Thai Exclamations: 20+ Most Fun Words To Enjoy Today!

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.	Play
เฮ้ย	hə́əi	This word commonly shows how shocked you are by a recent change.	Play
โห	hǒo	To convey feelings of surprise and amazement. This term translates to “whoa!” in English.	Play
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.	Play
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.	Play
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.	Play
เฮ่อ	hə́ə	It can be used to convey feelings of relief or exhaustion. That’s the equivalent of the “phew!” exclamation in English.	Play
โอ๊ย	óoi	When someone feels harmed, this term is used to show their pain. This term translates to “ouch!” in English.	Play
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!”	Play
เย้	yé	It conveys feelings of joy and has the same meaning as the English word “yeah!”	Play
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!”	Play
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.	Play

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.	Play
คุณพระช่วย!	kun prá chûai	It’s a longer version of the above exclamation.	Play
ชิชะ!	chí chá	Thai people used to say this word when angry at someone.	Play
พุทโธ่	pút tôo	Similar to the English expression “poor you,” this speech evokes feelings of sympathy.	Play
อนิจจา	à nít jaa	It’s a sad way of saying “alas” in English, expressing regret at the news of someone’s misfortune.	Play
อนิจจัง	à nít jang	(same as above)	Play
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.	Play
ต๊าย	dtáai	It’s commonly used in female speech when they hear something exciting.	Play

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!