Any Thai learner needs to know some common Thai vocabulary. That’s why we’ve prepared a list of useful Thai vocabulary for everyday life.
The list ranges from basic greetings to Thai words that are commonly used every day.
These terms and phrases are perfect if you’re learning Thai to use with family members or with close friends.
Learning Thai is more than memorizing words
Explore more →And memorizing and understanding these basic phrases will get you far in typical, everyday conversations with those around you.
You won’t regret it if you learn these basic Thai phrases and words. So, if you’re ready, let’s get started!
Thai Vocabulary For Everyday Life
We decided to divide this list into smaller sections according to relevance and topic, instead of just giving you a list with random Thai words.
That way, you won’t have to scroll down forever to find what you are looking for!
Once you look through the lists, you’ll notice they are not in alphabetical order.
That’s because it gets harder to memorize when the words are in alphabetical order, even if they are common words. Therefore, we just tried to mix things up a bit.
Let’s Start With Basic Thai Phrases
Basic Thai phrases, such as simple Thai words like sà wàt dii (สวัสดี), are the first words you should learn.
That’s because when you learn a new language like Thai (or any other!), the first thing you’ll likely need is to say hi to a Thai person.
Therefore, you’ll definitely use these basic Thai phrases in your daily life.
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | สวัสดี | sà wàt dii | |
| Good morning | อรุณสวัสดิ์ | à run sà wàt | |
| Good afternoon | สวัสดีตอนบ่าย | sà wát dìit on bàai | |
| Good evening | สวัสดีตอนเย็น | sà wát dìit on yen | |
| Good night | ราตรีสวัสดิ์/ฝันดี | raa dtrii sà wàt / fǎn dii | |
| How are you | คุณสบายดีไหม | kun sà baai dii mái | |
| Thank you | ขอบคุณ | kɔ̀ɔp kun | |
| No | ไม่ | mâi | |
| Delicious | อร่อย | à rɔ̀ɔi | |
| I’m… | ฉัน… | chǎn | |
| Goodbye | ลาก่อน | laa gɔ̀ɔn | |
| Yes | ใช่ | châi |

Common Thai Verbs To Expand Your Vocabulary
Verbs are the backbone of any language. Not knowing enough of them means your foreign language skills will be very limited when expressing yourself.
Verbs may be classified as the core of a sentence, since they show actions or what that particular sentence is about.
That’s why we prepared a separate list with only verbs.
It has the most fundamental and basic Thai verbs to speak Thai fluently, which will probably come in handy often.
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| To be | เป็น | bpen | |
| To like | ชอบ | chɔ̂ɔp | |
| To love | รัก | rák | |
| To sell | ขาย | kǎai | |
| To pay/spend | จ่าย | jàai | |
| To understand | เข้าใจ | kâo jai | |
| To drive | ขับ | kàp | |
| To eat | กิน | gin | |
| To forget | ลืม | lʉʉm | |
| To return | กลับ | glàp | |
| To wash | ล้าง | láang | |
| To take care of | รักษา | rák sǎa | |
| To have | มี | mii | |
| To be able to | ได้ | dâi | |
| To work | ทำงาน | tam ngaan | |
| To learn | เรียน | rian | |
| To arrive | ถึง | tʉ̌ng | |
| To assign | มอบ | mɔ̂ɔp | |
| To support | สนับสนุน | sà nàp sà nǔn | |
| To use | ใช้ | chái | |
| To do | ทำ | tam | |
| To stand | ยืน | yʉʉn | |
| To share | ร่วม | rûam | |
| To steal | ขโมย | kà mooi | |
| To go | ไป | bpai | |
| To fire | ยิง | ying | |
| To erase | ลบ | lóp | |
| To come | มา | maa | |
| To hurry | รีบ | rîip | |
| To try | ลอง | lɔɔng | |
| To laugh | หัวเราะ | hǔa rɔ́ | |
| To feel | รู้สึก | rúu sʉ̀k | |
| To quit | เลิก | lə̂ək | |
| To receive | รับ | ráp | |
| To feed | เลี้ยง | líang | |
| To turn | เลี้ยว | líao | |
| To speak | พูด | pûut | |
| To choose | เลือก | lʉ̂ak | |
| To postpone | เลื่อน | lʉ̂an | |
| To promote | เลื่อนขั้น | lʉ̂an kân | |
| To raise | ยก | yók | |
| To dance | เต้น | dtên | |
| To fall down | ล้ม | lóm | |
| To make | ทำ | tam | |
| To call out | เรียก | rîak | |
| To decrease | ลด | lót | |
| To see | เห็น | hěn | |
| To know | รู้จัก | rúu jàk | |
| To throw | โยน | yoon | |
| To disperse | กระจาย | grà jaai | |
| To look at | มอง | mɔɔng | |
| To intend | มุ่งหมาย | mûng mǎai | |
| To allow | ยอม | yɔɔm | |
| To collect | รอง | rɔɔng | |
| To think of | ระลึก | rá lʉ́k | |
| To spend time | ใช้เวลา | chái wee laa | |
| To write | เขียน | kǐan | |
| To visit | เยี่ยม | yîam | |
| To search | ค้นหา | kón hǎa |
Common Thai Prepositions
Although grammatical particles and prepositions look like they make up a tiny part of the sentence, they have important roles in communication.
Let’s imagine you spoke English without prepositions. How would it sound? Well, understandable, but not exactly right; something is lacking.
Likewise, we need Thai prepositions in daily speech. So here’s the list of commonly used prepositions in Thai:
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Between | ระหว่าง | rá wàang | |
| From | จาก | jàak | |
| That | ว่า | wâa | |
| Next to | ข้าง ๆ | kâang kâang | |
| Near | ใกล้ | glâi | |
| Far | ไกล | glai | |
| Also/too | ก็ | gɔ̂ɔ | |
| Of | ของ | kɔ̌ɔng | |
| Before | ก่อน | gɔ̀ɔn | |
| Again | ใหม่ | mài | |
| Behind | หลัง | lǎng | |
| Yet | ยัง | yang | |
| In | ใน | nai | |
| At | ที่ | tîi | |
| With/by | กับ | gàp | |
| Under | ใต้ | dtâi | |
| In the process of… | กำลัง…อยู่ | gam lang yûu | |
| Though | แม้ | mɛ́ɛ |

Common Thai Words About Daily Life
The list below has some of the most frequently used words in Thai. It goes from concrete objects to feelings.
You can form numerous Thai sentences that you will surely use in everyday life with the help of these words.
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household | ครัวเรือน | krua rʉan | |
| Umbrella | ร่ม | rôm | |
| Morning | เช้า | cháao | |
| Dawn | เช้ามืด | cháao mʉ̂ʉt | |
| Noon | เที่ยงวัน | tîang wan | |
| Shape | รูปร่าง | rûup râang | |
| Often | บ่อย ๆ | bɔ̀ɔi bɔ̀ɔi | |
| Store | ร้าน | ráan | |
| Excellent | ยอดเยี่ยม | yɔ̂ɔt yîam | |
| Order | ระเบียบ | rá bìap | |
| Wind | ลม | lom | |
| Big | ใหญ่ | yài | |
| Small | เล็ก | lék | |
| Red | แดง | dɛɛng | |
| Black | ดำ | dam | |
| Shoe | รองเท้า | rɔɔng táao | |
| Money | เงิน | ngən | |
| Price | ราคา | raa kaa | |
| Difficult | ยาก | yâak | |
| Right/correct | ถูก | tùuk | |
| Disease | โรค | rôok | |
| Knife | มีด | mîit | |
| Car | รถ | rót | |
| The world | โลก | lôok | |
| Long | ยาว | yaao | |
| Cat | แมว | mɛɛo | |
| Pants | กางเกง | gaang geeng | |
| Cloud | เมฆ | mêek | |
| Kilogram | กิโลกรัม | gì loo gram | |
| Old | เก่า | gào | |
| Week | สัปดาห์ | sàp daa | |
| Year | ปี | bpii | |
| Today | วันนี้ | wan níi | |
| Tomorrow | พรุ่งนี้ | prûng níi | |
| Yesterday | เมื่อวาน | mʉ̂a waan | |
| Good | ดี | dii | |
| Bad | ไม่ดี | mâi dii | |
| Difficult | ยาก | yâak | |
| Easy | ง่าย | ngâai | |
| Calendar | ปฏิทิน | bpà dtì tin | |
| Clock | นาฬิกา | naa lí gaa | |
| Tea | ชา | chaa | |
| Coffee | กาแฟ | gaa fɛɛ | |
| Beer | เบียร์ | bia | |
| Wine | ไวน์ | wai | |
| Water | น้ำ | náam | |
| Harsh | กระด้าง | grà dâang | |
| Board | กระดาน | grà daan | |
| Tax | ภาษี | paa sǐi | |
| Secondary education | มัธยม | mát tá yom | |
| City | เมือง | mʉang | |
| Song | เพลง | pleeng | |
| Culture | วัฒนธรรม | wát tá ná tam | |
| Food | อาหาร | aa hǎan | |
| Free | ว่าง | wâang | |
| Surprise | ความตกใจ | kwaam dtòk jai | |
| Idea | ข้อคิด | kɔ̂ɔ kít | |
| Comment | คำวิจารณ์ | kam wí jaan | |
| Sound | เสียง | sǐang | |
| Meaning | ความหมาย | kwaam mǎai | |
| Dictionary | พจนานุกรม | pót jà naa nú grom |
Common Thai Words About People
Now, the list below includes some Thai adjectives and Thai pronouns that are used to describe people.
You may already be familiar with them, since they are beginner-level vocabulary, but a refresher is always good.
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | ฉัน | chǎn | |
| You | คุณ | khun | |
| We | เรา | rao | |
| They | พวกเขา | pûak kǎo | |
| His / Hers | ของเขา | kɔ̌ɔng kǎo | |
| He / She | เขา | kǎo | |
| Friend | เพื่อน | pʉ̂an | |
| Child | ลูก | lûuk | |
| Wife | เมีย | mia | |
| Neat | เรียบร้อย | rîap rɔ́ɔi | |
| Rich | มั่งมี | mâng mii | |
| Beautiful | สวย | sǔai | |
| Ugly | น่าเกลียด | nâa glìat | |
| Grandfather | ปู่ | bpùu | |
| Mother | แม่ | mɛ̂ɛ | |
| Father | พ่อ | pɔ̂ɔ |
Tips On Using Thai Vocabulary For Everyday Life
From shopkeepers to friends and family, everyone uses these terms, and so should you! That’s why we have four tips for you to really make the most of this Thai vocabulary for everyday life.
- To remember these terms, use flashcards and practice daily. Thai vocabulary and speaking apps like the Ling app can help with retention and regular practice.
- Ask your relatives or friends about some vocabulary that they think you should know. Being taught a language by someone you know or someone you’re close to tends to make it stick around in your memory.
- If you have the chance, get out there and use these terms in real life! Go to a Thai restaurant, or find a language exchange group that can allow you to practice vocabulary.
- Keep a notebook of useful vocabulary that you use the most in your day-to-day life. Keeping track of these terms will help you identify topics you may want to learn about in the future.
With these tips, you should be comfortable learning and using these terms in your conversations with other Thai speakers. Any progress goes a long way!
Frequently Asked Questions On Thai Vocabulary For Everyday Life
What Is Jing Jing In Thai?
Jing jing (จริง ๆ) is used by many Thai people to express how true something is.
Similar to ‘it’s really true’ in English. Jing (จริง) by itself means ‘true’, and repeating it intensifies the meaning.
Use this expression if you want to convince someone of something!
What Is Mai Ao In Thai?
‘Mai ao’, or mâi ao (ไม่เอา) in Thai means ‘to not take’. If someone offers you something and you don’t want it, a simple mâi ao (ไม่เอา) is a way to politely decline.
Follow this up with either a kráp (ครับ) or kâ (ค่ะ) for added politeness.
What Words Should I Know In Thai?
Some words that you definitely need to know in Thai are basic greetings.
Knowing basic greetings like sà wàt dii (สวัสดี) and the ways to respond to similar phrases is essential when first learning Thai.

Which Thai Vocabulary For Everyday Life Did You Enjoy Most?
Of the numerous basic Thai words, as well as the most commonly used ones, which one was your favorite?
Whichever one it is, you’ll find them all infinitely useful when speaking to anyone in Thailand, especially with close family and friends.
So make sure to pick and choose the best vocabulary that suits your situation, from the prepositions, verbs, and basic phrases we’ve covered. Not to mention making use of the four tips we’ve provided, along with practicing the most common Thai words used in everyday life.
But knowing about Thai vocabulary for everyday life is just the start! Keep practicing to really impress those around you with your fluency.
Learn More Thai Vocabulary And Phrases!
That was a lot of vocabulary! Hopefully, it wasn’t too overwhelming; these are just some of the most common terms that you’ll find in use in Thailand today.
Your family and friends will be impressed if you know most of them!
If you’re looking for an efficient resource to learn the Thai language, the Ling app is here for you!
It offers practical language lessons and game-like exercises to practice. You can learn languages like Thai online by using the app for just 15 minutes a day.
Here’s a tip: the beginner to intermediate vocabulary and phrases in units 5-15 can really boost your Thai skills!
To take your Thai fluency to the next level, why not try out the Ling app?