How to read the pronunciation
🎵 The five tones
Tone marks sit on the first vowel of a syllable:
- no mark = mid tone (level)
- à = low
- â = falling
- á = high
- ǎ = rising
🙏 Polite: khráp or khâ
Add khráp (ครับ) at the end if you are a man, khâ (ค่ะ) if you are a woman (khá คะ in questions).
🙋 I: phǒm or chǎn
Thai normally leaves out 'I'. Where a pronoun is needed, men say phǒm (ผม) and women chǎn (ฉัน); the formal female dì-chǎn (ดิฉัน) is mostly used in writing.
✏️ Fill-in slot
… marks a slot where you fill in a place, item or number.
Vowels and consonants
Vowels
- a/aa, i/ii, u/uu, e/ee, o/oo
- single = short, double = long (khâao 'rice' vs khâo 'enter')
- ae
- as in English 'cat' (แ)
- aw
- as in English 'saw' (อ, ออ)
- ue
- unrounded 'oo', like 'u' said with spread lips (อึ, อือ)
- oe
- as in 'her' without the r (เออ)
- ia, ua, uea
- gliding vowels (เอีย, อัว, เอือ)
- ai, ao, oi, ui, iu, aeo
- diphthongs; oi = ɔy as in 'boy' (อ่อย)
Consonants
- k, p, t
- unaspirated (like the k in 'skin', the p in 'spin')
- kh, ph, th
- aspirated (k, p, t with a puff of air); ph is never 'f', th is never English 'th'
- j
- between j and tj, unaspirated (จ)
- ch
- aspirated ch (ช, ฉ)
- ng
- as in 'singer', also at the start of a word
Pick a topic
- Greetings and politeness32 words and phrasesสวัสดีsà-wàt-diiHello / hiSee the phrases →
- Basics, time and emergencies65 words and phrasesกรุณาkà-ru-naaPlease (formal, on signs)See the phrases →
- Numbers and money36 words and phrasesศูนย์sǔunzero (0)See the phrases →
- Transport and directions49 words and phrasesไป …pai …To …, pleaseSee the phrases →
- Hotels and accommodation23 words and phrasesโรงแรมroong-raemhotelSee the phrases →
- Thai food: ordering and dishes70 words and phrasesขอเมนูหน่อยkhǎw mee-nuu nòiCan I have the menu?See the phrases →
- Street food, markets and shopping47 words and phrasesตลาดtà-làatmarketSee the phrases →
- Rooftop bars and nightlife16 words and phrasesขอเบียร์หนึ่งขวดkhǎw bia nùeng khùatOne beer, pleaseSee the phrases →
- Beaches and the sea19 words and phrasesชายหาดchaai-hàatbeachSee the phrases →
- Islands and boats15 words and phrasesเกาะkàwislandSee the phrases →
- Nature and national parks17 words and phrasesอุทยานแห่งชาติùt-thá-yaan hàeng-châatnational parkSee the phrases →
- Birds and wildlife21 words and phrasesนกnókbirdSee the phrases →
- Cities and getting around town16 words and phrasesเมืองmueangcity / townSee the phrases →
- Temples and etiquette24 words and phrasesวัดwáttempleSee the phrases →
- Festivals and wishes24 words and phrasesเทศกาลthêet-sà-kaanfestivalSee the phrases →
- Weather, seasons and months28 words and phrasesมกราคมmók-kà-raa-khomJanuarySee the phrases →
- Health and pharmacy27 words and phrasesร้านขายยาráan khǎai-yaapharmacySee the phrases →
Top 20: the most useful phrases
These twenty get you a long way. Click for the whole topic.
- 1สวัสดีsà-wàt-diiHello / hi+ khráp / khâ
- 2ขอบคุณkhàwp-khunThank you+ khráp / khâ
- 3ไม่เป็นไรmâi pen raiYou're welcome / no problem+ khráp / khâ
- 4ขอโทษkhǎw-thôotSorry / excuse me+ khráp / khâ
- 5แล้วเจอกันláeo joe kanSee you later+ khráp / khâ
- 6ขอ … หน่อยkhǎw … nòiCan I have …, please?+ khráp / khâ
- 7ไม่เข้าใจmâi khâo-jaiI don't understand+ khráp / khâ
- 8ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหนhâwng-náam yùu thîi-nǎiWhere is the toilet?+ khráp / khâ
- 9นี่เท่าไหร่nîi thâo-ràiHow much is this?+ khráp / khâ
- 10ไป …pai …To …, please+ khráp / khâ
- 11เปิดมิเตอร์ด้วยpòet mí-tôe dûaiPlease use the meter+ khráp / khâ
- 12จอดที่นี่jàwt thîi-nîiPlease stop here+ khráp / khâ
- 13ไม่เผ็ดmâi phètNot spicy, please+ khráp / khâ
- 14อร่อยมากà-ròi mâakDelicious!+ khráp / khâ
- 15เช็คบิลchék-binThe bill, please+ khráp / khâ
- 16แพ้ …pháe …I'm allergic to …+ khráp / khâ
- 17ลดหน่อยได้ไหมlót nòi dâi mǎiCan you make it a bit cheaper?+ khráp / khâ
- 18ถอดรองเท้าthàwt rawng-tháaoPlease take off your shoes+ khráp / khâ
- 19ช่วยด้วยchûai dûaiHelp!
- 20ร้านขายยาráan khǎai-yaapharmacy
Frequently asked questions about Thai for travellers
Do I need to learn the Thai tones?
It helps, but don't let it stop you. Thai has five tones that change the meaning of a word, shown here with accent marks. In context Thais usually understand you anyway, and a friendly try is always appreciated.
When do I say khráp and when khâ?
It depends on who is speaking, not who you talk to. Men end polite sentences with khráp, women with khâ (and khá in questions). Add it to greetings, thanks, questions and requests to sound polite.
Can I get by in Thailand with English only?
In tourist areas, hotels and big restaurants, yes. Outside them, with taxi drivers, at markets, in national parks and on local buses, a few Thai words make things much easier and often earn you a smile or a better price.