Thailand has become a byword for picturesque beaches and thriving city nightlife; however, if you get into the countryside, it can become a different story. Some parts of Thailand are way off the beaten path, and if you get into difficulties, it would be useful to know these survival phrases in Thai. Of course, the most important is help which in Thai is Ch̀wy ช่วย
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N.B. A common phrase you might hear is survival phrases in Thai, meaning not literal words you use when it’s a matter of life and death, but instead basic phrases that help you out in everyday situations. If that’s the list you’re looking for, i.e., basic Thai phrases, then click here.
Survival Vocabulary Words In Thai
These are the names of survival items that may need to request in an emergency, or ask for at a store if you’re creating a survival kit.
English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
Help | ช่วย | Ch̀wy | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ช่วย[/Speechword] |
Axe | ขวาน | K̄hwān | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ขวาน[/Speechword] |
Binoculars | กล้องส่องทางไกล | Kl̂xngs̄̀xngthāngkịl | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]กล้องส่องทางไกล[/Speechword] |
Compass | เข็มทิศ | K̄hĕmthiṣ̄ | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]เข็มทิศ[/Speechword] |
Cooking pot | หม้อปรุงอาหาร | H̄m̂x prung xāh̄ār | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]หม้อปรุงอาหาร[/Speechword] |
First aid kit | อุปกรณ์ปฐมพยาบาลเบื้องต้น | Xupkrṇ̒ pṭ̄hmphyābāl beụ̄̂xngt̂n | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]อุปกรณ์ปฐมพยาบาลเบื้องต้น[/Speechword] |
Flashlight | ไฟฉาย | Fịc̄hāy | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ไฟฉาย[/Speechword] |
Hiking boot | รองเท้าเดินป่า | Rxngthêā dein p̀ā | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]รองเท้าเดินป่า[/Speechword] |
Knife | มีด | Mīd | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]มีด[/Speechword] |
Life jacket | เสื้อชูชีพ | S̄eụ̄̂x chūchīph | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]เสื้อชูชีพ[/Speechword] |
Lighter | ไฟแช็ก | Fịchæ̆k | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ไฟแช็ก[/Speechword] |
Map | แผนที่ | P̄hænthī̀ | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]แผนที่[/Speechword] |
Radio | วิทยุ | Withyu | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]วิทยุ[/Speechword] |
Rope | เชือก | Cheụ̄xk | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]เชือก[/Speechword] |
Shovel | พลั่ว | Phlạ̀w | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]พลั่ว[/Speechword] |
Sleeping bag | ถุงนอน | T̄hung nxn | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ถุงนอน[/Speechword] |
Tent | เต็นท์ | Tĕnth̒ | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]เต็นท์[/Speechword] |
Water bottle | ขวดน้ำ | K̄hwd n̂ả | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ขวดน้ำ[/Speechword] |
Survival – Essential Phrases In Thai
Here are some questions you can ask locals to help you.
English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
Can you point to the… | ชี้ไปที่… | Chī̂ pị thī̀… | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ชี้ไปที่[/Speechword] |
Help! I’m lost | ช่วยด้วย! ฉันหลงทาง | Ch̀wy duay! C̄hạn h̄lng thāng | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ช่วยด้วย ฉันหลงทาง[/Speechword] |
I think my leg is broken | นึกว่าขาหัก | Nụk ẁā k̄hā h̄ạk | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]นึกว่าขาหัก[/Speechword] |
Is this plant safe to eat? | พืชนี้ปลอดภัยที่จะกินหรือไม่? | Phụ̄ch nī̂ plxdp̣hạy thī̀ ca kin h̄rụ̄x mị̀? | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]พืชนี้ปลอดภัยที่จะกินหรือไม่?[/Speechword] |
Is there fresh water near here? | มีน้ำจืดอยู่ใกล้ที่นี่หรือไม่? | Mī n̂ả cụ̄d xyū̀ kıl̂ thī̀ nī̀ h̄rụ̄x mị̀? | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]มีน้ำจืดอยู่ใกล้ที่นี่หรือไม่?[/Speechword] |
What is the name of this fruit? | ผลไม้นี้ชื่ออะไร | P̄hl mị̂ nī̂ chụ̄̀x xarị | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ผลไม้นี้ชื่ออะไร[/Speechword] |
When is help coming? | ความช่วยเหลือจะมาเมื่อไหร่? | Khwām ch̀wyh̄elụ̄x ca mā meụ̄̀x h̄ịr̀? | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ความช่วยเหลือจะมาเมื่อไหร่?[/Speechword] |
Where is the nearest hospital | โรงพยาบาลที่ใกล้ที่สุดอยู่ที่ไหน | Rong phyābāl thī̀ kıl̂ thī̀s̄ud xyū̀ thī̀h̄ịn | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]โรงพยาบาลที่ใกล้ที่สุดอยู่ที่ไหน[/Speechword] |
Where is the first aid kit? | ชุดปฐมพยาบาลอยู่ที่ไหน? | Chud pṭ̄hmphyābāl xyū̀ thī̀h̄ịn? | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ชุดปฐมพยาบาลอยู่ที่ไหน?[/Speechword] |
Who is the operator of the tour? | ใครเป็นผู้ดำเนินการทัวร์? | Khır pĕn p̄hū̂ dảnein kār thạwr̒? | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ใครเป็นผู้ดำเนินการทัวร์?[/Speechword] |
What To Do If You’re Lost In The Jungle In Thailand
1. Your first and most pressing concern is to find fresh water. Some classic signs that you may be near water are seeing more mosquitos or larger animals (don’t worry, nothing in the Thai jungle can really kill you except snakes). The predominance of snakes is, in fact, overestimated, and the old adage is true that they’re more scared of you than you are of them.

If you’re lost in the mountains, water will often be at the foothill of a cliff. The good news is that it rains a lot in the tropics, and although this presents other difficulties, it also means you should never be thirsty.
Another easy way to collect water is by using a bottle or a can you brought. However, don’t let the water sit too long. If you cannot find water, you can alternatively collect the dew that accumulates in the morning. Don’t collect dew from poisonous plants. Even if you find water, you must purify it, which means starting a fire. If you can’t start a fire, leave the water in sunlight for about 6 hours to kill bacteria.
2. Build a shelter. Use the terrain to your advantage. Find two trees about 3 meters apart and lay a support beam between them. Next, pile foliage around the base to create a roof.

3. Find food. The good news is that Thailand is abundant with fruit. Also, although this is a little icky, you can overturn rocks and eat insects which are a valuable source of protein. You can also find many mushrooms but exercise caution if you don’t know which mushrooms are safe.
4. Get rescued. Stay within the zone where you got lost. The chances are that people will come looking for you. The further you wander from this original point, the less chance you have of being in the location that they’re looking. If you managed to light a fire, burn green foilage that gives off a lot of smoke. Also, if you have something reflective like a mirror or piece of foil, use this to attract the attention of planes and helicopters.
Most importantly, stay calm and have faith that help is on the way.
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If you enjoyed this blog, think about checking out a few others, such as thank you in Thai and break-up lines in Thai.