Essential Thai Phrases: 10 That Actually Help

You don’t need to learn Thai for a trip. Most Thais in tourist areas speak some English, menus have photos, and pointing works. But these ten phrases will solve specific problems.

The Core Five

English	Thai	Pronunciation
Hello	สวัสดี	sa-wat-dee
Thank you	ขอบคุณ	kob-khun
Excuse me / sorry	ขอโทษ	kor-toht
How much?	เท่าไหร่	tao-rai
Where is the toilet?	ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหน	hong-nam yoo nai

Krub and Ka go at the end of sentences. Men say krub, women say ka. Thais notice when you use them.

So: “How much, thank you” → “Tao rai, ka?” (if you’re a woman) or “Tao rai, krub?” (if you’re a man).

The Situational Five

1. “Mai phet” (ไม่เผ็ด) — Not spicy

Default Thai spice is set for Thais, not tourists. Without this phrase, you’ll order mild food and get medium-hot. Use it every time you order.

2. “Chai meter duay” (ใช้มิเตอร์ด้วย) — Use the meter

For taxis. Without saying this, drivers will quote a fixed price 2-3x the meter rate. With it, they run the meter.

3. “Pai [place]” (ไป…) — Go to [place]

For songthaews, tuk-tuks, motorbike taxis. They know the major destinations. Point at the map and say “pai Khao San” or “pai Chatuchak.”

4. “Lot dai mai?” (ลดได้ไหม) — Can you discount?

Markets only. Don’t use this in 7-Eleven or malls. Works best at the start of bargaining, not after they’ve already given a price.

5. “Khao, krap/ka” (ข้าว) — Rice, please

At a restaurant, you can order almost any Thai dish by just saying “khao [dish]” — khao pad (fried rice), khao man gai (chicken rice), khao soi (northern noodles). Or “khao [dish] mai phet” for “rice [dish] not spicy.”

What You Don’t Need to Learn

“I love you” in Thai — pointless. Thai is not a romance language; sarong is the word and it sounds weird from a tourist.

“Thank you very much” — just say “kob khun” twice. “Kob khun mak” exists but no one uses it.

Greetings beyond hello — unnecessary. A small bow with hands together (wai) is the polite gesture. Thais do it; you can mirror it but don’t have to.

Tones

Thai has 5 tones. You won’t master them in a week. The good news: Thais in tourist areas are used to flat-tone foreigners. Context tells them what you mean. “Mai phet” with a confused look = “I want not spicy.” They’ll figure it out.

The Speak Thai tool has audio for every phrase and a sentence builder for ordering food. Practice there before your trip.