Get Early Access

Thai Phrases for Shopping and Markets

From Chatuchak to night markets. Bargain like a local, find the best prices, and enjoy the experience.

19 phrases
8 min read
Free phonetic guides

Market shopping is one of Thailand's great pleasures -- and one of the few places where speaking Thai directly saves you money. A foreigner who can bargain in Thai consistently pays 20-40% less than one who bargains in English. Beyond the savings, it is genuinely fun. Vendors enjoy the back-and-forth, and a smile combined with a few Thai phrases turns a transaction into a connection.

The 8 free phrases below cover the entire bargaining cycle from asking the price to closing the deal. Learn them with Jam Kham's travel mode and practice before you hit the markets.

Essential Market Phrases

8 phrases for the complete bargaining cycle -- free with pronunciation guide.

Say: tâo-rài falling tone
How much? Thai: เท่าไหร่

Your single most important market phrase. Point at the item and ask.

Say: paeng bpai mid tone
Too expensive Thai: แพงไป

Say this with a friendly smile. It opens the door to bargaining without being rude.

Say: lót dâai mái falling tone
Can you reduce? Thai: ลดได้ไหม

The polite way to ask for a discount. Always smile when you say it.

Say: ao mid tone
I'll take it Thai: เอา

Short and direct. Point at what you want and say this. Deal done.

Say: mâi ao kòp-kun falling tone
No thanks Thai: ไม่เอา ขอบคุณ

Polite refusal. Smile and walk away. They may call you back with a better price.

Say: kŏr doo nòi rising tone
Can I look? Thai: ขอดูหน่อย

Ask before handling items, especially jewelry, art, or fragile goods.

Say: mee sĕe èun mái mid tone
Other colors? Thai: มีสีอื่นไหม

Vendors often have more stock hidden underneath or in back. Always ask.

Say: sŭay rising tone
Beautiful Thai: สวย

Compliment the product or the stall. Builds rapport and sometimes leads to better prices.

Bargaining happens fast. If you've practiced these phrases with spaced repetition, they'll come without thinking.

Try Travel Thai — $4.99/mo

Advanced Bargaining Phrases

7 more phrases for bulk discounts, sizes, and closing the deal.

Say: séu sŏng chín lót mái rising tone
Buy two, discount? Thai: ซื้อสองชิ้น ลดไหม

Buying in bulk is the easiest way to negotiate. Vendors expect this.

Say: raa-kaa sùt-táai falling tone
Final price? Thai: ราคาสุดท้าย

Asks the vendor for their rock-bottom price. Use after a round of negotiation.

Say: lót èek dâai mái falling tone
Can you go cheaper? Thai: ลดอีกได้ไหม

Pushing for one more discount. Use sparingly -- do not be aggressive.

Say: jàai sòt lót mái falling tone
Cash discount? Thai: จ่ายสดลดไหม

Some vendors give 5-10% off for cash since they avoid card fees.

Say: mee sai èun mái mid tone
Other sizes? Thai: มีไซส์อื่นไหม

Useful for clothing at markets. They may have more sizes in the back.

Say: tam tîi-năi falling tone
Where is this made? Thai: ทำที่ไหน

Good for checking authenticity at craft markets. Handmade items are worth more.

Say: hòr hâi nòi low tone
Can you wrap it? Thai: ห่อให้หน่อย

Useful for gifts or fragile items. Most vendors are happy to wrap purchases.

Sign up free to unlock all phrases with audio and spaced repetition.

What You'll Hear Back

Recognize these 4 vendor responses and you will never feel lost in a negotiation.

ราคาพิเศษ raa-kaa pí-sàyt Special price for you

The classic opening line. The "special price" is still the tourist price. You can and should negotiate down from here.

ลดไม่ได้ lót mâi dâai Cannot reduce

The vendor is saying the price is firm. This sometimes means it genuinely is, but walking away often produces a counteroffer.

ราคาสุดท้ายแล้ว raa-kaa sùt-táai láew Already final price

Stronger than "cannot reduce." The vendor is signaling the negotiation is over. Respect it or walk away.

เอาไหม ao mái Do you want it?

The vendor is asking for a decision. Reply with เอา (I'll take it) or ไม่เอา ขอบคุณ (no thanks).

Want to Practice Before Your Trip?

Bargaining happens fast. Practice these phrases with spaced repetition until they're automatic. Travel Thai: $4.99/mo.

Includes native audio · Offline access · Spaced repetition · Paced to your trip date

Try Travel Thai Start free

From the Blog

How to Bargain in Thai: A Step-by-Step Guide The 7 phrases that run every negotiation, the bargaining dance, and mistakes that cost you money.

Related Guides

Numbers & Money Say prices and count in Thai for better bargaining. Ordering Food Order street food and restaurant dishes in Thai. Getting Around Get to the market and back with taxi phrases.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I bargain at a Thai market?
Start by asking the price with เท่าไหร่ (tâo-rài). If it seems high, smile and say แพงไป (paeng bpai, "too expensive"), then ลดได้ไหม (lót dâai mái, "can you reduce?"). Counter with about 60-70% of the asking price and meet somewhere in the middle. Always keep the interaction friendly. If you cannot agree, smile and walk away -- the vendor may call you back with a better offer.
How much should I try to negotiate off?
A good rule of thumb is to aim for 20-40% off the initial asking price. Start by offering 50-60% of the stated price and work up. At tourist-heavy markets like Chatuchak, the initial markup is higher (sometimes double), so there is more room to negotiate. At local neighborhood markets, prices are often already fair and you might only get 10-20% off.
Is it rude to bargain in Thailand?
Not at all -- bargaining is expected and even enjoyed at markets, night bazaars, and with tuk-tuk drivers. However, do not bargain at malls, convenience stores (7-Eleven, Family Mart), restaurants, or supermarkets. These have fixed prices. Also avoid bargaining aggressively over small amounts. Haggling over 10-20 baht (less than $1) is considered poor form.
How do I say numbers for prices?
Learn Thai numbers 1-10 plus the words for hundred (ร้อย, rói) and thousand (พัน, pan). For example, 200 baht is สองร้อย (sŏng rói). Check our Thai Numbers for Travelers guide for the full system. Even knowing a few numbers shows effort and helps with bargaining.
What markets should I visit in Bangkok?
Chatuchak Weekend Market is the largest, with over 8,000 stalls. Rot Fai Night Market has vintage goods and street food. Asiatique is tourist-friendly but more expensive. For authentic local experiences, try Or Tor Kor Market (fresh food) or Khlong Toei Market (the real deal, not for the faint-hearted). At all of these, your Thai bargaining phrases will come in handy.

Explore More Situations

Master Thai phrases for every travel scenario.

Start free · Upgrade to Travel Thai for $4.99/mo