It’s a good sign that you’ve mastered the language and culture when you find yourself spontaneously interjecting in it. So how long has it been since your last Thai exclamations?
Thai exclamations and interjections are distinctly their own compared to their English counterparts. Whether you’re feeling furious, astonished, sad, joyful, or any other emotion, there are many ways to communicate Thai interjections and exclamations. If you’ve ever been to Thailand, you may hear a lot when the locals call someone or are amazed at something. People who study the Thai language don’t miss out on this lesson because it’s the key to making you sound like a local!
This is the most exciting part of learning Thai, so let’s start practicing some Thai exclamations right now!
Most Common Thai Exclamations You Will Hear Everyday
While you’ll undoubtedly hear a wide variety of Thai exclamations throughout your journey, these are the ones you’re most likely to hear. Thus, we have compiled a list of 12 exclamations that you can use immediately.
| Thai Exclamation | Pronunciation | English Definition | Pronunciation |
| โถ | tǒo | This sound conveys empathy in the same way as “poor you” does in English. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]โถ[/Speechword] |
| เฮ้ย | hə́əi | This word commonly shows how shocked you are by a recent change. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]เฮ้ย[/Speechword] |
| โห | hǒo | To convey feelings of surprise and amazement. This term translates to “whoa!” in English. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]โห[/Speechword] |
| อ้าว | âao | While both “โห” and ao convey surprise, “อ้าว” is typically used when something unexpected happens or when there is a sudden change in plans. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]อ้าว[/Speechword] |
| ห๊ะ | há | It’s the sound you make when you’re so stunned by some piece of terrible or unexpected news that you can’t believe it. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ห๊ะ[/Speechword] |
| อุ๊ย | úi | You make this sound whenever you mistake your words or otherwise do something silly by accident. It’s equivalent to “oops!” in English. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]อุ๊ย[/Speechword] |
| เฮ่อ | hə́ə | It can be used to convey feelings of relief or exhaustion. That’s the equivalent of the “phew!” exclamation in English. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]เฮ่อ[/Speechword] |
| โอ๊ย | óoi | When someone feels harmed, this term is used to show their pain. This term translates to “ouch!” in English. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]โอ๊ย[/Speechword] |
| อี๋ | ǐi | It’s a word for expressing how disgusted you are by something. It’s the equivalent of the English words “Eww!” and “yack!” | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]อี๋[/Speechword] |
| เย้ | yé | It conveys feelings of joy and has the same meaning as the English word “yeah!” | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]เย้[/Speechword] |
| อ๋อ | ɔ̌ɔ | It’s used to express understanding or comprehension. For example, to show that you’re paying attention to the speaker and understand what the person is saying, you can simply say “อ๋อ.” It has a similar meaning to the English word “Ah!” | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]อ๋อ[/Speechword] |
| อืม | ʉʉm | It’s the Thai equivalent of the English word “yes,” meaning “I agree.” Responding with “อืม” can signify the agreement or follow the speaker’s words. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]อืม[/Speechword] |
Old Fashioned Thai Exclamations
Besides the modern exclamations of Thai, there are still several older terms in use. Though you would not encounter them in modern-day Thailand, you might hear them in period dramas set in the country. Together, let’s check out those fascinating terms.
| Thai Exclamation | Pronunciation | English Definition | Pronunciation |
| คุณพระ! | kun prá | It shows surprise, similar to “oh my god!” in English. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]คุณพระ![/Speechword] |
| คุณพระช่วย! | kun prá chûai | It’s a longer version of the above exclamation. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]คุณพระช่วย![/Speechword] |
| ชิชะ! | chí chá | Thai people used to say this word when angry at someone. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ชิชะ![/Speechword] |
| พุทโธ่ | pút tôo | Similar to the English expression “poor you,” this speech evokes feelings of sympathy. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]พุทโธ่[/Speechword] |
| อนิจจา | à nít jaa | It’s a sad way of saying “alas” in English, expressing regret at the news of someone’s misfortune. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]อนิจจา[/Speechword] |
| อนิจจัง | à nít jang | (same as above) | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]อนิจจัง[/Speechword] |
| อุบ๊ะ | ù bá | People tend to say this term out loud to scare their listeners. So whoever is producing this noise is presumably really angry. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]อุบ๊ะ[/Speechword] |
| ต๊าย | dtáai | It’s commonly used in female speech when they hear something exciting. | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ต๊าย[/Speechword] |
Examples Used In The Sentence
Here are some examples of how to use Thai exclamations in a sentence naturally.
- โห! เธอทำได้ยังไงเนี่ย (hǒo təə tam dâi yang ngai nîa) – Whoa! How did you do that?
- โอ๊ย! หมากัด ช่วยด้วย! (óoi mǎa gàt chûai dûai) – Ouch! The dog bites me. Help!
- อ๋อ เข้าใจแล้ว (ɔ̌ɔ kâo jai lɛ́ɛo) – Ah! I see.
In Summary
If you often use Thai exclamations in a conversation, you might already be passionate about the Thai language. Because when you start acting and thinking like a local, it says much about how much you’ve absorbed. A good grasp of these Thai interjections will make your Thai speech more natural, and your conversation with the locals will be more enjoyable. The important thing is you should use it naturally. You shouldn’t force the terms to be in a conversation; just let it flows.
However, learning only Thai interjections and exclamations won’t help you blend in with native speakers. On the other hand, mastering a large Thai vocabulary can let you communicate effectively on any topic. To top it all off, we can suggest the most helpful app for learning a new language!
Learn Thai With Ling Now!
Those who have tried to learn Thai from books but found it tedious and difficult will discover that the Ling app is an excellent option. Using our app, you can study Thai whenever and wherever you choose. The app can be used in the car, on a bus, or on other commitments. Here, you’ll find a great deal of knowledge, including several grammar tips and vocabulary. And because we understand that learning a new language should be enjoyable, we provide you with mini-games and an incredible chatbot to help you learn new vocabulary and perfect your pronunciation.
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!
