Real Situations, Real Phrases

What you'll actually hear vs. what you'll actually say. Context matters.

At Immigration

easy

Immigration officers mostly speak English, but knowing a few phrases shows respect.

What You'll Hear:

têe-pák yòo-năi
Where are you staying?
ที่พักอยู่ไหน
yòo gèe wan
How many days?
อยู่กี่วัน

What You'll Say:

pŏm pák têe rohng-raem...
I'm staying at the hotel... (male)
ผมพักที่โรงแรม...
sŏrng sàp-daa
Two weeks
สองสัปดาห์
maa-têeow
Tourism/sightseeing
มาเที่ยว

In a Taxi/Grab

easy

Always have your destination written in Thai script. Many drivers don't speak English.

What You'll Hear:

bpai-năi
Where to?
ไปไหน
róo-taang-mái
Do you know the way?
รู้ทางไหม
dtìt-mâak
Heavy traffic
ติดมาก

What You'll Say:

bpai têe-nêe
Go here (pointing at phone)
ไปที่นี่
dtrong-bpai-loey
Go straight
ตรงไปเลย
lîeow sâai/kwǎa
Turn left/right
เลี้ยวซ้าย/ขวา
yùt dtrong-nêe
Stop here
หยุดตรงนี้
tâo-rài
How much?
เท่าไหร่

At a Restaurant

easy

Thai street food and restaurants are highlights of any trip. These phrases make ordering easy.

What You'll Hear:

sàng à-rai
What would you like to order?
สั่งอะไร
pèt dâai-mái
Can you eat spicy?
เผ็ดได้ไหม
ìm láew rĕu yáng
Are you full yet?
อิ่มแล้วหรือยัง

What You'll Say:

ao an-nêe
I'll have this
เอาอันนี้
mâi-pèt
Not spicy
ไม่เผ็ด
pèt nít-nòi
A little spicy
เผ็ดนิดหน่อย
mâi sài pàk-chee
No cilantro
ไม่ใส่ผักชี
à-ròi mâak
Very delicious!
อร่อยมาก
gèp-ngern
Check please
เก็บเงิน

At a Market

intermediate

Bargaining is expected at markets (but not malls). Be polite and smile - it's a game, not a fight.

What You'll Hear:

chôrp à-rai
What do you like?
ชอบอะไร
lorng doo sì
Try it on/Try it
ลองดูสิ
raa-kaa pí-sèt
Special price
ราคาพิเศษ

What You'll Say:

kŏr doo nòi
Can I look?
ขอดูหน่อย
tâo-rài
How much?
เท่าไหร่
paeng-bpai
Too expensive
แพงไป
lót dâai-mái
Can you discount?
ลดได้ไหม
tâa...bàat ao
If...baht, I'll take it
ถ้า...บาทเอา
mâi ao kòrp-kun
No thanks
ไม่เอา ขอบคุณ

Checking into Hotel

easy

Most hotels speak English, but these phrases help at guesthouses and smaller properties.

What You'll Hear:

mee jorng wái rĕu bplào
Do you have a reservation?
มีจองไว้หรือเปล่า
yòo gèe keun
How many nights?
อยู่กี่คืน

What You'll Say:

jorng wái láew
I have a reservation
จองไว้แล้ว
mee hông wâang mái
Do you have rooms available?
มีห้องว่างไหม
mee náam rón mái
Is there hot water?
มีน้ำร้อนไหม
Wi-Fi rá-hàt à-rai
What's the Wi-Fi password?
Wi-Fi รหัสอะไร
gun-jae hông
Room key
กุญแจห้อง

Getting a Massage

easy

Thai massage is incredible. Communicate preferences to get the pressure just right.

What You'll Hear:

raeng por mái
Is the pressure okay?
แรงพอไหม
pùat dtrong năi
Where does it hurt?
ปวดตรงไหน

What You'll Say:

nûat raeng nòi
Harder pressure please
นวดแรงหน่อย
bao nòi
Lighter please
เบาหน่อย
por dee
Just right
พอดี
pùat lăng
Back pain
ปวดหลัง
pùat bàa
Shoulder pain
ปวดบ่า
sà-baai mâak
Very relaxing!
สบายมาก

Medical Emergency

intermediate

Hope you never need these, but always good to know. Hospitals in Bangkok have excellent English speakers.

What You'll Say:

chûay-dûay
Help!
ช่วยด้วย
pŏm bpùay
I'm sick (male)
ผมป่วย
dì-chăn bpùay
I'm sick (female)
ดิฉันป่วย
pùat tórng
Stomachache
ปวดท้อง
pùat hŭa
Headache
ปวดหัว
mee kâi
Have fever
มีไข้
rohng-pá-yaa-baan glâi têe-sùt yòo-năi
Where is the nearest hospital?
โรงพยาบาลใกล้ที่สุดอยู่ไหน
páe yaa
Allergic to medicine
แพ้ยา

The Thai phrases you'll actually use in Thailand

The phrases that actually get you understood — ordering food, taxis, prices, and getting help. Two printable pages for your trip.

Practice All 12 Situations with Audio

Hear every phrase in the paid packs at natural speed and again slowly. The free Essentials Sampler is natural speed only. Practise with spaced repetition until it is ready when you need it. Speak Thai.

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Clear Thai audio at natural and slow speed · Polite ครับ/ค่ะ in your form · Spaced repetition · Paced to your trip date