or ben derm some lady said that to me a few days back
Never been to Thailand before. If I ever visit the country your language guide will be of great help. Thank you for sharing!
@khunkeukrai - It literally means "not drunk, not the same."
@Edward - You're welcome. Thanks for dropping by.
Nice instructions listed out. i enjoyed reading it.
Thanks! :)
Hi Om! I love this site! How can I say "what are you doing tonight?" or "what are your plans for tonight?"
thanks in advance :)
Hi Shaun, you can say "kheun nee ja tam arai?" or "kheun nee ja pai nai". :)
i am interested in thai language thanks for that kind og page :)
kop koon krap om paramopoonya !
sa war di tawn yen
will you tell me what are the meaning of those words in thai;
ARE
KIND
IS
THAT
KOP KOON KRAP
TAA TER ANSWER MY QUESTION
what is the meaning of and in thai
and some conjunctions in thai? im very confuse in terms of using them
Hello Jason. Thanks for visiting my hub. Here are my answers for you:
Are and Is = "pen" or "yu" Say "pen" when you want to describe WHAT or HOW things are. And say "yu" when you want to describe WHERE things are.
Kind = "chanid" (type) or "jaidee" (merciful)
That = "nun"
And = "lae"
Heyy, thanks for this fantastic hub! i am going to thailand (phuket) in april and i am a vegetarian. what words would i look out for when choosing a meal on a menu? i dont eat any meat or egg. This would be a great help!
HEI OM... THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS! ;0
NICE HUB IT IS....
WILL YOU ANSWER AGAIN MY QUESTION
WHAT ARE THE MEANING OF THOSE WORDS
WELL
OF
OUR
AND HOW DO I SAY THE WORD I MISS YOU IN
THAI
THANKS :)
Hi Jadie, tell them you eat "mung sa wee rut" and they will understand. It means vegetarian. :)
@Jason - Here you go:
well = dee
our = kong rao
I miss you - pom kit teung khun
I can't tell you how to say "of" in Thai because there're so many words for it, depending on the context.
Thankyou :)
hi. what is the meaning of kapon ka in english? thanks
kapon ka??? I have no idea what that means. Are you sure that's how it's pronounced?
hei,, thanks for always answering my qyuestions..
may i ask again?
what is the meaning of SARANAE SIBLOR?
thanks :)
It's an old salng term. I don't remember what it means anymore, though. Sorry.
well thanks ,,, may i ask again if what is pom ma wa
in english?
kop khun mak krap :)
Can you give me the context? These words could mean lots of things. The word "ma", for example, could mean "dog", "horse" or "come".
Well I'm in love with a thai Speaking girl(Who can write little english but cant or even understand when it comes to speaking) and I live in India(who is learning thai and teaching english to her and in the process his english is also getting poor becoz of mixing thai and english in a way that she understand). I have planned to Give her a surprise by the end of this year. I have tried to speak and write thai from all the help I could get on the net but sadly when I try speak whatever I learnt from d internet(even d audio) The only sentences she can understand over the phone is chan rak khun jung and chan kit teung khun. I speak basic thai words too, but there are lot more i need. wish i had a thai teacher here in my city, it would have been a lot more easier.
anyways what book would you recommend me to improve my thai vocabulary? I hope i can overcome the sound problem(as i speak hindi too and have studied about the 5 tones of thai language :) )
note-her english has improved a lot and mine has deteriorated a lot. lol pardon me if i made mistakes. i have been spending most of the time finding the best way to learn thai.
wut de krap, pom chue dean krap. May i jusst add that men say "pom" and not "chan".
@ting tong - What a cute story. Scroll back up and you'll find a list of some good books right above the the picture of a long-necked lady. I think the Conversational Thai might be good for you.
@Dean - Yeah, I know that's more common. But many Thai guys say "chan" too.
For learning its best to just keep practicing and keep trying to speak with someone. When you first start it's hard to get pronunciation correct but as long as you know the words you'll get better. That's my experience from living here. I'm trying to get better learning new words every day. Nice hub!!
Well-said. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience, johncimble. :)
pom wang tee rao pheuuan....
gra saao..::)
dtae pom wang man maa jing..
ei!!! do you think my grammar are correct
it means
i wish were friends
joke
but i hope it will come true hehe
i am starting to made my own grammar
coz im very interested to learn thai langauge
kop koon krap...
pom chob khun hub!!!
uhm.. about in the word pom ma wa!
i dont know what is the contxt of that phrase
as i watched it
a boy pointing a girl then said
pom ma wa!!
Hi Jason. Nice try. The correct way to say all that would be:
pom wang wa rao ja pen pheuuan kan
Law len
dtae pom wang wa man ja pen jing
Don't say "gra sao" when you mean "just kidding or joking." Thai people don't say it that way. It just sounds weird. Nice try, though. What do you want to learn Thai for? You're going there for a vacation?
i am very confused in placement of a word in thai language well thank you for correcting me..
what is the use of wa and pen in youre sentence|?
kop koon krap ik krang..
is it correct? hehehe
i dont know if i go there i dont know to my friends.
he knows it if when we are going to visit thailand
how about this\
pom haa man!!!
kop koon krap god. .
pom sabai dii.
which means
i found/find it
thank god
i am happy wan nee
how should i practice my self speak a thai language
even if i am here in the philippines and no one can i speak a thai .,.. .
huhuhu. . im so pathetic
@Jason - wa = that (for example, I hope that or I think that). Pen = be
"haa" means looking for. So if you want to say you have found something, you should use the word "pob" instead. You can learn Thai by watching Thai shows/movies. Rosetta Stone is a pretty good language-learning software program. If you're serious about learning Thai, maybe you should get one. Don't give up. Learning another language is never easy. My boyfriend is having a hard time learning Thai as well, even with my help.
uhm... kop koon krap om..
its an inspirational thought for me...
yes i follow your advice
where should i get the rosetta stone?
ei,, another sentence ive make
here
pom kit teung nan phleng....
pom rerm heuu meuua pom khao huu nee phleng
means:
i miss this song
i start crying when i heard this song
is it correct?
Ok, in the first sentence, you have to change "nan phleng" to "phleng nan". The second one is totally wrong. The correct way to say it would be:
"pom rerm rong hai meuua pom dai yin phleng nee"
That's all. Bye. Keep practicing. Oh and you can buy Rosetta Stone on Amazon I think.
Hi Om, I was just wondering how would you say:
"It's not him, it's me"
I'm female if it counts. Lets say someone told me that HE is bad and I want to let them know that it's me instead not using the word "bad" in sentence.
Thank you :)
To add to to my last post as it probably didn't make sense... Lets say someone told my friend that HE is needy but I want to let them know that it's me instead by saying: It's not him, it's me.
Hope it makes sense, kob khun ka :)
Hmmmm....I think one way to say that would be "chan eng tee pen yang nan. mai chai kao." It literally means "I'm the one who's like that. He's not."
How do you say 'thanks for listening' in Thai?
@Bethan - "kob khun tee fung" = "Thanks for listening."
Thanks!
hi om... :)
im here again
may i ask you again if should i say
ME MY SELF AND I
in thai language..
kop khun krap..
pom kit teung :)
law len....
I and me = chan or pom
myself = chan-eng or pom-eng
Interesting information about Thai which made feel as if I've been there before.Thanks for this well shared work.
Thanks for dropping by, sunchild! :)
hi om.thanx fot the info. m going to bangkok tom. how to say "I can't wait to see thailand tomorrow?" thanx so much
Hi Cha. Say "chan koi mai wai raew tee ja hen muang thai." Have a wonderful trip. :)
hei om!!! khun sabai dee mai?
hehe im here again
may i ask what is it in thai
dont do that
didnt do that
who
where
visit
and what is DAI-YIN
in thai?
kop khun khrap :)
Hi. I'm good. Thanks. Here are the answers:
don't do that - ya tum yang nan
didn't do that - mai dai tum
who - krai
where - tee nai
visit - yium, pai tee
dai yin = hear
khub khun khrap
and how do i say what happen
in thai?
khop khun khrap ik krang.. :)
what happened = geud arai keun
You're welcome. :)
Oh I miss Thailand! I used to teach Spanish at Prince of Songkla University in Phuket. Nice to see the video. Next time, I'm going to know more Thai!
Ah, Phuket is a wonderful place to live. Lucky you. Thanks for dropping by. I miss Thailand , too. :)
well, i guess maybe next time you could open a Thai course and teach us Thai through this hub.....
hehehe maybe :)
im really deserving to learn thai words....
Kob kun!...Chan yak pai
I love to travel!
Ah, you're speaking Thai already even though you haven't been there! =D
hello! i will be going bangkok in a month's time! and im really relying on your basic thai to pick up the language :)
That's wonderful! Have an awesome trip. :)
Hi Om!
I would like to comment on an old photo of my ex and I by saying "thats part of my history" lol in a polite way of course! Please help :)
Hello, Matt. You can say "suan neung kong ah-deet" :)
Thanks Om! I'll be back for more help!!! lol
hello om.. im back again..
well ofcourse i need youre help again.
kit teung nee hub page
uhm . . . may i ask if i can say
pom ma ik krang which means I COME AGAIN
AND... tee nai phob means WHERE i found
khub khun khrap..
do lae dtua eng dee dee
Hey, welcome back. Yes, you could say "pom ma ik krang," but you should say "tee pom phob" instead of "tee nai phob." "Tee nai" is only used in a question.
uhm. .. khun khun na'
may i ask you if what is the meaning of this
?????
pom yak tee roo kwam wa...
i want to know the meaning
is it correct..
thanks
what is the meaning of this ?????
please translate it in thai and english :)
I'm not sure if I understand your question. You want to know how to say "what is the meaning of this" in Thai? If that's what you mean, then here's the answer:
"nee mai kwam wah arai"
hoho,, thanks om.
may i ask you if what is the meaning of this
????? in english please
khub khun krap ik krang.. :)
What? You mean "?????" They're just question marks.
i dont know what happen but i put a thai characters in my sentencew cause i want you to read it for me,, cause everytime i leave in the next day i view it it is a question mark already.. i dont know why\?
Oh...weird.
I miss Thai food!
sawatdee khap om :)
i've been to bangkok before and now im learning thai
can help me to explain the "leaw" word?
eg. "leaw khun la" or "mai kin leaw"
im a bit confuse about it
Most of the time, "leaw" means already. For example, "tum laew" means I've done it already. Or it could mean "anymore" when it's used with "mai" (which means no / not). For example, "mai kin leaw" means "I don't eat that anymore" or "I don't want to eat anymore." But sometimes it doesn't really mean anything. (I know Thai is strange.) For example, the sentence you asked me about "leaw khun la" just means "what about you?" We can say just "khun la" without the "leaw" and it still means the same thing.
hi om! im back
i am still practicing to speak in thai
:)
should i say 'NA' means please coz i heard it in thai movie,
but i read another meaning of please, and its not "NA"
and what is the other term for kor thot? i heard it again in thai movie and correct me if im wrong
"KO TON JING NA"
No, "na" doesn't really mean "please." It doesn't mean anything. For example, I could say "chan im laew" or "chan im laew na," and both sentences mean "I'm full." "Na" might help emphasize what you say a little bit, but it has no meaning of its own. Another way to say "kor tote" is "kor apai." I believe what you heard was "kor tote jing na," which means "I'm really sorry."
oh!!! now its clear for me
kop khun khrap om :)
and what about if i said
you are a lier
in thai?
may i ask what is harder to learn in thai
learn to speak or how to read a thai character?
just asking..
thanks
"kon ko hok" = "you're a liar." Learning how to read in Thai is a little harder I guess.
Hi there, i love traveling to thailand and i have been trying to pick up some decent thai so i can converse to them properly.
could you please tell me how to say
'' do you have ___ '' in english?
Also there was this one i was on a cab and the driver tried to cheat me by going the longer way and i was so angry that the fare was twice the price. so how do i say '' why is it so far?'' in thai? of course in a polite way. ;)
Cheers Om!
I am confused about masculine/feminine in my beginners thai book. for example I'd like… can be either Pom or Chahn yark. But does it depend on the speakers sex or the person he or she is addressing??
@Fon C - "Do you have ____?" = "khun mee ____ mai?"
And "why is it so far?" = "tum mai glai jung?" :)
@Sean De Boer - It depends on the speaker. :)
Thanks so much!!!
You wouldn't mind if I ask you more do you?:)
how about if I would like to say "is it cheaper if I buy more pieces"
Or
"can you make it cheaper if I buy more?"
Cheers:)
You can say "tah seu lai chin (if I buy many pieces), lod raka dai mai (can you lower the price)?"
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me. :)
thanks om! i'm going to bangkok later in the morning!
I'm thinking of going to the amulet market to get something for myself, like a career amulet.. is there such a thing?
Hmmm...probably. I've heard about it but never tried to shop for one myself. Have a wonderful trip.
Sawakeekrap Om, I'm starting to learn thai language just few days ago. That is because I was inspired by Bell Nuntita who surprised the world lately. I'm sure you know her. Rak is "love/like" in thai right? You used Chom. Is it the same? :)
Rak means love, and Chob means like. Actually, I have no idea who Bell Nuntita is. LOL
this is nice..
like it
Thank you. :)
:D can i ask somethin'
if you dont mind...
"i need someone" in thai... thx in advance
"I need someone" = "chan tong kan krai sak kon" :)
kup kun kap ;) correct me if im wrong...
umm..
can i ask something..?
how do you say "You make me feel crazy" in thai...?
tnx in advance..!
@CDeon - You're welcome.
@ChenMaurer - Interesting question. Well, you can say "khun tam hai chan (or pom) pen bah!"
Hey, I was wondering if you can translate something for me? Thanks so much! :)
????????????????????
Yes, I can try. What would you like me to translate for you?
Will visit Thailand and will definitely use these expressions.
Sawadeeka,
I just came back from a trip to Thailand and I loved it :D. I loved it so much that I'm even thinking of learning thai, do you have any advice on how to learn the language? You also talked about how humor helped you learn english, so do you have any funny thai series or comic strip to promose to me?
Kop kun ka :)
@kerlynb - Cool! Have an awesome trip.
@Twinklelight - Hi. Glad to hear you had a lovely time in Thailand. I can't think of any funny Thai series right now. You can try Rosetta Stone, though.
Hello there, it's nice to know you moved out of bkk for CA. I've bookmarked this page and been coming back for more thai words to learn. Keep this page up and active there ;) & Khob khun mak ka for all the recipes! I've been learning bits and pieces of Thai and met plenty of khon thai in SG. You're just different. :)
& for all out thr who wants to learn it easy, listen to thai songs!
Hi. Thanks so much for your kind comment. I agree listening to Thai songs is another great way to learn Thai. :)
Great post..nice
Thanks :)
sawatdee Om
please can you tell me how to say "take care of yourself" in Thai :-)
phlaat naa nee hap lae yang hai khoon aawm phohm aat khaaw hai khoon baang sing baang a yaang eek khrang khaawk ohp khoon khoon
please correct me if im wrong..
its been a long time that i never visit your page because im busy to study a thai language..
@james - You can say "do lae tua eng duay na."
@jason - oh man! where did you get that sentence from? It's quite confusing...doesn't make much sense, really.
korp khun pi Om krap!
You're welcome. :)
May i know any Indian Vegetarian Restaurant near SCP Plaza and Chidlom station
Hi,hope you can help me my girl friend in thailand says something to me whitch i dont understand.i try to spell it the best i can..lol
"mui ru lung lay mui nun lher" or something like that.
Many Thanks
@ A - Sorry, I haven't been back to Thailand for years. I can't help you with restaurants' locations.
@Scott - Hey! I think she might have said "mai ru lung lay," which means "I don't know. I'm hesitating." Not sure about the last three words, though.
Been to Koh Samui and loved the place, Just like Goa-India-my homeplace.But most of all I love the simple and helpful people. Made a few friends...whom I miss..
Cool! Glad to hear you have a lot of nice memories about Thailand and Thai people. :)
Hi,
Would like to check with you, when a guy use ok.. na ka na ka..
is there any meaning cos i know na and ka is say behind a sentence for politeness but by say it many time, is there any meaning? I saw one of the forumer from a website saying na ka mention a few time is equal to missing someone, is it true? =)
Hi, when someone says na ka or na krup many times, it could just mean they want to emphasize what they're saying. I don't think it implies they're missing someone.
Sawaddee Om.
.
Chan Chob Your Webdite. Its a wonderful effort you have taken by way of which a lot of people must be benefitting every day and every moment. Keep up the good work. Chan Chob muang thai, chan chob kon thai.
Is there any way of directly dropping down a mail to you? my mail id is beingfriends@yahoo.com
.
A Good Job on the Website once again.
Sawaddee ka, Al. I'm glad you like this article. But sorry I don't usually exchange emails with my readers. If you have any questions about the Thai language, feel free to ask me here. I usually respond to all the comments and questions pretty quickly. :)
Brilliant page and very useful for my trip to Thailand in November. Thank you very much x
You're welcome. Have a great trip! :)
Kob kun for the hub, it is useful because I will go to Thailand next year.
You're welcome. Hope you have a great time there.
hi om..i wanted to ask u,my friend say a word in thai but i cant understand it..sorry i dont know the actual spelling but the sound is maybe like this..'khun kab ban' and 'tam wun'..what that means?..lastly how to say clever
study
before
but
take care
what you wearing
in thai??khun kab..:-)
Hello emerald, "khun kab ban" means "you're going home." I'm not sure what "tam wun" means, though. And here's how to say those words:
clever = chalad
study = rian nung sue
before = gawn
but = tae
take care = doo rae tua eng duey na
what wre you wearing? = khun sai chud arai
khob khun om..thamks,u are really nice guy
hi om , how will you say in thai "will you be my girlfriend/boyfriend ?
Godbless you =
i miss you =
your my angel =
"Will you be my bf/gf?" = khun yak pen fan chan mai?
"God bless you" = chok dee na (It actually means good luck. People don't say god bless in Thailand.)
"I miss you." = chan kit teung khun.
"you're my angel" = khun keu nang fah kong chan.
thanks om.. just wondering if you know where we can stay, just a cheaper one ?
sabye d ja. what does it mean ?
thanks :)
hi om .. how will you say this in thai ..
goodnight =
goodmorning =
Hi nhet, I don't live in Thailand anymore so I can't really give you advice on affordable hotels....sorry. "sabye dee ja" = "I'm fine." Good Night = ratri sawad, and Good Morning = sawaddee ton chao
kob kun ka :) mmm.i love thai people a lot .. they are so sweet .. so your are om ^^,
Me? Sweet? haha....well, thanks. It's very nice of you. Glad you like Thai people. :)
yes coz your of thai people i love hehehe. anyways how do you say in thai.
have you eaten already your breakfast.lunch.dinner =
im glad you love it =
im serious =
you really amaze me =
kon kun ka ^^
Okay here you go:
"gin kao reu yung" = have you eaten already? (works for all meals)
"chan dee jai tee khun chob" = "I'm glad you love it."
"mai dai law len" = I'm serious...or more like "I'm not kidding." This is just the way the Thais say it.
"khun tam hai chan pra tap jai mak" = "you really amaze me."
Good luck making Thai friends. :)
hi Om Paramapoonya, can i know how to say " you look sweet " , " good night and sweet dream " , " im learning thai "
:)
Nice page but I think here are many mistakes. Like "No" it is usually not "Mai chai". Instead you just "Mai". And "Yes" you just say "khrab/Ka", not "Chai". Maybe "Chai" is more formal.
If I look the list in a restaurant then how do I say "I would like number 1". Can I say: "Ow nueng khrab"?
@nick - "you look sweet" = "khun nah rak." or "khun do awn waan" (nah rak is like "physically cute", and "awn wan" is like "gentle and sweet personality".)
"good night and sweet dream" = "ratree sawad. Fun dee na"
"I'm learning Thai." = "chan kumlung rian pasa Thai."
@MikaK - Uh....no those are not mistakes. Believe me I have been speaking Thai since I was two. You can either say just "mai" or "mai chai" for "no". Similarly, "chai" "krab" and "ka" all work when you wanna say "yes." "I would like number 1" = "Ow mai lek neung krab" (I'm sure most restaurant staff members understand "number one", though.)
OK. Can I say:
"I want number 12 with chicken"
"Ow mai lek sip soong kai"
Is that correct? What does that "mai lek" mean? Why do you need it there?
"mai lek" means number. You can also say "ber" instead of "mai lek." For example, you can say "ow ber sip song kub kai" which means "I want number 12 with chicke." (kub = with)
What does ''ko leaw tee...... tah hag mia luk'' mean in thai language?
i am american, and received this msg from a guy i met few days ago. he is from thailand and speaks good english. i want to surprise him and reply smth back
thanks a lot in advance
Ummm....to be honest, I'm not sure what that means. Sometimes it's hard read a Thai sentence spelled in English. I'd rather not try to figure it out cuz I don't want to translate it wrong and cause a misunderstanding between you and your friend.
dear om paramapoonya!
i was so thrilled to find this web, that i forgot my greetings...
i cant wait to find out what that msg meant
thanks a lot! and wow you're doing an amazing job
Thanks. :)
Thanks for your translation..
can i know how to say " take care my friends "
" good bye "
" i want to try your cooking "
" do you miss me "
THanks :P
om paramapoonya,
may be you can help me with this one - how can i say in thai ''actually i dont need any MEDICAL help. i am not sick. viwat is not my aide, he is my boyfriend. i have an aide to help me. if i am sick, i go to see a doctor like everybody else.''
wheeew, is that too complicated??
thanks a lot!
@Nick - "Take care my friends" = "do lae tua eng duey na peaun peaun." You can say "sawaddee" for "good bye" as well as "hello." The exact word for "good bye" is "laa gon" but I don't think people normally say that. They usually say "laa gon" only when they're not going to see that person for a very very very long time. "I want to try your cooking" = "pom yak long taan ahan tee khun tum." "Do you miss me?" = "khun kit teaung pom mai"
@Laura - You can say, "Chan mai jum pen tong pai haa maw. Chan sabai dee. Viwat mai chai poo cheuy kong chan. Kao pen fan chan. Chan mee poo cheuy yu laew. Taa chan mai sabai, chan ko pai haa maw meaun kon eaun."
thanks a lot!!!
You're welcome.
om..sawadee...
what is the meaning 'kap lau,pucai mai mi..metong pai'..
kob khun..:-)
can i know how say " i will go thailand to find you one day; ... :P
@emerald - This might sound a little strange, but I think it means "I'm going back now. There're no men there. I'm not going."
@Yumi - You can say "sak wan neung chan ja pai haa khun tee muang Thai."
thanks om..
u r really genius..hahaha..
i also think that she wanna say like that..
khob kun..
can i know how to say " i love this song very much dear " :)
Thanks again Om :P
@emerald - You're welcome.
@Yumi - You can say "chan chob pleng nee mak tee rak"
thanks om.. you are great! :P
wow...this is a great page...
Ive been in thailand last week,i do really love now the thai food and now i want to learn thai language.I know its hard to learn thai but hopefully i can learn and can speak someday.
My problem now is i dont know the accent.Becuase if you dont know how to pronouce correctly this will not understand you.=(
WOW! Khun Om...great site. I mean really great site. I am 1/2 Thai and visit my family in Thailand semi-regularly, but have never picked up the language. All of my family and friends in Thailand speak English...
I've just recently returned home from my last visit and am determined to learn. That's my way of saying that I'll be visiting your page often =) 55555
Kob khun mak krup! Sawadee krup!
@Anne - Try renting Thai movies and learn the pronunciation from them. Or if you're really serious about learning Thai, you might want to try a language-learning software program. Good luck.
@David - Cool! Glad you found this article helpful. If you have any questions or want to know how to say certain phrases in Thai, feel free to ask me.
Hi Om,
Any difference between chan rak ter and chan chawp ter?
How about khun vs ter? Kob khun krub.
"chan rak ter" = "I love you." "chan chawp ter" = "I like you." And "khun" is more formal than "ter." You can call your friends or coworkers "ter" but you wouldn't want to call your boss or professor that.
Deary Khun Om,
i'm Content Editor from Phuket Explorer Magazine ka (Free Copy For Traveller in Phuket)
i found this articles and i think its great for many Traveller in thailand .
i hope i can public some part of thia article on the next issue if you allow
can you please share this wonderful knowleadge on our magazine ka? sure, we'll say thank you for you and show this URL on that page.
hope to hear from you and sorry for my bad english na ka
regards
sumana
Hello, Khun Sumana. May I ask you whether your magazine is an e-magazine or a real paper magazine? If it is a real magazine, I don't mind you publishing part of this article in it at all and would also really appreciate it if you share this page's URL on the article. If it is an e-magazine (online magazine), however, I'm afraid I will have to say no. It's not that I don't trust your site. It's just because Google frowns upon duplicate content and that would likely affect our web traffic.
Good afternooon ka,
Phuket Explorer is a real paper magazine. the traveller will catch its at the airport , hotel , cafe and many place in phuket .
anyway , we have website ( http://www.phuket-explorer.com/) and sometime we post the article on our website also.
but it's ok if you worry about that we'll public your article only in real paper magazine ka
next step i'll send you the article that we'll public to you. can u please give me ur email ka?
we'll public this article after you approved . and then i'll send real paper magazine to you by airmail ka
my email is sumana.thai@gmail.com naka
hope to hear from you again ka
Thanks with best personal regards
Sumana
Dear Om,
Can yo please help me with this translation " mai yak rak ek leaw "
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Lovansa
@Sumana - All right. Sounds good ka. I will email you soon.
@Lovansa - It means "I don't want to love anymore."
please can u tell me what "mai ow krap" means thanks :)
It means "I don't want it."
can you please translate he/she in thai
and what is the meaning of lao
he = kao
she = kao or teu
lao = we
could i ask you something how do you say i missing thai people;in thai.
please can you tell me how to say "I would be very grateful" ...I would be very grateful :P
@dayday - "chan kit teung kon Thai."
@James - Formal way: "pom (chan) ja sum neuk nai boon kun kong khun pen yang ying" Informal way: "pom (chan) ja kob khun pen yang mak"
i really love Thai language and i want to go in Thailand.
Glad to hear that. You should start planning for your trip then! :)
hi om can u plz tell me the best way to learn thai online coz i love thai language Thailand n Thai people r best
I think you can learn a lot about the Thai language by finding a Thai friend and chatting with them online relugarly (Skype, MSN Messenger, etc.) This way you can hear the correct pronunciation and have a real conversation. Good luck. :)
How do you say: "Can I have a beer please"?
Hi, I am learning some Thai phrase for my Thailand trip in next month. I have some problem cause i don't know how to pronounce these Thai words. If you have some clip to teach how pronounce this is the best. Thanks
@MikaK - You can say "kaw beer krub (or ka)" Check out this article: http://om-paramapoonya.hubpages.com/hub/learning_t It's about how to order food in Thai.
@Summer - Yeah, I know some audio would be helpful. I'm thinking about doing that.
hello!
I have an assignment i have to do for a business class and i was wondering if you could tell me how to say "would you like to try our food"
thanks
You can say "yak long chim ah-han kong rao mai ka."
Wow! This is a nice place to get answers!
Anyway Sawadee kup om!
Yin dee ti dai ru juk! 555..
How do i say just joking in thai?
Korp kun krap!
Hello! could you please tell me what's the meaning of "roo suek barng mhai"? Hehe
Wow... this is a good place of learning more about thai... :)
kub kon kraup.. :)
@troublistic - "law len" = just kidding.....By the way, yin dee tee dai ru jak you too.
@Joshua - It means "Do you feel anything at all?"
@lamjoelhanes - You're very welcome.
Kob Kun krab!
roo suek barng mhai is a Song by August Band in Thailand.
do you know that song?
I followed you on Twitter, I hope you'll follow me too.
I really want to learn Thai. :)
ahm can I ask again?
what's the difference of krap, and krab? I'm just curious. 55555
@Joshua - Nah, I don't know that song. I'm following you on Twitter now. And I think "krab" is just a more correct spelling for what Thai men say at the end of sentences to show politeness. It actually should be "krub," because that's exactly how it's pronounced.
Kob Kun Krub!
Salamat po in Filipino :)
Sawade khap Om Paramapoonya ,, i reaaly enjoyed your Thai Library... Khap!
Kub kon khap Om...
chok de na ^^,
i'm following you in twitter :)
Thanks! :)
What is meant by "Duh" in THAI ?
Hello C jark, I don't think there's the word "duh" in Thai.....Can you give me the context? That way I might be able to figure out what the person was trying to say.
Hi Om,
Korpkunkha! Chan choop phassa thai jing jing :) (did i say that right?) can i just ask what are the meaning of these words?
-gor
-leawgor
-thammada
-tee sood
Heya, i would like to know how to say "are you feeling better now" in thai.
@Stella - Hi. Yep, you said that right! And here are my answers: gor = so or well, leawgor = and then or and so, thammada = normal or regular, tee sood = the most
@Rave = "khun roo seuk dee keun mai?"
Korpkun makmak P'Om :) Chan khao jai leaw!
This website of yours, geng mak! very useful for people learning basic thai :)
Thanks! :)
Sawadee khrup!
Very helpfull..kob khun mak mak
How to say "Please appreciate what we do" in thai
I just translate at google, but i think, it was wrong..
" ??????????????????????? "
"Please appreciate what we do"?....I guess you could say "prod cheun chom nai sing tee rao tum."
sawadee krup , sabai dee mai Om krup? sabai dee krup.
thanks Om luv your hub!! this is really cool. im
learning alot. this is my first time here. i lived in thailand for 2 years and teached english in don mueang.i am back in south carolina visiting my family. i miss thailand my friends and my students very much. thank u so much for helping me keep in touch with them. u rock dude. doo lae tour aeng duay na krup. swadee krup
Dear Om..kob khun mak khrap
Hi Joey and Eddy. Yin dee ka (My pleasure!) Glad you found this article interesting and helpful. :)
Hi Om,
Thanks for your help previously :) i appreciate it. However i still need to fill more knowledge on this amazing language.
May i ask what this means:
- tea wa
- kon
Thank you Om~
Rave.
Hi, can you tell me what this means please?
Pom chob khun. Khun ron pom jai. Pom lap khun fan.
How do I say: "Can I have red curry chicken and a large Singha please"?
Something like:
Khaw kaeng phet kai la sing yai noi khap
Do i need to use thati "noi" always at the end of the sentence?
@Rave - "kon" = means people or humans. Not sure what "tea wa" means. Can you please give me the context?
@Luna - It basically means "I like you and want you to be my girlfriend."
@MikaK - No, you don't always have to use the word "noi." To make clearer, maybe you should say "kaw kaeng pet kai kub beer sing kuad yai krub."
Sawadee khrup kru om, kru om sabai dee Mai? I wanna ask you some questions, what is the meaning of loo ka, Mai sia jai, soot tai and pun na (or pum na)?
Excellent Om! It's so great to have you here.
May I ask if you can tell me what "kae wa" means?
Thanks!
@Robert - Hello. Here are my answers for you: "loo ka" = I know, "mai sia jai" = I'm not sad or I don't regret it, "soot tai" = the last or finally....Not sure what "pum na" means. It might actually be "pom na" which means "It's me."
@Elisha - Can you give me the context? It sounds like the person was saying "That's old." But I'm not sure. The context would help me understand it better.
Kop khoon khrup na :) kru om.
Thanks Om. "...gu chob kon kae wa..." something like that... thanks once again!
Hi Om. i have an old friend in Thailand who I have just made contact with again after 20 years(her name is also Om). In her last email she said "Tum jai hi mee Kham suk na ka". Can you please tell me what this means ?
Just come across your site while trying to find atranslation. Great site. Thanks
@Elisha - "kon kae" in that sentence means "old people."
@Graeme - It means "keep your mind happy."
Thanks Om!
Thanks for that
Om do you have twitter coz i'm searching you there but i can't find your account
@JeffRacs - Yep. Scroll back up, and you'll find the link to my twitter account at the bottom of the article. It says "Find Om on Twitter."
CHAN CHOB MUENG THAI
CHAN CHOB KON THAI
Thanks. Glad to hear that. :)
hi om
please translate it for me...
khwaai reu bpaao ruu jak gaaw mai ruu jak ao maa thaaek mai la
meung ao aawk bpai leeuy na
giaao rai gap guu wa
please translate it for me ill wait thanks
Or rather,
Kun aem. Pom ? lok kun na kun song maa pom gor aan kong kun mai daai
Sawatdee krub P'Om. Phom chob tee hubpages na. Kop khun mak for this. Phom nak rian yu tee mahawitayalai nana jad yu tee Saraburi taewa phom ma jak prathet Malaysia. Ruu jak pasa thai nit noy krub.
I want to ask, how do you say this in Thai:-
my friend teach me -
teach me (more) -
because, if -
Kop khun mak krub.
@Jason - Whoever said this was being pretty rude, so I won't translate every word. Basically, it means "I don't know you. Get this out of here or remove it now."
@Lyne - Sounds like that person's trying to say he is unable to read the messages you sent him.
@Charlie - Hi! A close friend of mine is from Salaburi. It's a nice little town, isn't it? Hope you're having a good time there. Here are my answers for you.
My friends teach me = peaun phom sawn phom
teach me more = sawn phom eek na
because = praw waa
if = taa
chan chob:P
Yes, Saraburi is a nice place. I love it here. Right now the weather is cold and I'm liking it. I wish you well over there.
Thanks :)
Hi, can you help me translate these sentences into Thai? (:
" do you understand what I'm thinking? "
" im missing you even though I know that you don't miss me at all".
" no, you don't."
" no, you don't understand."
Khop kun ka (:
Hi Om...heading to pattaya for golf this xmas. Afraid i might hv some problem communicating with d caddy :'(
@Chanel - "Do you understand what I'm thinking?" = khun kao jai nai sing tee chan kid mai, "I'm missing you even though I know that you don't miss me at all" = chan kid teung khun teung mae wah khun ja mai dai kid teung chan, "No, you don't understand" = khun mai kao jai As for "no, you don't," there are a few ways to say it, depending on the context.
iDeck - There are many foreign travellers going to Pattaya every year, so lots of Thai people who work there can usually communicate in English. So I don't think you need to worry about that. Have a nice trip.
Hi Om, I fall in love with a thai girl some days ago. Unfortunately she can't speak / read English. Would you please be so kind an translate the following for me?
"Hi sweety, I miss you so much. I am thinking of you all the time. I hope you feel better now because the last days you looked very sick. Could you send me the photos with you and me, please? I will try to come back to you as soon as possible, maybe in march or april 2012. I love you! Please answer!"
Ok, I got in contact with her and she sent me some photos :)
@Mr Z. - Here you go (I translated everything except the part about the photo, since you said you already received it.):
"Sawaddee teeruk. Pom kid teung khun mak. Pom neuk teung khun ta lod wae ra. Krao tee laew khun do mai koi sabai. Pom wang wah khun rue seuk dee keun laew. Pom ja payayam klup pai haa khun hai raew tee sud. aad ja pen deaun mena reu maesa. Pom ruk khun. Dai prod kian tob klap ma teung pom duey."
please ntranslate it in thai language
angry
lonely
im late
come with me
kop khun krap..
chok dee om :)
angry = krote, lonely = ngao, I'm late = chan maa sai, come with me = maa kub chan
Do you received my email? Kob khun krub for the translation.
Very handy! I think it's important to learn a bit of any language before visiting a country, even if they speak English as a second language and are used to tourists. It's not only good manners but it can also be fun as well.
@Mr. Z - No. It probably went to my junk mail. If you have any questions, it's better to post them here.
@travelo - Exactly. Thanks for stopping by, travelo.
it is a little private.. so i would love to get in touch with you on a more private way like email.
hhensen07 (at) web (dot) de
hi om... do you know how to write thai language like
: ??????? ? i want to start learning the phonetics of every vowel and consonants of thai language.. :)
kub khun khrap :)
@Mr. z. - Hi. Thanks for trusting me to translate your personal letters, but I'm sorry it is not something I feel comfortable doing. I am already pretty busy and can hardly find time to respond to comments/questions on all my articles. My suggestion is that you look for a pro translater who can work with you on a regular basis. Sorry again for not being able to help. I hope your relationship turn out to be very successful.
@Iamjoelhanes - Yes, I know Thai alphabet but I won't be able to teach you because I don't have a Thai language program on my computer so I can't type in Thai.
@OM: Ok, I understand. It would be just 5 sentences but i look for an alternative.
Where is the difference (if some) between phom and chan? And could you translate please "I, you, he/she/it, we, us, they"
And just fur a better understanding: The way you write the translations here is how an english speaker should pronounce the spoken thai language, right? My thai opposite can't read/write english very well. Are thai people able to understand this translations being written and not spoken? If not, what should be changed? [For example: what would be more understandable in written language? "Phom ruk khun" or "Phom rak khun"?]
Thx in advance, please keep on helping! :)
@MR.Z - "Phom" is more formal or polite than "chan," and it's only for men. Women always say "chan".
"I" = phom / chan, "you" = khun, "he" or "she" = kao, "it" = mun, "we" and "us" = rao, "they" = puak kao
And yes, I spell these Thai words the way they should be pronounced. Most Thai people (but maybe not all) should be able to understand it. I do this on Facebook all the time, and my aunt, who's not very familiar with the English language at all, can understand what I write just fine. You can either say "phom ruk khun" or "phom rak khun". Both are understandable, but "Ruk" is more correct because it's supposed to be pronounced with the "u" sound like in "luck" or "hug".
Hi Om,
what means the word "ton" (Pom kid teung khun mak, ton). Or could it be a name?
Yeah, it sounds like a nickname.
what is the best new year gift for old man & old woman during thai new year?can you give some suggestions as per thai culture..
Hmmm....maybe flower baskets or fine China sets.
Wow Ive spent a lot of time training around various gyms and I can never seem to grasp the language all I pick up is sabai sabai. Thx guys great site
Haha Sabai is a good word to know. Thanks for dropping by.
Just a heads up, all of this is written for a female speaker. (:
(I am trilingual. :D)
@momo - Hi. Thanks for dropping by. I guess you said so because of the pronoun "chan" in those sentences. Actually, a guy can say "chan" too, without making people assume he might be gay. "Phom" is more formal and only for men to use. "Dee chan" is the formal first-person pronoun for women. And "chan" can be used by either men or women in an informal conversation. :)
Sawadee kha. I'm canadian (french) and i'm going to study in thailand from july 2012 to december '12. Im gonna be mathayom4. I just want to know how to say i dont understand and some words as homework , + - x / for maths , well things like this . Kob khun ka :))
Hi! I'm glad to hear that you're going to spend about five months in Thailand. Hope you have a wonderful time there and make lots of friends. And here are the answers:
homework = kaan baan
+ = buak
- = lob
x = koon
/ = haan
Heya Om, might I ask how to say: " I do not like to share". Thanks!
You can say "chan mai chob bang-pun"
Thanks a lot Om :):)
hey me again ^^ what about if a guy with who i'm chating and that i'm gonna meet in thailand, always write me chan rak ther when we say bye. what does it means? khob khun ka
@c-canada-g - It means "I love you."
Awww :3 thanks
Wot Do i say for "here i come bangkok" in thai...
@Hari - "Bangkok chan ma laew"
please tell the meaning of chob jai jah...??
If the "ch" is pronounced like a "k" in "king", then it means "thanks." But if it's pronounced like a "ch" in "change", it means "I like that" or "I'm satisfied."
Which spelling is more correct? "Sawadee khrap" or "sawadee khrup"? And can "na ka" be used after "sawadee khrap/khrup"?
"Sawadee krup" is more correct. And no, you cannot say "sawadee krup na ka." Only "sawadee krup" (for male speakers) or "sawadee ka" (for female speakers).
Thanks :)
Thanx.. :-) pls tell me the meaning of "fan dee chen kan jah"
I believe it means "hope you have sweet dreams too"
Hi Om-
How would you say - a lifestyle in Thai? In addition, how would you also say happy feet in Thai? Is it possible to just have one word for both English words?
Please let me know. Thank you so much!
for men, Chan should be replaced with Phom... yes?
I studied in Thailand for a year in 1992-1993. I used to be very fluent in Thai, but that was a long time ago! I am meeting my best friend from Thailand next month, so this site was helpful.. I
am in contact with several Thai
friends via face book, and when
they chat with me, they always
say "naja" at the end of their sentances. What does this mean? I forgot.
@joadel - Lifestyle = "wee tee chee wit" Happy feet = "sabai tao". I don't think I understand your question about one Thai word for both English words. What are the two English words you're talking about? Happy feet? If so, then the answer is no.
@canadajaidee - Men can say "phom" in all types of conversation and say "chan" in an informal conversation, like when they're talking to friends.
@Shelly - "Naja" doesn't really mean anything. It's usually added to the ends of sentences to show more friendliness. That's all.
Sawaddee Om-paramapoonya great site. 1st time commenting on a hub page. so hopefully this will go through. i have a thai freind and i surprised her with some basic thai from your hub, somay i request the meanings of these phrases into thai.
-What did you have to eat tonight?
-Have a good time. -Have a great time.
-Goodnight, have sweet dreams.
-See you later. -Talk to you later.
-I care about you/alot.
-You look beautiful/there.
-I do miss you.
-What are you doing?
And is there another way to say bye/goodbye other than sawaddee or lakorn? I accidently said lakorn and she didnt like it. It made her a little sad, so if there is any other (less formal) that would be much appreciated.
Kob kun krub :)
Hi Om, please translate:
"Hello my sunshine. I hope you had a nice birthday celebration. I think I need to learn thai language to talk to you via phone. My friend and I come to Phuket in the last 2 weeks of april. I hope you will wait for me."
Thanks!!!
@Jason - Here you go:
-What did you have to eat tonight? = khun kin arai keun nee
-Have a good time / Have a great time. = kor hai sanook na
-Goodnight, have sweet dreams. = ratree-sawad fun dee na
-See you later. = laew pob kun mai na
-Talk to you later. = laew kui kun mai na
-I care about you/alot. = phom pen huang khun maak
-You look beautiful/there. = khun do suay maak
-I do miss you. = phom kid teung khun
-What are you doing? = khun tum arai yu
To say goodbye, you can just say "bye" or "sawaddee." "Lakorn" implies that you won't see her for a long time, so that's probably why it made her sad.
@Mr Z - "Sawaddee tee rak. Phom wung wah khun mee kwam suk nai ngan chalong wun kerd. Phom ja rian pasa thai, ja dai poot kub khun dai taang to-ra-sup. Phom kub peaun ja pai tiew phuket pramaan song aatit prai deaun maysa. Wung wah khun ja koy phom yu tee nun."
Thankyou very much.
Thank you for the translation. Quick question, how do you pronounce Sabai Tao? I love this word.
Thank you for your help.
Joadel
Just pronounce it the way it's spelled. :)
My experience in Thailand: Always put kaa or krub at the end of ANYTHING you say.
Saying "krup" or "ka" will make you sound very polite, and people might like you a little more. It's not a must, though.
Sawaddee, me again, i commented on a status of my friend.
And she replied... Korb khun mak na ka.
can you translate this for me please!
kob kun krub
@Jason: It means 'Thank you very much'. But you might have known that on your own ;-)
@Jason - Mr. Z is correct. It means thank you very much.
yeah! i guess i did, just wanted to make sure. Thanx
Sorry Om- Don't mean to keep pestering; however, is Sabai pronounced Sa-baai or Sa-baai? In addition, is Tao pronounced T-a-o or Dao (such as the religion pronounciation)? Please let me know as we're looking to place Sabai Tao on a proposal and when speaking about it, I want to make certain I don't look like a fool. :-)
Best regards,
joadel
It's like "sa-bye" and "Tao", not dao.
Perfect! Thank you so much!!
How do you say
I would like a drink of Cider thanks
I don't think people drink cider in Thailand. If you happen to be in a place that serves cider, I'm pretty sure they'd just call it "cider." So you can say "kaw cider kaew neung krub" if you're a male, or "kaw cider kaew neung ka" if you're a female.
Sawadi ka.
I want to know, what did these sentences meant? I got it form a friend that I just know about few days agoin Twitter. I greeted her using Thai then she replied it back to me in Thai and I'm blanked.
''mai pen rai ka. sweet dream na ka.''
''mai dai len laew''
It means: "That's ok. Sweet dreams. I can't (or don't) play anymore."
How to say " I hope you don't break my heart". Thanks!
@msii - "wung wah khun ja mai tum rai hua jai kong chan"
pls tell meh how to say-hello…i m some sarna and i m calling from india…so very important me to talk to dr.pichet..
pls translate it for me..plsss
@somya - Hi. I'm not sure if you're a male or female, so I'll just translate both ways:
(for male speaker): "Sawaddee krub. Pom cheu Some Sarna. Pom toe ma jaak India. Pom mee reung sum-kun tee ja pood kub Dr. Pichet."
(for female speaker): "Sawaddee ka. Chan cheu Some Sarna. Chan toe ma jaak India. Chan mee reung sum-kun tee ja pood kub Dr. Pichet."
Hi, can you tell me how you say in Thai: I love you as friend?
I am very interested in your language. It's beautiful.
Thank you
Annie
Useful Websites about Thailand
SweetiePie Level 6 Commenter 3 years ago
My dad was stationed in Thailand and he love the Thai languages and culture. Thanks for the interesting hub. Thailand is a beautfiul country.