Greetings
สวัสดีครับ / ค่ะ
sa-wat-dee khrap (m) / kha (f)
Hello and goodbye. The politeness particle is not optional — khrap if you are male, kha if female.
ขอบคุณครับ / ค่ะ
khop-khun khrap / kha
Thank you. Return a wai to anyone older or senior; you do not initiate one to children or service staff.
Social
ไม่เป็นไร
mai pen rai
Never mind / it's fine / you're welcome. The correct answer to nearly every small frustration, and a genuine cultural instruction rather than a phrase.
ใจเย็นๆ
jai yen yen
Cool heart — calm down. Raising your voice in Thailand loses you the argument and the respect. This phrase is the cultural ideal in three syllables.
Daily life
รถสองแถว
rot song-thaeo
The baht bus — a converted pickup running a fixed loop at a flat fare. You flag it down, ride, then press the buzzer and pay at the window when you get off.
ลงตรงนี้ครับ / ค่ะ
long trong nee khrap / kha
I'll get off here. Said as you press the buzzer on a baht bus. Learning this one sentence makes the whole transport system usable.
เท่าไหร่ครับ / คะ
tao-rai khrap / kha
How much? Worth asking before you get into any vehicle that is not running a fixed baht-bus route.
ห้องน้ำอยู่ไหน
hong-nam yoo nai
Where is the toilet? Universally understood, and worth having ready.
Food
อร่อย
a-roi
Delicious. Chonburi's seafood and the Bang Saray fishing villages south of the city are the reason to learn it.
เผ็ดน้อย
phet noi
A little spicy. 'Mai phet' is not spicy at all — a reasonable first request until you know a kitchen.
Emergency
ช่วยด้วย
chuay duay
Help! The emergency medical number is 1669; the English-speaking tourist police line is 1155.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.