Don’t you find it cute and appealing when you hear some foreigners trying to speak the local language of the country they are in when they want to buy things or need information about something or just try to be friendly? Some of my friends say they like it very much when they hear foreigners say things in Thai even if wrong words are used or the pronunciation sounds funny.
I agree. If I were a vendor or a person the foreigner is talking to I would surely feel receptive, eager to help, or willing to reduce prices when I hear a foreigner says: “Sawasdee ka or Sawasdee krub (Greeting words used throughout the day at the first meeting of the day with a Thai person), “An nee tao rai” (How much does this cost?) or “Rod lueh song roi baht dai mai?” (Can you reduce the price down to 200 baht, please?). These simple words give the feeling that the foreigner has some respect for our country so that he or she takes the trouble to say a few things in our language.
Here are some simple everyday expressions which are a MUST to get on the positive side of Thai people, and I am sure you can imagine the friendly smile which will accompany the reply from the roadside food vendor, a shop owner, a fruit stall seller or Thai people in general or on the faces of non-Thai people who are standing close by when they hear you say them ;)
GENERAL EXPRESSIONS
BUYING THINGS
THAI PHRASES FOR EMERGENCIES
DIRECTIONS IN THAI
PLACES
By the way, in Thai language the word “I” is translated as Chan when spoken by a female, and Pom when spoken by a male. Thai sentences often end with ka when spoken by a female and krub when spoken by a male.
I agree. If I were a vendor or a person the foreigner is talking to I would surely feel receptive, eager to help, or willing to reduce prices when I hear a foreigner says: “Sawasdee ka or Sawasdee krub (Greeting words used throughout the day at the first meeting of the day with a Thai person), “An nee tao rai” (How much does this cost?) or “Rod lueh song roi baht dai mai?” (Can you reduce the price down to 200 baht, please?). These simple words give the feeling that the foreigner has some respect for our country so that he or she takes the trouble to say a few things in our language.
Here are some simple everyday expressions which are a MUST to get on the positive side of Thai people, and I am sure you can imagine the friendly smile which will accompany the reply from the roadside food vendor, a shop owner, a fruit stall seller or Thai people in general or on the faces of non-Thai people who are standing close by when they hear you say them ;)
GENERAL EXPRESSIONS
| Hello (female / male speaker) | Sawasdee ka / krub |
| How are you? | Sabai dee mai ka / krub |
| Fine thanks | Sabai dee ka / krub, kob koon |
| Thank you | Kob koon ka / krub |
| Never mind | Mai pen rai ka / krub |
| I can’t speak Thai | Chan/Pom pood Thai mai dai |
| I don’t understand | Chan/Pom mai kao chai tee khun pood |
| Do you understand? | Kao chai mai ka / krub |
| May I take a photograph? | Tai ruup dai mai ka / krub |
| Where is the rest room? | Hong nam yoo tee nai ka / krub |
| Good bye | Pai gone na ka / krub |
| See you again | Laew phob gan mai na ka / krub |
| Sorry / excuse me | Kor thoad ka / krub |
| I, me | Chan (for female), Pom (for male) |
| You | Khun |
| Please speak more slowly | Ga roo na pood chah chah noi ka / krub |
| What is your name? | Khun chue arai ka / krub |
| My name is Alice / James | Chan / Pom chue Alice / James |
BUYING THINGS
| How much does this cost? | An nee ra ka tao rai ka / krub |
| What is this? | Nee arai ka / krub |
| Very expensive | Paeng jang loey |
| Can you reduce the price down to 200 baht? |
Lod ra ka lueh song roi baht dai mai . |
| I want ……. | Chan / Pom yark dai…… ka / krub |
THAI PHRASES FOR EMERGENCIES
| Help! | Chooay dooay |
| I need a doctor | Chooay tam mor hai noi ka / krub |
| Where is a hospital? | Rong pa ya bahn yoo tee nai ka / krub |
| Police station | Sa tha nee tham roout |
DIRECTIONS IN THAI
| Stop, Stop here | Yoot tee nee |
| Slow, slowly | Chah, chah-chah |
| Turn left, Turn Right | Leow sai, leow kwah |
| Straight ahead | Trohng pai |
| Be careful | Rawang |
PLACES
| Station (as in Police Station) | Sa ta nee |
| Bus Stop | Pai rot meh |
| Train Station | Sa ta nee rot fai |
| Airport | Sa nam bin |
| Embassy | Sa tahn toot |
| Hotel | Rong ram |
| Toilet | Hong nam |
By the way, in Thai language the word “I” is translated as Chan when spoken by a female, and Pom when spoken by a male. Thai sentences often end with ka when spoken by a female and krub when spoken by a male.
No comments:
Post a Comment