Useful Thai Phrases

Thai is spoken by 95% of Thailand’s Population. When traveling in Thailand, learning a few Thai phrases will be an added advantage. You will be alternately praised and appreciated by the Thais; many of them who barely speak English or no English at all. One of the best reasons for you to learn Thai is that it helps you gain insight to its rich and beautiful culture. In addition, it will help you to easily get around Thailand easier whether you are aboard a nice comfortable rented car like those at car hire dublin or simply a taxi cab in search of the lost ruins.

Whenever you speak Thai, if you are male, you should end the sentence with “Krab” and “Kha” if you are a female. Thai Language has five tones, which are low, middle, high, rising, and falling. Vowel length is important when speaking Thai, because if you speak the word longer, it will change the meaning of the word. The best way to learn a language is through listening to native speakers.

Shopping

Shopping is the first thing, many tourists do when they arrive in Thailand. Thailand has a lot to offer in terms of shopping from air-conditioned shopping malls to dozens of outdoor markets. Department stores usually have a fixed price, but in markets, you can bargain the price.

It is important to learn Thai numbers if you want to be serious about shopping and bargaining in Thailand. Prices in department stores are marked but you will have to ask the price in outdoor market then try to make it cheaper.

Once you have mastered from one to ten, the rest is easy.

Number's Unit - 10: Sib, 100: Roi, 1,000 Pan, 10,000: Muen, 100,000: Saen, 1,000,000: Laan

Example- 21: Yee sib et, 22: Yee sib song, 23: Yee sib saam, 30: Sam sib et, 32: Saam sib song, 45: See Sib har, 57: Har sib jed, 63: Hok sib saam, 71: Jed sib et, 89: Pad sib gao, 98: Gao sib paed, 1200: Nueng pan song soi, 1,312: Nueng pan sam roi sib song

From the above example I hope you can pretty much combine the unit with the numbers.

Learning another language is certainly challenging, but if you cannot get all the phrases listed here at the first time, do not be disheartened. Listen how native people speak and practice as practice makes one perfect.

Reader's comments:

well it was better than some...but i need simple words like we ,do,etc Added by: 1234    Report abuse

i love thai people vry much...i would luf to visit der again in ma life...as my boyfren is a thai...so i jus love it. Added by: baby gal..    Report abuse

Not at all. Added by: Anonymous    Report abuse

Keep your wits about you and treat people with courtesy and Thailand will reward you handsomely. Majestic beauty is abound everywhere, the food is superb, the beaches are incredible & the women are to-die-for. Was ther for Songkran 2008 & I love the place. Added by: Marcus    Report abuse

I ve been working at the Thai language for eight months and I still found many good new hints in your phrases. I am too old for the best way to learn, a Thai girlfriend, but I still try, nonetheless. Added by: don James    Report abuse

I have visited Thailand about 4 time. Lovely country, Lovely people. I will try to visit there as often as I can. Added by: Ravi    Report abuse

It has to do with a few things. Eastern Asian men prefer lighter skinned Asian women, because it is a sign of beauty. Having lighter skin indicates that you are of a higher social class because your descendants were not peasants working in the rice fields, getting sun every day and thus darker skin. Also, Eastern Asian men, a bit more so Korean and Japanese than Chinese, are an easy play for their money. They ll pay much more than other falangs because they are naive and also have the money to spend, esp. Japanese. As far as Koreans and Chinese, let them get ripped off. Eastern Asians have such a prejudice against other Asians, that they ve earned a well-deserved reputation for being rude assholes all over the tourist hubs which they can now afford to visit in droves. They also have the smallest penises in the world, which may be another reason that the most attractive women choose to serve them. (easy work) Added by: dizzy    Report abuse

Thailand is a vast country. Huge. With only a tiny part dedicated to pleasing the amorous Farang..Something strange though, some of the massage parlours/brothels in BKK only cater for Japanise/Chinese, and only the really pretty ones work there. Must be something to do with the money in their pockets Added by: David    Report abuse

Why didn t i go there long time ago , i can only blame myself for that . . . . . and that s what i do almost every day .But just 4 more weeks and i ll go again and have a great time again , i m sure about that. Added by: Rene    Report abuse

also Ornussa Cadness ( a model in Phillippines who is half Thai) Miss Norway 2005 Helene Trasavik is also half Thai and many many more Added by: Nancy    Report abuse

a bit out of subject here but all HALF THAI (one parent from Thailand) i know are sooo pretty and they are making it big as well - Tiger Woods (Thai/American) - Johnny Damon (Thai/American) NY yankee - Vanessa Mae (Thai/Chinese) - Brenda Song (Thai/Hmong) - Tata Young (Thai/American) and home grown :D so proud of her especially! - Sarah Malakul (Thai/British) - Nanda Hampe (Thai/German) many many famous ads - Taya Rogers (Thai/American) she s gonna be huge one day - Stacey Prammasuth (Thai/American) talented golfer - LaToiye (Thai/Black) search her on google MV model + beautiful and so many more!!! I m full Thai both my parents are Thai ... hahahahaha :D Added by: Nancy    Report abuse

gosh, what can i say, ill be off to bangkok this oct 4, 2008, and im from the phils, and those words, kinda memorizing them, so i can use it. thanks a lot...and the comments did help, though not so super brave to go all those places (as in go around )...just roaming the street in bangkok... Added by: avery    Report abuse

If you go to thailand for hookers, and essentially to abuse poor thai women then it is inevitable you will have (and deserve) a bad time. If you go to explore and enjoy the culture, and to make friends with thais and other nationalities you will have a fantastic time. Added by: Gareth    Report abuse

Love Thailand, the best book to get for starters is Speakeasy-Thai, you can buy it from www.speakeasy-thai.com Added by: Judy    Report abuse

welcome to thailand if you are a white male with money. If you are brown in skin colour or are white with limited spending power then the Thais don t really appreciate you as much. I have been to Thailand many many times and have managed to see through the thin veneer of smiles and friendliness. We are seen as simply as an easy meal ticket and when we run out of money we see the true face of the Thais. Added by: Bryan    Report abuse

I have never been to Thailand but I hope to go there soon. I am half Thai. My mother is full Thailand and lived ther when she was a kid. Thank you for all the wonderful comments about Thailand. It makes me so proud to have Thai blood in me! D Added by: Me    Report abuse

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