Greetings
สวัสดีครับ / ค่ะ
sa-wat-dee khrap (m) / kha (f)
Hello and goodbye. Always attach the politeness particle — khrap if you are male, kha if female. Leaving it off sounds curt.
ขอบคุณครับ / ค่ะ
khop-khun khrap / kha
Thank you. A small wai — palms together, slight bow — is returned to anyone older or serving you, not initiated at children or staff.
Social
ไม่เป็นไร
mai pen rai
It's fine / never mind / you're welcome. The single most Thai phrase there is, and the correct answer to most minor frustrations.
Emergency
ธงแดง
thong daeng
Red flag. On Phuket's west-coast beaches this means the water is closed because of rip currents. It is not a suggestion — people drown here every monsoon season ignoring it.
ช่วยด้วย
chuay duay
Help! The emergency medical number is 1669; the English-speaking tourist police line is 1155.
Daily life
หาด / อ่าว
hat / ao
Beach / bay. Almost every Phuket place name starts with one — Hat Patong, Ao Yon, Hat Kata. Learning the two makes a map suddenly readable.
เท่าไหร่ครับ / คะ
tao-rai khrap / kha
How much is it? Essential in Phuket, where prices for the same journey or item can differ by a factor of three depending on who is asking.
แพงไป
phaeng pai
Too expensive. Said with a smile, it is the polite opening move for any tuk-tuk or market negotiation. Said angrily it ends the conversation.
ห้องน้ำอยู่ไหน
hong-nam yoo nai
Where is the toilet? Universally understood and worth memorising before you need it.
Food
อร่อย
a-roi
Delicious. Southern Thai food is markedly hotter than Bangkok's and this is the word that gets a cook to bring you the good version.
เผ็ดน้อย
phet noi
A little spicy. 'Mai phet' — not spicy — is a reasonable first request in the south, where the default heat level is genuinely serious.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.