Basic Thailand Expressions To Impress The Locals (2025)

Off to Thailand for vacation? Take advantage of these basic Thai expressions! Make your travels smoother and connect better with the locals.Ā 

From the famous “Sawasdee” greeting to the mouth-watering “Aroy Mak Mak” food compliment, Thailand has plenty of unique phrases that will leave you smiling and feeling like a local.

Basic Thailand Expressions To Impress The Locals (2025)

Off to Thailand for vacation? Take advantage of these basic Thai expressions! Make your travels smoother and connect better with the locals.Ā 

From the famous “Sawasdee” greeting to the mouth-watering “Aroy Mak Mak” food compliment, Thailand has plenty of unique phrases that will leave you smiling and feeling like a local.

Hi, we’re Rach & Marty!

We’ve visited every country in the world and want to help you get the most out of your travels!

Whether you need an expertly planned itinerary, some experienced hints and tips, or just craving a delicious food adventure, we’ve got you covered!

Hi, we’re Rach & Marty!

We’ve visited every country in the world and want to help you get the most out of your travels!

Whether you need an expertly planned itinerary, some experienced hints and tips, or just craving a delicious food adventure, we’ve got you covered!

Hi, we’re Rach & Marty!

We’ve visited every country in the world and want to help you get the most out of your travels!

Whether you need an expertly planned itinerary, some experienced hints and tips, or just craving a delicious food adventure, we’ve got you covered!

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Thailand Expressions - Learn Thai

Don’t let the language barrier stop you from having a blast! The best thing about Thai people is their sense of fun. They’ll appreciate you trying to speak some common Thai phrases, so never mind if you mispronounce something. 

In this article, I’ll guide you through some essential Thailand expressions and Thai phrases that will make your travels a breeze.

Get Ready To Impress Locals With These Useful Thai Expressions:

Basic Thai Expressions

Before we get into teaching you some basic Thai expressions, it’s important to remember gender markers are essential in Thai language! 

When using any of the phrases below, be sure to add the appropriate ending based on your gender. For example, if you’re female, end your sentence with “Ka (khaa),” and if you’re male, use “Krup (khrap).” 

With these markers, you’ll be sure to impress locals and show respect for Thai culture! 

Don’t be shy to say hello in Thailand! Even if you struggle with pronunciation at first, locals will appreciate your effort and are usually happy to help. This basic greeting can go a long way in making connections and enhancing your travel experience.

Here are some basic Thai expressions to get you started:

  • Hello / goodbye ā€“ Sawasdee krap / ka
  • How are you? – Sa bai dee mai khrup/ka
  • Very good, thanks! ā€“ Dee mak mak krap / ka
  • Itā€™s nice to meet you ā€“ Yin dee tidy roojak khun krap / ka
  • Excuse me ā€“ kotort krap / ka
  • Thank-you ā€“ Kop khun krap / ka
  • Thank you very much ā€“ Kop khun mak krap / ka
  • Yes ā€“ Chy
  • No ā€“ My chy

These essential Thai phrases will equip you with the basic language skills to travel in Thailand.

Of course, there are many more words and Thailand expressions to learn, but mastering these fundamentals is a great start! So go ahead and practice these phrases, and be bold and learn more as you go. 

In Thai language, the word for a foreigner is ā€œFarang,ā€ but its literal translation is ā€œFrench person.ā€ Interestingly, this is because the first Westerners to arrive in Thailand were French colonials from nearby Indochina.

Greetings in Thai

In Thai culture, adding a gender-specific word to the end of your sentence is crucial to show politeness and respect. 

For men, it’s “khrup” or “krap,” and for women, it’s “ka” or “kap.” This simple rule can make all the difference in your interactions with locals and help you immerse yourself in the language and culture. 

When it comes to learning greetings and Thai phrases, a few should be at the top of your list. 

Saying hello, asking how someone is doing, and expressing gratitude (saying thank you) are crucial for building connections and showing respect.

Greeting somebody in Thai – The Most Common Thai expressions

Thai people use different greetings depending on the social status of the person they are addressing, the context of the situation and the time of day. 

Additionally, using inflections and different tones can change a word’s meaning, making Thai a challenging but rewarding language to master. 

  • Hello ā€“ Sawadee khrup/ka
  • How are you? ā€“ Sa bai dee mai khrup/ka
  • Good Day- chohk dee
  • Good Morning- sawatdee tohn chao
  • Good Afternoon- sawatdee tohn bai
  • Good Evening- sawatdee tohn yen
  • Good Night- ra tree sawat
  • Goodbye! ā€“ La gorn khrup/ka
  • Very good, thanks ā€“ Dee mak mak krap / ka

For polite conversation males should finish sentences with ā€˜krapā€™ and females should finish sentences with ā€˜ka.ā€™ This is regardless of whether you are speaking to a male or female.

Thai Expressions in The Restaurant or Cafe

Thailand Expressions - Pad Thai
Learn these food focused Thai expressions to eat well in Thailand

If there’s one Thai expression you should learn from the beginning, it is the word ‘aroy’. It means delicious and will make locals smile when you say ‘Aroy’ or even ‘Aroy mak mak’ (very delicious). 

Here are some Thailand expressions to help you when ordering one of these most popular Thai dishes

And, I’m sure you already know that Thai cuisine is one of the best cuisines in the entire world – it’s one of the top contenders in our 10 best food countries in the world.

  • Delicious- Aroy
  • Very Delicious – Aroy Mak Mak
  • Not Spicy ā€“ Mai phet
  • A little Spicy- Chawp Pet Noi (chop-pet-noy) 
  • Spicy ā€“ phet mak
  • I would like to order- sang aa-haan
  • Do you have a menu please? ā€“ Mee menu my krap / ka
  • No Sugar – Mai Sai Nam Tam (my-sigh-nam-tam) 
  • I’m Hungry – Hiu (hee-yoo)
  • Water – Nam
  • Iā€™m a vegetarian ā€“ Kin jay
  • I like Thai food ā€“ Chob ahan Thai
  • One more please ā€“ Eek nung krap / ka
  • One beer please ā€“ Nung bia krap / ka
  • No MSG (mono sodium glutamate) please ā€“ My sy pong choo rote krap / ka
  • Can I have the bill please? ā€“ Chick bin krap / ka

Have you eaten rice yet? (kin khao reang krap / ka) is a popular way to ask someone how they are in Thailand.

Casual conversations with Locals

It’s always nice to learn a few Thai expressions to get to know someone a little better. Here are some basic Thai phrases to introduce yourself and tell them how much you enjoy visiting their country.

  • What is your name? ā€“ Khun cheur ally krap / ka
  • My name is Rachel ā€“ Chan cheur Rachel ka
  • How old are you? ā€“ Aa yoo towry krap / ka?
  • I like Thailand ā€“ Chob mak mak Prathet Thai 
  • No worries ā€“ Mai pen rai krap / ka
  • Itā€™s nice to meet you ā€“ Yin dee tidy roojak khun krap / ka

Directions and transport

Impress your Taxi or Tuk Tuk driver by learning some Thai expressions regarding directions and getting around in Thailand.

They’ll think twice before charging you ‘tourist fare’ it sounds like you’re familiar with the area.

  • Where are you going? ā€“ By ny krap / ka
  • To the train station please ā€“ By settanee rot fy krap / ka
  • To the airport please ā€“ By sunambin krap / ka
  • Can you put the taxi meter on? ā€“ Dit meter dai mai ka
  • Where is the market? ā€“ Dalat, yoo tinie krap / ka
  • Where is the train station? ā€“ Settanee rot fy, yoo tinie krap / ka
  • Where is the bathroom? (hong-nam-you-tee-nye)
  • I am staying nearby ā€“ Yoo gly krap / ka
  • Not too far ā€“ My gly krap / ka
  • Turn left ā€“ Leo sy
  • Turn right ā€“ Leo kwa
  • Straight on ā€“ Dong by
  • Short cut ā€“ Tanglad
Thailand Expressions - Tuk tuk Thailand
Thai expressions and Thai phrases to help you get around in Thailand

Essential Thailand Expressions at the Market

Even though Thais are some of the friendliest people in the world, some of them do try and rip off visitors and tourists if given the chance.

Like travelling in any other country, it’s essential to be aware of cons and scams when travelling in Thailand. 

To avoid getting ripped off or overpaying for goods or services, learn how to ask “how much” in Thai and save yourself from potential scams.

By learning some essential Thai expressions for shopping, you can confidently navigate the markets and haggle like a pro. 

From asking for the price to negotiating and making purchases, these basic words and Thai phrases will help you get what you want at a fair price. 

  • How much is it? ā€“ Ra ka tao rai khrup/ka?
  • Too expensive! ā€“ Paeng mak khrup/ka!
  • Can you do a discount? ā€“ Lod dy my krap / ka
  • Can you do more discount? ā€“ Lod eek dy my krap / ka
  • I donā€™t want it thank-you ā€“ My ow krap / ka

Whether you’re travelling in Thailand independently or have chosen to explore Thailand with G Adventures on a small group tour, stay in the loop with an eSIM for Thailand.

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Get connected easily on your travelsā€”buy an eSIM! It works like an app: buy it, download it, and get connected in minutes! Itā€™s easy, affordable, and convenient. Keep your original phone number, too!

Numbers

I always recommend at least learning how to count from one to ten when travelling in a new country.

It helps when asking how much a tuk-tuk ride will be, haggling for souvenirs, and ordering a kilo or two of fresh mangoes at the fresh market.

  • Sun (sun) / 0
  • Nung (nung) / 1
  • Song (song) / 2
  • Sam (sam) / 3
  • See (see) / 4
  • Da (da) / 5
  • Hok (hawk) / 6
  • Jed (jed) / 7
  • Baed (bed) / 8
  • Gao (gow) / 9
  • Sib (sib) / 10
Thailand Expressions - Wat

If you’re interested in learning more than just the basics of Thai, here are my recommendations:

Sign up for Thai lessons in Thailand – Thai language schools are everywhere, so if you’d like to take your Thai to the next level, learn the accents, and tones from a local Thai teacher, then enroll in a Thai language class and see where it takes you.

Thai Language Guides – The Lonely Planet Thai language phrasebook & dictionary will be beneficial when travelling in Thailand. Furthermore, I recommend you get the Lonely Planet Thailand Guidebook for expert travel advice to travel this fantastic country.

Learn Thai with Babbel – I love this App to learn new languages. It’s structured learning, and enjoyable at the same time. Sign up and get up to 50% discount on your subscription!

Travel Tips for Thailand

We have many travel guides and tips for Thailandā€”what a delicious country!

Our 26 helpful tips for travel in Thailand are good to know before you arrive.

Start by tasting these top 12 Thai dishes and then explore more of this incredible cuisine. We love to eat here, and Thailand is featured in our top 10 best countries for food lovers. 

There are many reasons why it’s the perfect destination, and here are 15 amazing things to do in Thailand to help plan your next trip.

Our ultimate Southeast Asia packing list covers what to take (and what to leave at home). Learn a few basic Thai expressions to impress the locals!

If you plan on travelling to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand (which I highly recommend), read our perfect 2 day itinerary for Chiang Mai. Our accommodation guide for Chiang Mai may also be helpful to you.

We recommend hiking the Monkā€™s Trail while you’re here.

Chiang Mai is a food lover’s paradise; our food guide on its best restaurants and places to eat is essential reading! Plus, don’t miss our 10 best Brunch Cafes in Chiang Mai!

For those looking to stay a little longer in Thailand, this country is a digital nomad & remote workers’ heaven! Read our detailed digital nomads guide to both Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai and Ko Samui vs Ko Phangan for remote workers.

Some of our favourite places include Kata Beach, on the island of Phuket – here are ten awesome things to do in Kata Beach, and of course we put together this ultimate food guide for Phuket Town.

From Phuket, you should consider heading down to the Trang Islands – we recommend staying on the small island of Koh Mook! Read our detailed Travel Guide for Koh Mook; it’s one of our favourite islands in Thailand!

We recommend visiting Lampang, a lesser-known (but fantastic) city – here are 11 reasons to visit Lampang!

If you enjoy Lampang, why not visit the quaint lakeside town of Phayao? Here’s how to spend two days in Phayao.

Nan is another place worth visiting in Northern Thailand; our comprehensive post includes the 14 best things to do in Nan.

Youā€™ll need to stay connected while travelling in Thailand. We recommend eSIM. Itā€™s easy, reliable and affordable. View options for eSIM in Thailand or the regional Asialink eSIM (which covers 13 countries).

If your travels in Thailand are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM. The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.

Want to travel in Thailand with like-minded travellers? View the best deals on group adventures in Thailand.

Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.

Did you enjoy this article? Share it with friends and family!

Travel Planning Resources

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šŸšŒ Transportation: Trainline is the best website to reserve trains. We use Omio to book transport worldwide. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go. 

šŸš˜ Car Rental: We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.

šŸ‘« Group Tours: We now offer Group Trips; view them here! Alternatively, we recommend searching the Tourradar website. For Europe, Expat Explore is a good choice. *Get 5% off when you quote code VERYHUNGRYNOMADS to your Expat reservations agent. (*Valid for new clients only).

šŸ“ø Day Tours & TripsGetYourGuide & Viator are the only two platforms you need.

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šŸŽ’ LuggageOsprey Farpoint 40L Backpack or Samsonite Luggage Range.

šŸ›„ What to Pack: Donā€™t forget your Universal charger and a good power bank.  To help you pack the essentials, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers.

šŸ¶ Become a House Sitter: Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.

šŸ’° Send Money Anywhere: WISE & Revolut are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.

šŸ“¶ Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM lets you get connected when you land at your destination. We LOVE this product! Use code MARTIN9009 to get $3 off your first Airalo eSIM (new users only) OR click here to SAVE 15% off your eSIM(valid till 31/12/2025).

āœ… Check out our Travel Gear and Travel Resources for more valuable tips to save you money!

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