Basic Thai Phrases For Your First Visit

Learning the basics of a language can undoubtedly enhance your experience in a country. By acquiring a few useful words and phrases, not only will you be able to communicate more easily but locals will also be more willing to interact with you, knowing that you are making an effort to bridge cultural barriers. This holds true for your visit to Thailand as well. Understanding basic Thai phrases will greatly benefit you during your time in the country, enabling you to effectively communicate with the Thai people, whether you are there for an extended stay or just a short trip.

Even if you’re only traveling to Thailand for a short period of time, we’re not suggesting that you should be researching uncommon grammar, reading classical Thai literature, or attempting to decipher the complex Thai script (although it’s worth noting that the Thai alphabet consists of only 32 consonants and 11 vowels, making it possible for you to learn how to read it!). Nevertheless, even on a week or two-long trip to Thailand, these vital Thai expressions will undoubtedly be useful!

Do not solely depend on the fact that numerous individuals you encounter will possess the ability to communicate in English.

Word Frequency And Language Learning

Learning a new language can feel overwhelming because of the unfamiliar grammar rules and extensive vocabulary that needs to be memorized.

When considering it carefully, the situation may not be as intimidating as it initially appears. Consider this, do you make use of every word you are familiar with every day? Are you even acquainted with every word in your own language? Unless you routinely read the dictionary, I sincerely doubt that you do.

When considering the words we use frequently in everyday conversations, it is not necessary to learn the Thai word for ‘photosynthesis’ right at the beginning unless one is employed in a plant-related industry. By the way, the Thai word for photosynthesis is ‘gaan sang krah seng’.

Depending on the source, approximately 800 words are necessary to comprehend about 75% of daily spoken language. This quantity may still seem substantial, yet it is undeniably lower than thousands.

So, isn’t it logical to prioritize learning this vocabulary in order to optimize your learning? This way, you not only decrease the task of learning numerous unrelated words but also get the opportunity to begin utilizing the language sooner, as you are actually learning valuable vocabulary.

To make learning Thai less difficult, it is advised for Thai learners to familiarize themselves with the most frequently used Thai words. This data can be utilized to guide your learning process.

50 Most Commonly Used Thai Words

The breakdown of the most commonly used words is what you have been waiting for. The first batch is presented here.

50-41

50: ???? (chao) – morning, a.m. (6am – 11am)
49: ??? (chob) – to like, be fond of
48: ???? (jaai) – to pay, spend
47: ??? (jaak) – from
46: ???? (ngaai) – to be easy
45: ????(???) (nguang) – to be sleepy
44: ??? (ka) – polite particle, the statement by a female
43: ?????? (khao jai) – to understand, understood
42: ???? (kuen) – to go up, get on
41: ??? (kai) – to sell

There are some interesting words here, as you can see. The word ‘ka’ (???) that is used to show politeness appears at a lower position than I expected. It is commonly used in Thailand. Additionally, the word for morning, which is necessary to indicate the time of day, is also included here.

When you visit, you will become familiar with the word understand or ‘khao jai’ (??????), which may also be necessary for emergencies. Apart from that, there are other verbs like ‘chob’ (???) that you would use when talking to a loved one in Thai (or just in general).

40 – 31

40: ????? (kaang) – next to (something or someone), beside
39: ???(??) (kap (rot)) – to drive (a car)
38: ??? (kong) – of, belonging to
37: ??? (glai) – far
36: ???? (gao) – old (of things), former, previous
35: ????(????) (gi loo (gram)) – kilogram (metric system)
34: ??? (gin) – to eat, drink, consume, have
33: ????? … ???? (gam lang…yuu) – in the process of…
32: ?????? (gaang geeng) – trousers, pants
31: ???? (gon) – before, first

In addition to the previous mentioned words, it is also useful to know the Thai word for a kilogram, which is ‘gi loo gram’. Furthermore, there are also words for clothing items like trousers. Additionally, the word for eating, ‘gin’, is another important word that you might expect to come up later, considering the significant role of Thai cuisine in the culture.

30 – 21

30: ???? (glap) – to return
29: (???)??? ((khun) phaw) – father, papa, daddy
28: ???? (mai) – again, new
27: ???? (nao) – to be cold (feeling, weather)
26: ???? (laang) – to wash (e.g. dishes, hands)
25: ?? (rot) – car, a general word for transportation
24: ??? (miit) – knife
23: ?? (mii) – to have
22: ??? (bpuu) – grandfather (father’s father), father-in-law (husband’s father), crab
21: ????????? (tiang wan) – midday, noon

The word ‘mii’ (??) is considered one of the most essential words in any language and it holds the 23rd position. Familiarize yourself with this word as it will be used in various situations. The initial means of transportation is mentioned. In Thai, cars are referred to as ‘rot’ (??), but scooters or motorbikes are more prevalent.

Thailand’s weather is extremely hot, but certain indoor spaces have very cold air conditioning. That is when it is necessary to be familiar with the word ‘nao’ (????), which signifies cold. Moreover, a few family words are also included here.

20 – 11

20: ??? (tuuk) – right, correct, cheap
19: ??? (tai) – south, under (for objects)
18: ??? (dai) – can, could, be able, get, obtain, procure
17: ???? (chuu) – name, to be named
16: ???? (ngern) – money, silver
15: ??? (ngan) – work
14: ??? (krai) – who, what (in some constructions)
13: ??? (khun) – you (??? + name)
12: ???? (glai) – to be near, close
11: (??)??? ((sii) daeng) – red

In Thai, we have a question word called ‘krai’ (???), which serves as the equivalent of who. These question words are crucial when acquiring a new language as they enable us to construct interrogative sentences. Additionally, we have the color red, referred to as ‘daeng’ (???) in Thai.

It is important not to overlook the Thai word for money, which is ‘ngern’ (????), while the actual currency is called ‘baht’ (???). Keep this in mind when you exchange your money.

10 – 2

10: (??)?? ((sii) dam) – black
9: ???? (yai) – big, large
8: ???? (lang) – behind, back, classifier for houses and buildings
7: ?????(???) (riian (ruu)) – to learn, study
6: ?? (pom) – I (male speaker), hair (on the head)
5: ?? (nai) – in, of, within (casual)
4: ??? (tii) – at, that, which, times, occasions; general classifier for orders of food
3: ??? (tung) – to arrive
2: ??? (dtuua) – body, physique; classifier for animals, objects with legs

As we continue to approach the most commonly used Thai word, we begin to notice the presence of certain significant ones. Initially, there is the classifier for the body, known as ‘dtuua’ (???). Additionally, there is the presence of an order indicator, referred to as ‘tii’ (???). Lastly, we encounter the classifier for houses, which is labeled as ‘lang’ (???).

In order to convey that you are studying Thai, you can use the word ‘riian’ (?????). Additionally, in Thai, the word for large is ‘yai’ (????). It is worth noting that the male pronoun used in Thai is ‘pom’ (??). Pronouns in Thai can be quite perplexing, therefore allocating sufficient time to comprehend them is highly recommended.

1

After some consideration, we ultimately reached the highest position. The word most frequently utilized in Thai language is…

1: ??? (gap) – with, by, at, and

Gap – filled with, filled by, filled at, filled and

Just like prepositions in all languages, Thai prepositions indicate the relationship between the subject and object in a sentence, as we have previously discussed.

In almost every sentence you speak, you will find that these are used in some form, regardless of the subject and object being discussed, there are a few prepositions that are used very frequently.

In addition to that, it is the term for “and,” which is the most frequent conjunction used in the Thai language. Given all of these factors, it is clear why this Thai word has landed at the top position.

Useful Phrases For Day-To-Day Life

Mastering these basic Thai phrases and words is easy, yet using them during your daily adventures ensures that no matter which part of Thailand you explore, the locals will be pleasantly impressed.

Hello – Sawadee (khrup/ka)
Yes – Chai (khrup/ka)
No – Mai (khrup/ka)
Maybe – Aaj ja (khrup/ka)
Thank you – khop khun (khrup/ka)
Sorry/excuse me – Khor thoad (khrup/ka)
Where is…? – Homg nam
Where is the bathroom? – Hong nam yoo tee nai (khrup/ka)?
No worries – Mai pen rai
Mai Dai – I can’t…
Mai khao jai – I don’t understand

Other Greetings In Thai

If you’re traveling to the Land of Smiles, it’s probable that you’ll be moving from one location to another, whether you’re exploring different islands in Thailand or simply staying in one place but attempting to experience all of its cultural attractions. No matter where you go, you can always greet individuals in the same way as the locals.

How are you? – Sa bai dee mai khrup/ka
Goodbye! – La gorn (khrup/ka)
Good Morning – sawatdee tohn chao
Good Afternoon – sawatdee tohn bai
Good Evening – sawatdee tohn yen
Good Day – chohk dee
Good Night – ra tree sawat

Useful Thai For Restaurants And Food Stalls

Thailand has an impressively rich food culture, with its street stalls, restaurants, and night markets offering a multitude of incredible experiences. Even the simplest establishments serve delicious versions of Thailand’s finest dishes. Whether you’re a food enthusiast who has visited Southeast Asia for an explosion of flavors or someone wanting to broaden their culinary knowledge, these basic Thai phrases will help you impress your server.

I would like to order – sang aa-haan
Delicious – Aroy
Not Spicy – Mai phet
A little Spicy – phet nit nawy
Really Spicy – phet mak

Useful Thai For Socialising

Thailand offers a vast array of natural wonders and captivating cultural attractions. However, one of the most rewarding aspects of visiting this country lies in engaging with its locals. If you enjoy understanding a nation through its inhabitants, then take a moment to review these fundamental Thai expressions and make a lasting impression on any Thai individuals you encounter during your stay.