People worldwide hope to visit Thailand someday because of its many attractions, including its stunning islands and the delicious food they provide. But do you know that learning some basic Thai travel phrases before you leave can make your vacation much more enjoyable and less stressful?
It’s not necessary to be fluent in Thai to visit there, but it would be great if you could at least haggle prices at the local market or ask for help if you run into trouble. Also, learning only a few basic Thai words will go a long way toward easing communication barriers. Let’s learn basic Thai travel phrases for your next trip, shall we?
Prepare These Basic Thai Travel Phrases Now!
If you’re worried about starting learning because you’re a newbie to the Thai language, don’t worry, you can also begin to prepare essential Thai phrases without knowing the Thai script. So, remember how it’s pronounced and adapt it in real-life situations. Let’s go!
Basic Thai Greetings
This topic will gather the most basic Thai phrases for greeting. First, let us introduce you to the unique Thai gesture, which is ไหว้ (wâi).
ไหว้ (wâi) means “to worship” and is a form of greeting in Thai culture. It’s a gesture when you say hello, thank you, and sorry in Thai, as you can learn from the above image. Also, it represents an honorific system in Thailand: to respect older people, a higher social status person, a Buddha image, and a monk.
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | สวัสดีครับ (male) สวัสดีค่ะ (female) | Sà wát dìi kráp sà wát dii kâ | |
| Thank you | ขอบคุณครับ (male) ขอบคุณค่ะ (female) | Kɔ̀ɔp kun kráp kɔ̀ɔp kun kâ | |
| Sorry | ขอโทษครับ (male) ขอโทษค่ะ (female) | Kɔ̌ɔ tôot kráp kɔ̌ɔ tôot kâ | |
| No | ไม่ / ไม่ใช่ | Mâi / mâi châi | |
| Yes | ใช่ | Châi |
Basic Thai Phrases For Direction
Once you’ve mastered the art of Thai greetings, this part will provide you with a few essential words to help you navigate while you’re there.
Basic Thai Phrases For Public Transportation
There are many types of public transportation in Thailand, so let’s learn some phrases to converse with people.
Basic Thai Phrases For The Hotel
Here are some words that can come in handy in the hotel, where you will undoubtedly have conversations with staff.
Basic Thai Phrases For Local Restaurants
Visiting Thailand without trying authentic Thai food is like you’ve never come to the country. So do you know that Thai people like to eat spicy food? If you’re unfamiliar with a hot taste, you should learn basic Thai phrases to inform the waitperson at the restaurant.
Basic Thai Phrases For The Local Market
If you go to the local market, you can negotiate the price with the local people. Here are some common Thai phrases used in the local market.
Basic Thai Phrases For Exchange Currency
Most of the time, people may not have to talk much at the currency exchange kiosk, but it’s also a good opportunity for you to practice Thai simply for a little, right?
Basic Thai Phrases For Emergency
Any unexpected situation could happen during your vacation to Thailand, so practice these Thai phrases.
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help me! | ช่วยด้วย | Chûai dûai | |
| My camera got stolen. | กล้องถ่ายรูปของฉันถูกขโมย | Glɔ̂ɔng tàai rûup kɔ̌ɔng chǎn tǔu gòk mooi | |
| I lost my mobile phone. | ฉันทำโทรศัพท์มือถือหาย | Chǎn tam toon sàp mʉʉ tʉ̌ʉ hǎai | |
| I lost my wallet. | ฉันทำกระเป๋าตังค์หาย | Chǎn tam grà bpǎo dtang hǎai | |
| I forgot my stuff on the taxi. | ฉันลืมของไว้บนรถแท็กซี่ | Chǎn lʉʉm kɔ̌ɔng wái bon rót tɛ́k sîi | |
| I was robbed. | ฉันโดนปล้น | Chǎn doon bplôn |
Basic Thai Phrases Related To The Language
Be bold and ask the locals these questions or say you don’t understand Thai if you don’t feel comfortable communicating in the language.
Ready To Travel To Thailand?
The knowledge of these useful Thai phrases should make your upcoming vacation to Thailand much more enjoyable, whether you’re going there on your own or with a group of friends or family. When traveling to rural areas of Thailand, knowing a few Thai words will help you converse with people quickly and easily. Plus, the Thai people will admire you more for trying to learn their language and culture. Thus understanding Thai will increase your friendship.
Meanwhile, we offer a superb option if you want to learn the Thai language in greater depth!
Learn Thai With Ling Now!
Our app was developed for those who learn best when given the freedom to adjust their schedules occasionally, as with the Thai language study. Therefore, thanks to Ling’s compatibility with Android and iOS, you can study Thai on the go. In addition, we provide a sizable lexicon for you to learn and commit to memory; we encourage you to practice Thai words in your daily conversation. Also, we have a chatbot, quizzes, and puzzle games to help you learn the language rapidly and have fun while doing it!
Most Thai learners chose Ling to help them succeed, so why not join them? Download the Ling app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store now, and prepare to be fluent in Thai soon!
