Thai words in english language1/6/2023 Saying hello in Thai is often accompanied with a wai - the famous, prayer-like gesture with palms together and head slightly bowed. Sawasdee can even for “goodbye” if you choose. You can use sawasdee for people both older and younger than yourself. Honorifics don't affect the greeting, either. Unlike when saying hello in Malaysia and Indonesia, the time of day does not matter when greeting people in Thai. How are you?: sabai dee mai (sounds like “sah-bye-dee my?”).Hello: sawasdee (sounds like “sah-wah-dee krap / kah”).The default way to say hello in Thai is with a friendly sawasdee khrap (if you are male) or sawasdee kha (if you are female). It can also be a high tone for emphasis.ĭon’t worry: after a week or so in Thailand, you’ll find yourself reflexively saying khrap or kha without even / Getty Images Kha (sounds like “khaaa”): Women say kha with a drawn-out, falling tone.Yes, it inconveniently sounds like “crap!” - although, the r is often omitted in Thai, making khrap! sound more like kap! Khrap (sounds like “krap!”): Male speakers say khrap sharply with a high tone for emphasis.For instance, if you tell a Thai woman thank you, she may reply with an enthusiastic “ khaaaa.” At the end of a transaction, a man may say "khrap!" indicating both thanks and that "we are done here." Khrap and kha are also used standalone to indicate agreement, comprehension, or acknowledgement. Depending on the gender of the speaker (men say khrap women say kha), they are added to the end of a statement to indicate respect. Without question, the two words you’ll hear the most often on a trip to Thailand are khrap and kha. The word "Thai" isn't pronounced "thigh," it's Thai! For instance, Phuket - one of the most popular islands in Thailand - is pronounced “poo-ket.” The letter r is often omitted or spoken as an L in Thailand. Transliterations of these popular expressions for traveling in Thailand differ, but English-equivalent pronunciations are provided below. Usually.Īlong with five tones, the Thai language also has its own unique script. Fortunately, context will usually help people understand you. Words take on different meanings depending upon which of the five tones are used. There is one small catch: Thai is a tonal language. Yes, learning a little Thai is optional, but speaking a few words of the local language can lead to some fun cultural interactions! Although the language barrier isn't much of a problem while traveling in Thailand, knowing a few useful phrases in Thai will really enhance your experience there.
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