The Thai phrases you'll use every day in Thailand
Start with sà-wàt-dee (hello), kòp-kun (thank you), tâo-rài (how much?), mâi pèt (not spicy) and hông-náam yòo têe năi (where is the toilet?). Below are the rest for restaurants, taxis, markets and emergencies, each with the Thai script, how to say it and the tone.
This page gives you the words. Saying them out loud tomorrow, without looking, takes practice. Speak Thai plays each phrase in Thai and brings it back before you forget it. The first 30 are free.
Start free: 30 phrasesTwo things change every phrase: tones and your ending
Thai is a tonal language with 5 distinct tones that change word meanings entirely. The same syllable can mean different things depending on tone. Learn about Thai tones →
Your polite ending matters: men add ครับ (kráp) to show respect. Women use ค่ะ (kâ) for statements and คะ (ká) for questions. People notice when you add your ending, and it changes how they answer you. New to speaking Thai? What to learn first, in order →
How to say hello in Thai, with the right ending →
How to say thank you in Thai, and what Thais say back →
Greetings & Basics
The foundation of polite Thai communication. More greetings and polite replies
Numbers
Essential for shopping, ordering, and negotiating. How Thai numbers and prices work
Number System Note: Thai uses both Arabic numerals (0-9) and traditional Thai numerals (๐-๙). You'll see Arabic numerals most commonly, but Thai numerals appear in government documents and traditional contexts. Learn 1 to 10 plus the words for hundred (rói) and thousand (pan), and you can say most prices you will see.
At Restaurants
Navigate Thai dining with confidence. More phrases for ordering food
You've just read mâi pèt. Could you say it at a stall tomorrow, with a queue behind you? Speak Thai has you say phrases like this out loud until they come without thinking. Hello, thank you and how much are in the free 30.
Practise them out loud, freeGetting Around
Navigate taxis, tuk-tuks, and giving directions. More phrases for taxis and directions
Shopping & Bargaining
Bargain at markets without overpaying. More phrases for markets and bargaining
Bargaining Culture: Bargaining is expected at market stalls but NOT at food stalls, malls, supermarkets, or restaurants. Counter well below the first price and meet somewhere in the middle. Smile and keep it light: it's a friendly negotiation, not a confrontation. If the price doesn't move, walking away politely is normal.
Asking how much is the easy half. The seller answers in Thai, fast. The full Speak Thai has a 35-phrase pack of the answers you'll hear back, with slow audio so you can catch them. $25 USD every 6 months, renews automatically, cancel any time. The first 30 phrases are free.
Try the free 30 firstEmergencies
Essential phrases for urgent situations. More phrases for emergencies
Social Phrases
Connect with locals and make friends
Take These Phrases With You
No signal at the market? Get the printable two-page PDF by email.
Leaving in a week? The 7-day Thai challenge teaches the core phrases one set a day, from greetings on day 1 to small talk on day 6.
Essential Thai Phrases Cheat Sheet
Essentials
Critical
Polite Particles
Numbers 1-10
Questions visitors ask
Do I need to speak Thai to visit Thailand?
No. In hotels, tourist areas and most restaurants that see visitors, you can get by in English. A few Thai phrases still help at street stalls, in taxis and outside the main tourist areas, and people warm up quickly when you start in Thai.
How do you say please in Thai?
Thai has no all-purpose word for please. To ask for something, say ขอ (kăw), the thing, then หน่อย (nòi) and your ending: kăw nám nòi kráp, some water please. กรุณา (gà-rú-naa) is the formal please you see on signs and hear in announcements.
Do men and women say these phrases differently?
Only the polite ending changes. Men end with ครับ (kráp). Women end with ค่ะ (kâ), or คะ (ká) when asking a question. The ending follows the person speaking, not the person listening.
Do Thai people mind if I get the tones wrong?
No. In everyday situations people understand a lot from context, and most are pleased you tried. Copy the sound of whole phrases as you hear them rather than learning tone rules first.
Can I still learn these if I am already in Thailand?
Yes. Practise tonight the phrases you will need tomorrow, like breakfast, the taxi or the market, and use them the next day while they are fresh. Saying them out loud a few times works better than rereading the list.
You have the list. Now practise saying it out loud.
The first 30 phrases are free, with Thai audio in your own ครับ or ค่ะ form. The full Speak Thai has 12 situation packs and slow audio. Start before your flight or from your hotel room.
Want to see everything first? See how Speak Thai works.
Planning to actually read Thai signs and menus? Start Read Thai free →