Today I want to share with you how to use slang words in Thai, also called คำสแลง (kam sà lɛɛng), so you can sound like a local. Learning slang words in another language is always fun! It’s actually my favorite part of learning a new language. You can give the impression of being ahead of your language game even with just a few clues.
In addition, you will know what the people around you are up to or even what they are thinking about you if you know slang words in Thai. This can definitely be a game-changer if you use them right. So let’s get started!
Table of Contents
The Top 25 Slang Words In Thai:
1) Nailed It! – ฟาด (fâat)
It is used by the younger Thai people in an approving manner.
A: วันนี้ชุดญาญ่าฟาดมาก (wanníi chút Yaya fâat mâak)
Today Yaya’s outfit really nailed it!
2) Fabulous – เริ่ด (rə̂rd)
Something that เริ่ด (rə̂rd) is cool or awesome. You can use this word when your friends tell you a story, and you want to reply that this is fabulous or cool.
A: ฉันเพิ่งจองตั๋วเครื่องบินไปกระบี่อาทิตย์หน้า (chǎn phə̂ŋ cɔɔŋ tǔa khrʉ̂aŋbin pay kràbìi aathít nâa)
I just booked my flight to go to Krabi next week.
B: เริ่ด (rə̂rd)
That’s fabulous!
3) Rolling Eyes – มองบน (mɔɔŋ bon)
A: คนนี้ขี้โม้มากเลย มองบนแป๊บ (khon níi khîimóo mâak ləəy mɔɔŋ bon pɛ́p)
This person is definitely bragging! Let me roll my eyes real quick!
4) To Say Something Was Great – มันดีมากแม่ (man diimâak mɛ̂ɛ)
This is popular amongst girls to express that something was awesome.
A: เมื่อวานฉันไปดำน้ำมา มันดีมากแม่ (mʉ̂awaan chǎn pay damnáam maa man diimâak mɛ̂ɛ)
I went scuba diving yesterday. It was so awesome!
5) A Big Amount – แบบจุกๆ (bɛ̀ɛp cùk cùk)
A: ร้านนี้ให้ข้าวแบบจุกๆ เลย (ráan níi hây khâaw bɛ̀ɛp cùk cùk ləəy)
This restaurant gives a lot of food.
6) What’s The Matter With You? – เป็น(อะ)ไรมากป่ะ (pen (à) ray mâak pà)
This one is used if you want to express somebody’s behavior annoyed you.
A: เมื่อคืนแฟนเก่าส่งข้อความมาหาฉันเยอะมาก (mʉ̂akhʉʉn fɛɛn kàw sòŋ khɔ̂ɔkhwaam maahǎa chǎn yə́ mâak)
My ex sent me a lot of texts last night.
B: (มัน)เป็นไรมากป่ะ ((man) penray mâak pà)
What’s wrong with him?
7) Don’t Think About It – อย่าหาทำ (yàa hǎa tham)
This is used if you want to express to your friends to not do something
A: ฉันจะจีบนักแสดงคนนี้ (chǎn cà cìip náksadɛɛŋ khon níi)
I’m going to flirt with this actor.
B: อย่าหาทำ (yàa hǎa tham)
Don’t think about it!
8) Annoying – ลำไย (lamyay)
A: คนนั้นพูดมากจังเลย ลำไย (khon nán phûutmâak caŋ ləəy lamyay)
That person is talking too much! So annoying!
9) To Get Ditched – เท (thee)
You can use this one when you got dumped (from the relationship). Another situation is like when you and your friend agree to go out somewhere together, but you got ditched by your friend.
Situation 1 – A: เธอเทผมไปคบกับคนอื่น (thəə thee phǒm pay khóp kàp khonʉ̀ʉn)
She dumped me and dating another guy!
Situation 2 – A: เพื่อนเทฉันแล้วออกไปดูหนังกับแฟนแทน (phʉ̂an thee chǎn lɛ́ɛw ɔ̀ɔk pay duu nǎŋ kàp fɛɛn thɛɛn)
My friend ditched me and went to the movies with her boyfriend instead!
10) Playboy – เจ้าชู้ (câawchúu)
A câawchúu is a playboy. Depending on the context, it can be used as a joke, which is rarer, mostly it is meant as an insult.
A: อย่าไปยุ่งกับเขานะ เขาเจ้าชู้มาก (yàa pay yûŋ kàp khǎw ná khǎw câawchúu mâak)
Don’t mess with him. He is a playboy!
11) Splendidly – ปัง (paŋ)
Use this to compliment a Thai person. Or alternatively, anything you find to be visually attractive.
A: วันนี้สวยปังมาก (Wanníi sǔay paŋ mâak)
Today you’re splendidly gorgeous.
12) Lover – กิ๊ก (gik)
Gig refers to a person’s casual lover. It can be used to refer to both men and women. In English, it would most likely be the equivalent to the term “friends with benefits.”
13) Goofy – ติ๊งต๊อง (ting tóng)
While baa is the proper word for crazy, ting tong is used in a jokier manner. It is typically used to indicate that someone is perceived as being a bit unusual or excentric.
A: คุณติ๊งต๊องจัง (khun ting tóng jang)
You’re so goofy!
14) Flowery Language – ภาษาดอกไม้ (phaasǎa dɔ̀ɔkmáay)
This one is a lovely Thai slang phrase, ‘phaasǎa dɔ̀ɔkmáay’ literally translates as ‘the flower language’. It’s very poetic, so if you hear somebody speaking phaasǎa dɔ̀ɔkmáay, they are using words of love and tenderness. Friends may, however, mock each other if they hear such dreamy and romantic lingo because it might emphasize someone is in love.
15) High Society – ไฮโซ (hay soo)
High so, similar to high society in English, is used in Thai when talking about somebody from the upper class. If your friends talk about a new venue that attracts lots of high so, you know it’s a fancy place with probably higher prices.
A: ดูคนนั้นสิ ไฮโซมากเลย (duu khon nán sì hay soo mâak ləəy)
Look at that person, so high-class!
16) How Lucky – ส้มหล่น (sôm lòn)
A very poetical slang phrase, ‘sôm lòn’ literally means ‘an orange drops’, which in Thailand is a good thing if you catch it on the way down. Use this when you’ve had a bit of luck that you didn’t expect.
17) To Gossip – เม้าท์มอย (máw mɔɔy)
Máw mɔɔy is a slang verb for gossiping. If you hear your Thai friends mentioning that someone likes to máw mɔɔy, you’d better keep your secrets from that person.
18) I Get It – เก็ต (kèt)
So this one is easy because it is like saying ‘I get it’, so when you understand what’s going on (not always easy in Thailand) but this is the word to use.
A: งานยุ่งมากจนไม่มีเวลาทำอะไรเลย เก็ตปะ (ŋaan yûŋ mâak con mâymii weelaa tham àray ləəy kèt pà)
The work is so busy that I don’t have time to do anything. Do you get it?
B: เก็ต (kèt)
I get it.
19) Feeling Emotional – อิน (in)
อิน (in) is used to describe an emotional feeling. For example, if you watch a movie or listen to a song that brings up emotions.
A: เพลงนี้เพราะ อินมาก (phleeŋ níi phrɔ́ in mâak)
The song is good, made me emotional.
20) Poor – กรอบ (krɔ̀ɔp)
If somebody is said to be krɔ̀ɔp, you know that they do not have much money and are struggling financially. The English equivalent to this is to be ‘broke’. Sometimes it is also used as an insult.
A: เดือนนี้กรอบมาก (dʉan níi krɔ̀ɔp mâak)
I’m so broke this month.
21) To Be Anxious Or Offended – นอย (nɔɔy)
Similar to the English word paranoid it is used to describe feeling anxious.
A: เขาลืมวันเกิดฉัน ฉันนอยมาก (khǎw lʉʉm wankə̀ət chǎn chǎn nɔɔy mâak)
He forgot my birthday, I feel offended.
22) To Procrastinate – ดองงาน (dɔɔŋ ŋaan)
If you were supposed to finish something for work but invest time in other things because you don’t want to do it and you procrastinate it to the next day.
23) Joking – ขำๆ (khǎm khǎm)
This is how Thai people express something is humorous. The pronunciation of the word imitates the sound of giggling. So, when this is added at the ending of the sentence, it is meant to be taken not so seriously.
24) Am I Right? – ชิมิ (chìmì)
Literally translated as ‘right?’ in the question sense (as in ‘am I right?’). ‘We’re getting one more beer, ‘chìmì?’ is a good example.
A: หมาฉันน่ารักชิมิ (Mǎa chǎn nâarák chìmì)
My dog is cute, right?
25) Cute – ตั้ลล้าก (tân láak)
This is the shorter version of น่ารัก (nâarák) which means cute in Thai.
A: หมาตัวนี้ตั้ลล้าก (mǎa tua níi tân láak)
This dog is cute.
How Do You Say “Slang Words” In Thai?
The translation of “Slang words” in Thai is คำสแลง (kam sà lɛɛng) .
Frequently Asked Questions About Slang Words In Thai
1. How Do You Say “Cool” In Thai Slang?
The word for “cool” in Thai slang is เริ่ด (rə̂rd). If you see something you find interesting, you can say that it is เริ่ด (rə̂rd), or if its really interesting, เริ่ดมาก (rə̂rd mâak)!
2. What Is “You” In Thai Slang?
Words such as แก (gɛɛ) or มึง (mʉng) are informal ways to use the pronoun “you” in Thai slang. Keep in mind that these pronouns should only be used with close friends, and not with elders or regular strangers.
3. What Does “Jing Jing” Mean In Thai?
The word จริงจริง (jing jing) in Thai means “to be very true.” The repetition of the word จริง (jing), meaning “true”, greatly emphasizes how true a statement or situation is. You wouldn’t use this in a formal setting, but in regular conversation it more accurately translates to “really!” or “seriously.”
Learn More Thai Phrases With The Ling App!
Slang words in Thai are mostly used by younger people. So be careful when using them, especially when you are talking to older or middle-aged Thai people. If you use slang words you can surely impress Thai natives, but be careful to never use informal communication, especially in writing. Also, you have to remember that slang words for Thai people are a fashionable thing, they come and go with the trends. So if you can’t remember all the Thai words, don’t worry!
Another great way to practice Thai words and phrases is with the Ling app. From topics such as the Thai slang words we learned today to travel phrases to use in Thailand, you can boost your confidence in speaking Thai by regularly practicing with the Ling app.
Our last and final tip for you is to get out there and try out some of the Thai slang you’ve learned today with other Thai speakers! โชคดี!
