Pattaya & Jomtien Beach Thailand

Thai Language

There's good news and bad news.

The bad news is that learning Thai is hard work. Bloody hard work. However, the good news is that any attempt to try and say a few of the local phrases will raise you several notches in the respectability stakes.

At Patta-Yai!, we appreciate that you probably don't want to study vowel tones nor understand why 'mai mai mai mai mai' is a proper sentence. So we've come up with our own practical guide to language. Choose any of the following phrases, print them out, and then whip them out next time you're in a suitable bar.

Hint: You may see these words spelt any manner of ways in English, as there is no easy way to directly translate Thai into English. These are the closest matches.

The basics
Sawadee cup - hello
Sabai dee mai? - how are you?
Sabai dee - I'm fine
Taow-rai? - How much?
Wannee, khun su-ai mark - Today, you look very beautiful.
Phut len - You are kidding.
Phom mai mee / mee ngarn - I don't / do have money.
Bai rhong ram mai? - Do you want go to the hotel?
Joop - Kiss
God - Hug
Num - Breasts
Yai - Big
Lek - Small
Buree - Cigarettes

Useful Phrases
Phom mai mao, phom sabai dee - I'm not drunk, I'm just happy.

Note: We considered adding tone markers and glottal stop indicators to this information .. then considered that we would be depriving you of an opportunity.

If you attempt to speak the Thai language, you will surely get almost immediate assistance. It can be a great conversation starter.

Hotels
Rong raem - hotel
Hong-non – bedroom
Mee ae mai? Is there air-conditioning?
Mee hong-nam mai? – Is there a bathroom?
Hong-dieo – single room
Hong koo – double room
Arp-nam - shower
Aharn-chao – breakfast
Leum goon-jae – I’ve forgotten my key
Panak-ngam borigarn – room service
Kuen la taorai? – how much is the room per night?
Aharn-chao kee mong? – when is breakfast?
Garuna plook chan nai wela – Can you call me at…o’clock?

Restaurants
Kor doo menu mai? – Can I see the menu?
Kor – I would like…
Bia sorng kuat – two bottles of beer
Geb-tang krap? – Can I have the bill, please.
Soob buree dai mai? – May I smoke?

Dating
Kor lekthorasap noi si? – May I have your phone number?
Pom dee chai teedai pob khun – I’m pleased to meet you.
Khun yoo tee nee ma nan rue young? – how long have you been here?
Pom cha nam krung deum mahai na? – Would you like a drink?

Directions/travel
Kwar – left
Sai – right
Doen trong pai – go straight ahead
Yoo sai/kwar mue – it’s on the left/right
Thanon – street/road
Soi – sidestreet
Dern – walk
Pharn – after
Korn – before
Sai thale – seaside
Ko – island
Reua – boat
Tua – ticket
Cha – slow

Body parts (put suu-ie at the end to say something is beautiful,
nar-kliat for ugly)
Ranggai – body
Leen – tongue
Khaen – arms
Nah – face
Tah – eyes
Kha – legs
Phom – hair
Phark – mouth
Rim fee phak – lips

Health
Yah – drug
Yah aspirin – aspirin
Pah pid plae - plaster
Yah nawn lab – sleeping pill
Roke tawng ruang – diarrhoea
Roke puad hua – headache
Roke ai – cough
Roke puad fun – toothache
Jep – hurt