Speak Thai

Some important Thai phrases

It would help a lot if you could speak some Thai before you get here. You will get better prices when bargaining & make friends more quickly. These wav files work on all computers, no need to download a plug-in.

Greetings

Note: The ending of a statement should end with "Krup" if you are a man and "Ka" if you are a woman.
In English it would be Sir or Madam, but in Thai it is the Gender of the person speaking that matters not the person you are speaking to. :
( below phonetic is for native English / USA )

• Sawadee Krup or Ka (66k) Hello Sir/Madam
• Sabai Dee Rua (10k) How Are You ?

Every Day Sayings

• Prat Tet A Li (12k) What Country Do You Come From ?
• Bi Ni (7k) Where Do You Go ?
• Kin Kow (8k) To Eat Rice
• Bi Du-Way (7k) Go Together
• Chai / Mi Chai (15k) Yes / No
• Choke Dee (9k) Good Luck
• Bi Cha Cha (11k) Go Slowly
• Mi Pen Li (9k) It Doesn't Matter

Food & Dining

• Naam Yen (7k) Cold Water
• Naam Kang (7k) Ice
• Ow Mi Pet (7k) I Don't Want It Spicy
• Hong Naam You Te Ni (12k) Where Is The Bath Room ?

Counting Numbers & Money

Tip: Write the first Five Numbers on the tips of your Fingers. It took me 2 days to Remember the First Five Numbers but the Rest of the week for numbers 6 to 10.

• Nung, Song, Saam, Sea, & Ha Baht (35k) 1 to 5 Baht
• Hok, Jet, Paat, & Gaow Baht (29k) 6 to 9 Baht
• Sip-et,Ye-Sip-et, Saam-Sip-et, Sea-Sip-et & Ha-Sip-et Baht (61k) 11 to 51 Baht
  Note: "Et" is used instead of "Nung" in Numbers ending in 1.
  Sip-et for 11, Ye-Sip-et for 21, Sam-Sip-et, etc.
• Sip, Ye, Saam, Sea, & Ha Sip Baht (43k) 10 to 50 Baht
  Sip Baht = 10 Baht. There is no number before the "Sip" as with other numbers.
• Hok, Jet, Paat, & Gaow Sip Baht (43k) 60 Baht to 90 Baht
• Nung, Song, Saam, Sea, & Ha Loy Baht (50k) 100 Baht to 500 Baht
• Hok, Jet, Paat, & Gaow Loy Baht (41k) 600 Baht to 900 Baht
• Nung, Song, Saam, Sea, & Ha Pan Baht (51k) 1000 to 5000 Baht
• Sea Pan Saam Loy Ye Sip Et Baht (58k) 4321 Baht
• Taow Li (7k) How Much ?
• Phang (7k) Expensive
  Say this word Gently, you want to bargain not call the salesperson a thief.
• Mi-Ow (7k) I Don't Want
  You will need this one. Mi-Ow Krup if your a man & Mi-Ow Ka if your a woman.
• Khup Kun (8k) Thank You