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Thai Language
Even a modest attempt to speak Thai will earn you a happy
smile and respect from many Thais. Thai is a tonal language and by slightly
rising or lowering the tone will change the meaning of the word. The word
"my" can have five different meanings all controlled by the
tone in which it is pronounced.
Thai also uses a slightly different vocabulary for men
and women .
The masculine Thai word for ‘me’ or ’I’ is pom , the
feminine equivalent is dichan. Thais always include a polite closing word
to a statement, men finish a sentence with the Thai word Krup and women
close with Ka. The words have little if any direct translation but a Thai
will think very highly of you if you use it.
Farang may be the first Thai word that you encounter
during your stay in Thailand. Thais use the word "farang" to
refer to Caucasian people, or things associated with them (such as western
food ahan farang). The word is commonly believed to be derived from the
Thai pronunciation of the name of a early visitor from Greece, Constantine
Phaulkon who figures prominently in Thai history.
There is a vocabulary section of Thai words for those
who want to practice a little Thai during their stay. Learning the numbers
and how to say "thank you" and "how much?" will greatly
assist you when bargaining with the locals.
Thai Vocabulary
Greetings and small talk
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Greetings, hello, good-bye
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Sawadee
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Excuse me
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Khor-thot
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Never mind
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Mai pen rai
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Thank you
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Kop-khun
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How are you?
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Khun sabai dee mai?
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I am fine, thank you
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Sabai dee, kop kun
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My name is ……..
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Pom\Chan cheu……
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What is your name?
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Kun cher arai?
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Please
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Ka-roo-na
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Good luck
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Chok dee
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Do you have?
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Mee mai?
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Very good
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Dee maak
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I do not want
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Mai ao Khrap\Ka
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I understand
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Pom\Chan kao jai
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Do you understand?
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Kao jai mai?
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I do not understand
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Pom\Chan mai kao jai
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Directions
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Where
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Tee Nai
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When
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Meu-arai
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Turn right
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Leow khwa
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Turn left
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Leow sai
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Go straight
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By trong pai
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Slow down
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Cha-cha
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Stop here
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Yoot ti nee
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What street is this?
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Ni thanon arai?
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I want to go ……
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Pom\Chan yak-ja pai …….
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Restaurant
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Run ah-han
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Airport
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Sanam bin
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Bus Station
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Sa-thani rot meh
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Train Station
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Sa-thani rot fai
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Hotel
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Rong ram
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Police Station
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Sa-thani tam ruat
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Post Office
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Praisanii
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Hospital
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Rong paya-ban
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Time
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Today
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Wan ni
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Tomorrow
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Phrung ni
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Yesterday
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Meua waan
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Shopping
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How much is this?
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Raka thao-rai?
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Too expensive
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Paeng gurn pai
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Any discount?
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Lot raka noi dai mai?
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Not expensive
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Mai paeng
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Do you have another color?
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Mee si earn mai?
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Bigger
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Yai-kwa
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Smaller
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Lek kwa
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I want more
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Ow-ek
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Enough
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Paw
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Beach Language
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Beach
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Haat
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The weather is hot
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Ahgaat rawn
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White sand
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Sai Khao
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High tide
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Nam khern
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Low tide
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Nam long
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Big waves
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Khluen nam yai
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Strong wind
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Lom raeng
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Nice weather
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Ahgaat dee
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Rain
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Fon-tok
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Sunburn
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Daet phao
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Fruit
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Pon la mai
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Thirsty
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Hiu nam
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Rent boat
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Chao ruea
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Diving
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Dam Nam
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Fishing
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Tok pla
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Numbers
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One
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Neung
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Two
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Sawng
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Three
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Saam
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Four
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See
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Five
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Haa
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Six
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Hok
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Seven
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Jet
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Eight
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Paet
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Nine
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Kow
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Ten
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Sip
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Eleven
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Sip et
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Twelve
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Sip Sawng
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Twenty
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Yee-sip
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Thirty
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Saam-sip
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Forty
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See-sip
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Fifty
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Haa-sip
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Sixty
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Hok-sip
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Seventy
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Jet sip
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Eighty
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Paet-sip
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Ninety
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Kow-sip
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One hundred
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Neung-roy
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One thousand
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Neung-paan
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Days of the Week
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Sunday
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Wan ah-thit
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Monday
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Wan chan
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Tuesday
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Wan ang-kan
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Wednesday
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Wan poot
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Thursday
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Wan parua hut
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Friday
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Wan sook
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Saturday
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Wan Sao
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Months
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January
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Mok-kara-kom
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February
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Koom-pa-parn
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March
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Mee-na-kom
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April
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Mae-sai-yon
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May
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Preut-sar-pa-kom
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June
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Mee-too-na-yon
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July
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Kara-kada-kom
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August
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Sing-ha-kom
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September
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Kan-ya-yon
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October
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Too-la-kom
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November
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Preut-sar-jee-ka-yon
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December
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Tarn-wa-kom
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