You are here: Home • Koh Samui blog • Learn a few Thai words during your stay

Practical information

Learn a few Thai words before your stay

When you stay in Thailand, it will be difficult, at first, to communicate with the locals. Most of them do not speak English or speak it very badly (and even less French!) Only those working in the Tourism and Hotel industry or are students in the big cities speak it at a good level.

Directed with the voice of Cat

The most common words

Therefore, it will always be very useful to know some standard phrases and words commonly used in Thai. Firstly, your Guests will be very touched by this attention, and secondly, it will allow you to be both more autonomous and closer to the Thai people.

First of all, “Kha” and “Khap” are polite phrases that change according to the gender of the person speaking: If you are a woman, you will end all your sentences with “Kha”. If you are a man, you will end all your sentences with “Khap”. For example for “Hello”: “Sawadee Kha” (for women) / “Sawadee Khap” (for men).

Hello

sawadee (kha, Khap)

How are you?

kuhn sabaydee maille

I am doing well

sabaydee (kha, Khap)

Thank you

ko poune (khap ou Kha)

Excuse me

Khot hort (kha, Khap)

Do you understand?

ko tchaille maille

I don’t speak Thai

pom puud passa thai may day

Yes

tchaille

No

maille

What does it cost?

tao raye

It doesn’t matter

May pen raille

What is this?

ni keu array

Not spicy

May péte

Delicious

arroy

Cheers (drinks)

chok dee (kha, Khap)

The bill please

kép tangue (kha, Khap)

Where are the toilets?

hongue nam you ti naille (kha, Khap)

Goodbye

la gorne

In conclusion

These few words, if you learn them, will be very useful when you arrive in Thailand, it will allow you to have an easier contact with the locals. You will certainly get a big smile in return.