100+ Basic Thai Words and Phrases for Tourists (With Pronunciation)
Planning a trip to Thailand this year? Review these basic Thai words for tourists to help you get around a little easier. These Thai words in English are the most common Thai words for travel you’ll need to get by!
Let’s be honest – Thai is a difficult language for most Westerners. Its letters are in Thai script, not the Latin we’re used to, and it’s tonal in nature, so you need to consider pitch in addition to pronunciation. But just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying! The Thai people are extremely warm and welcoming, and most in the service industry will speak English, but they deeply appreciate when visitors try to speak their language. Knowing a few basic Thai words in English will go a long way in easing your travels and putting a smile on the face of the person you’re interacting with. And for more complicated conversations, there’s always Google Translate 😉 With that said, we’ve compiled some of the most common Thai words for tourists you’ll want to know before you go, based on our experience living there for four months.
Visiting Bangkok or Koh Phangan on your trip? Check out our fully premade itineraries for each city here:
- Your Complete Bangkok Itinerary for 3 Epic Days
- What to Do in Koh Phangan – For Partiers or Luxury Loungers
We’ve also got a slew of other posts in our Thailand travel guides, including top bars and restaurants, tour reviews, and more – check them out before your trip!
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Common Thai Words in English for Tourists and Travel:
Basic Thai Words in English for Tourists & Travel
We’ve broken up our list of common Thai words and phrases for travel into logical categories below to help you digest things easier. Each word or phrase in English is followed by the equivalent in Thai as well as a phonetic spelling afterwards, to help you pronounce it properly. As always with our blog, the foreign language words will be in italics. When relevant, we’ve included some helpful notes on when it’s appropriate (or not) to use the word or phrase.
A few important concepts before we get into things though:
- Tone and speed – Thai is tonal, but don’t stress about getting it perfect. Focus on rhythm and friendliness, and speak slowly to be considered polite. The words below are broken into syllables, and capital letters show which part to emphasize.
- Polite participles – in Thai, gender-based participles are often added to the end of words and phrases to be polite. For men, this is khrap – krahp, and for women it’s kha – kah. Add these to the end of your “hellos” and requests to show respect to your conversational partner (ex. sa-wat-DEE khrap/kha for “hello”).
- The wai – a bow with your palms together called a wai – why is another common way to show respect, particularly when saying “hello” or “goodbye”. The higher your hands, the more respect you show.
Alright – let’s get into the Thai words in English you need to travel Thailand as a tourist!
The Basic Thai Words for Tourists
Let’s start off with something simple – everyday basics like “hello,” “goodbye,” “please,” and “thank you” – the most common Thai words for tourists!
- Hello/Goodbye – sa-wat-DEE – sah-wat-DEE (add khrap/kha)
- See you later – laew jer gan – leow JER-gan
- Nice to meet you – yin-dee tee dai roo-jak – yin-DEE tee-dai ROO-jak
- Please – kha-ru-naa – ka-roo-NAH (add khrap/kha)
- Thank you – khob khun – kop-KOON (add khrap/kha) (the most important)
- You’re welcome – yin-dee – yin-DEE
- Yes – chai – CHAI
- No – mai chai – my-CHAI
- Excuse me/I’m sorry – khaw thot – kaw-TOT (add khrap/kha)
- I don’t speak Thai – phoot Thai mai dai – poot-THAI my-DIE
- Do you speak English? – khun phoot ang-grit dai mai? – koon poot ANG-grit die-MAI?
- Are dogs allowed? – ao maa dai mai? – ow MA die-MAI?
Getting Around
Google Maps not working? These basic Thai words for travel will help you out in a pinch.
- Where is…? – tee nai? – tee-NYE?
- How do I get to…? – bpai yang-ngai…? – bye yang-NYE…?
- I’m lost – long taang – long-TANG
- Left – sai – SIGH
- Right – khwa – kwah
- Straight ahead – trong bpai – trong-BYE
- Train – rot fai – rot-FYE
- Bus – rot may – rot-MAY
- Station (bus/train) – sa-tha-nii – sa-ta-NEE
- Airport – sanaam bin – sa-NAHM bin
- A ticket for… – dtua bpai… – tua BYE…
- One-way – dtua dee-ow – tua-DEE-ow
- Round trip – bpai glap – bye-GLAP
- When does it leave? – ok gii mong? – oak GEE mong?
- When does it arrive? – teung gii mong? – toong GEE mong?
- Can you use the meter? – chai mee-ter dai mai? – chai MEE-ter die-MY
- Stop here – yut tee nee – yoot tee-NEE
One of the most fun ways to travel around Thailand is via tuk tuk – took-took, the iconic three-wheeled taxi. If you prefer a standard taxi, there are plenty of those as well, and they’re pronounced the same as in English. But either way, make sure to negotiate your fare up front, or that the taxi has a meter! Better yet, travel with Grab, Southeast Asia’s #1 rideshare app, like Uber. Rides on Grab will be cheaper than those you pick up on the street nearly 100% of the time, and sometimes by a wide margin.
Visiting Bangkok? Learn more about the BTS, MRT, and other tips on getting around the city in our guide Your Complete Bangkok Itinerary for 3 Epic Days.
Drinking and Dining
If you’re like me, one of the main reasons you chose Thailand is for the incredible food. Here are the basic Thai words and phrases you need to know to order it. And don’t miss our guide The Best Street Food in Bangkok’s Chinatown – 14 Must-Try Bites to learn the best things to eat there!
- Restaurant – raan aa-haan – rahn ah-HAHN
- A table for two – toh song khon – toh song-CONE
- Menu – men-yuu – men-YOO
- Waiter/Waitress – phanak ngaan – pah-nahk-NGAHN
- I’d like…(to order) – ao… – ow…
- What do you recommend? – muun nai khun nae-nam? – moon-NYE koon nae-NAM?
- Where is the bathroom? – hong naam yoo tee nai? – hong-NAHM yoo tee-NYE?
- Can I pay? – chae-ng ngeun dai mai? – chang-NGOON die-MAI?
- The bill/check – chek bin – chek-BIN
- Water (still) – nam plao – nahm-PLAO
- Water (sparkling) – nam so-da – nahm so-DAH
- Beer – bia – BEE-ah
- Wine (red/white) – wai daeng / wai khao – why-DANG / why-KOW
- Glass (water, wine) – gaeow – gow
- Cheers! – chon gaew! – chon-GOW!
- Delicious – a-roy – ah-ROY (you’ll use this one a lot, we promise)
- Not spicy – mai phet – my-PET (very common Thai words for tourists, as their definition of spicy is very different than a Westerner’s!)
- A little spicy – phet nit-noy – pet NIT-noy
- Too spicy! – phet mak! – pet-MAHK!
- I’m allergic to… – phom/chan pae… – pom/chan PAY…
- Vegetarian – mang-sa-wi-rat – mang-sah-wee-RAHT
Shopping
Whether you’re buying a souvenir or just some Advil at the market, here are some common Thai words in English for tourists to help you complete your purchase.
- What is this? – nee arai? – NEE ah-RYE?
- How much does it cost? – nee tao-rai? – NEE tao-RYE?
- Do you have change? – mee ngoen torn mai? – mee NGUHN torn my?
- Do you accept credit card? – rap bat kreh-dit mai? – rahp baht KREH-dit my?
- Do you have…? – mee…mai? – mee…MY?
- Where can I find…? – ha…tee nai? – hah…tee-NYE?
- I’m just looking – duu len len – doo len-LEN
- Can I try it on? – long sai dai mai? – long SIGH die-MY?
- I’ll take it – ao an nee – ow an-NEE
- Size – saai – SIGH
- Do you have this in a small/medium/large – mee an nee sai lek/glang/yai mai? – mee ahn-NEE sigh LEK/GLANG/YAI my?
- Open – pèrt – pert
- Closed – bpid – pid
When shopping at the markets in Thailand, don’t be afraid to haggle! This is common and expected, so a vendor’s opening offer is likely higher than what they expect to actually receive. Also, make sure to keep plenty of cash – Thai baht – on hand. While many vendors accept card, it’s not guaranteed, and those that do often charge a 3% markup. Don’t forget our number one tip on withdrawing cash in a foreign country!
Pro tip: When offered an exchange rate by an ATM, you can – and should – always decline the rate displayed. This rate often includes a heavy markup on top of the market exchange rate. Declining the rate will not stop your transaction, but rather allow your personal bank to set the rate instead.
At the Hotel
Checking in at the hotel always leads to a few key questions to facilitate your stay. Ask for extra towels and make sure you don’t miss breakfast with the basic Thai words for tourists below.
- Hotel – rong raem – rong-REM (“hostel” is the same as in English)
- Do you have a room available? – mee hong wang mai? – mee hong-WANG my?
- I have a reservation – chan jong wai laew – chan jong-WYE leow
- What time is checkout/breakfast? – check-out/a-haan chao gii mong? – chek-out/ah-HAHN chow GEE mong?
- Can we leave our bags here? – kep gra-bao wai tee nee dai mai? – gep gra-BOW why tee-NEE die-MY?
- More towels – khaw phaa chet tuae – kaw pah-CHET tuay
- Key – kun-jae – koon-JAY
- Elevator –liift – LIFT
- Wi-Fi password –ra-hat wai-fai – rah-HAHT why-FYE
- Air conditioning – air – AIR
- Hot water – nam ron – nahm-ROHN
Numbers and Time
Keeping track of time is key on vacation to make sure you don’t miss out on any of your activities! Use these Thai words in English to make sure you get to the ticket office on time – and understand the price, too.
- One – neung – noong
- Two – song – song
- Three – saam – sahm
- Four – see – see
- Five – haa – hah
- Six – hok – hoke
- Seven – jet – jet
- Eight – bpàet – pet
- Nine – gao – gow
- Ten – sip – sip
- Eleven – sip-et – sip-ET
- Twelve – sip-song – sip-SONG (or thiang – TEE-ang if you mean noon)
- Twenty – yee-sip – yee-SIP
- One Hundred – neung roi – noong-ROY
- What time is it? – gii mong laew? – GEE mong leow?
- Today – wan nee – wahn-NEE
- Tomorrow – prung nee – proong-NEE
- This morning – chaao nee – chow-NEE
- This afternoon – bai nee – bye-NEE
- Tonight – khuen nee – koon-NEE
- Half past (time) – kreung mong – kroong-MONG
- Quarter past – sip ha naa-tee – sip-HAH nah-TEE
- Quarter till – khun sii naa-tee – koon-SEE nah-TEE
In an Emergency
Sometimes, bad things happen. While we hope your vacation goes flawlessly, it’s best to be prepared with these Thai words for travel emergencies, just in case.
- Help! – chuay duay! – choo-eye-DOO-eye!
- Can you help me? – chuay chan noi dai mai? – choo-eye chan-NOY die-MY?
- Can I borrow your phone? – khaw yeum to-ra-sap khong khun dai mai? – kaw YOOM toe-ra-SAHP kong KOON die-MY?
- Call the police! – reor tam-ruat! – ree-ow tam-ROO-at!
- Call an ambulance! – reor rot pa-yaa-baan! – ree-ow rot pah-yah-BAHN!
- Emergency – het-jam-pen – het-jam-PEN
- I’m sick – mai sabai – my sa-BYE
- I need a doctor – tong-gan mor – tong-GAN maw
- Pharmacy – raan khai yaa – rahn KYE yah
- Hospital – rong pa-yaa-baan – rong pah-yah-BAHN
- I lost my passport – soo-da-bot pa-sa-port hai – soo-da-BOT pah-sah-PORT high (we really, really hope you don’t need this one)
Thailand is a fairly safe country, but make sure to take common sense precautions, especially when you’re in crowded tourist areas. Wear a purse with a zipper, don’t keep your phone in your back pocket, and watch your drink. We also suggest you leave your passport locked in the safe at your hotel room to be extra secure.
Bonus: Colloquial Phrases
Want to really impress the locals? Move beyond the common Thai words for tourists and learn some of these colloquial phrases to sling around. Na, in particular, is one you’ll hear all the time.
- What’s up? – sa-baai dee mai? – sa-BYE dee MY?
- Really? – jing ru? – jing-ROO?
- No way! – mai dee laew! – my-DEE leow!
- …ok?/…you know? – …na – nah
- No worries/It’s all good – mai pen rai – my-PEN-rye (common Thai phrase meaning “no worries”)
- Let’s go! – bpai gan! – bye-GAHN!
- So cute! – na rak! – nah-RAHK!
- It’s beautiful – suay mak – soo-EYE mahk
- I love Thailand! – chan rak Muang Thai – chan RAHK moo-ang THAI
FAQs - Other Thailand Travel Tips
When Is the Best Time to Visit Thailand?
The best time to visit Thailand is between November and February, when the weather is the most comfortable – though, it will still be pretty hot and humid. Starting in March, it gets pretty hot there, and you’ll definitely want to avoid the rainy season from June to October (unless you’re looking for a good discount!). You’ll also want to avoid Northern Thailand destinations, like Chiang Mai, starting around mid-January, when the burning season kicks off and pollution can be quite high.
Which Destinations Should I Visit in Thailand?
Thailand is full of incredible destinations to explore. During our time there, we visited Bangkok and Koh Phangan, and have premade itineraries and travel guides you can use here:
- Your Complete Bangkok Itinerary for 3 Epic Days
- What to Do in Koh Phangan – For Partiers or Luxury Loungers
We’ve also heard great things about Chiang Mai and Krabi, and plan to visit these next time we’re in the country. On the other hand, we’ve heard Phuket has gotten a bit touristy, so you may want to look into that one a bit more before booking. Having trouble deciding? Check out this helpful post from Tom Henty’s Travel that provides an overview of 5 of the best destinations in Thailand.
Do I Need a Visa to Visit Thailand?
Most countries can enter Thailand visa-free for stays of up to 30 days without any extra paperwork. 60-day free visas can also be applied for in advance. However, regardless of how long your visit is, pre-registration via Thailand’s DTAC system is required. Check out our Bangkok travel guide for more information.
Are There Helpful Apps I Should Download Before I Visit Thailand?
Absolutely! These are the top apps we recommend you download before your trip to Thailand:
- Airalo – having full use of your phone while traveling is incredibly important! ESim apps like Airalo make getting cell service anywhere you travel easy and affordable. If you haven’t used it before, you can use this Airalo code to get a discount on your first purchase.
- Grab – another highly valuable app to download before you visit Thailand is Grab, Southeast Asia’s #1 ridesharing app (like Uber). Requesting rides on Grab will be much cheaper than purchasing them on the street, and without any stress or haggling.
- GoWabi – a fun app if you’re looking to treat yourself while on your vacation, GoWabi offers discounts on spa and beauty services in Thailand.
- Google Translate – we recommend downloading the Thai language for offline use on Google Translate, so you can always communicate even if you lose cell service.
- Google Maps – for the same reason, we also recommend downloading the offline map of the city you’re visiting on Google Maps.
Which Travel Resources Should I Use to Plan My Trip to Thailand?
For starters, use our site! Check out all of our Thailand travel guides to help you decide where to go, what to do, and where to stay. We’ve got detailed itineraries and travel guides, plus recommendations on all our favorite bars, restaurants, and more.
Once you’re ready to plan your trip, we recommend the following resources:
- Flights – we use Google Flights and Skyscanner to book our flights. These resources help you compare all the airlines at once, plus give you tips on the best times to purchase. I use their price tracking features religiously to make sure we get the best deal. If you’re ready to book, head to Skyscanner now to get started:
- Hotels – we always use Booking.com for choosing hotel stays. We think they have the best prices, their star ratings are super reliable, and we love the perks we get with their rewards system.
- Transit – if you’re traveling throughout Thailand on anything other than planes – like trains, buses, or ferries – we recommend 12Go.Asia. This site is the most detailed and reliable to see all your route options within Thailand. We found it particularly helpful when booking our ferries for our Koh Phangan itinerary.
- Trip Planning – the most frequently opened app on our phone, regardless of our destination, is Wanderlog. This app makes travel planning SO easy. You can import all your flights, hotels, and transit information, add top sites to your itinerary, and even track and split your budget amongst your travel buddies. It also provides recommendations on where to visit and a map of all the attractions you plan to see, with transit time between each.
Do I Need Travel Insurance to Visit Thailand?
While it’s not required, we highly recommend it. You never know when something might go wrong, and it’s best to be prepared. We use and recommend SafetyWing, which is an especially good option for those traveling for a month or more. For as little as $56, it covers everything from lost luggage to hospital stays – a heck of a deal if you encounter any emergencies while abroad.
Final Thoughts on Thai Words in English for Travel
That’s all she wrote for our list of basic Thai words in English for tourists and travel! We hope these words and phrases make your vacation go a little smoother. Showing your respect for the country you’re visiting by speaking the native language goes a long way to warming the locals to you, and can lead to special encounters that may become some of your fondest memories. Share your favorite memory from visiting Thailand with us below!
After you’ve learned the important Thai words for travel, make sure to check out our travel guides to make planning your vacation a breeze! We’ve got a full Bangkok travel guide and a premade itinerary for what to do in Koh Phangan, including everything you need to know about how to get there, where to stay, and what to see. Plus, we’ve got loads of other tips in our Thailand travel guides, like all the details on why you should plan your visit to Bangkok during Loy Krathong and the best beaches in Koh Phangan. Let us know where you want us to cover next!
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