Speak Thai for Travelers: Essential Phrases for Every Situation in Thailand

Sawadee kha! (สวัสดีค่ะ) Hello! If you’re planning a trip to Thailand or just curious about the language, learning a few simple Thai phrases can make your journey smoother, more enjoyable, and even help you connect with locals. In this post, you’ll discover must-know Thai expressions for real-life situations, plus grammar tips, pronunciation guides, and mini-tests to help you practice.

Speak Thai confidently in
everyday moments in Thailand.

🛬 1. Greeting and Introducing Yourself

👩‍🦰 Thai: สวัสดีครับ / ค่ะ
🗣️ Pronunciation: Sa-wat-dee kráp (for males) / Sa-wat-dee kha (for females)
📝 Meaning: Hello

👨 Thai: ผมชื่อ... (Phǒm chêu…) – I’m (name) [male]
👩 Thai: ฉันชื่อ... (Chǎn chêu…) – I’m (name) [female]

✅ Tip: Always end sentences politely with ครับ (kráp) for men or ค่ะ (kha) for women.

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🛒 2. Shopping & Bargaining

👩 Thai: เท่าไหร่คะ?
🗣️ Tâo-rài kha? – How much is this?

👨 Thai: ลดหน่อยได้ไหมครับ?
🗣️ Lót nòi dâai mái kráp? – Can you give me a discount?

✅ Grammar Note:

• ไหม (mái) is used to form yes-no questions.

• The word ลด (lót) means discount.

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🚕 3. Taking a Taxi or Grab

👨 Thai: ไป...ครับ
🗣️ Bpai… kráp – Go to… please.

👩 Thai: ใช้มิเตอร์ด้วยนะคะ
🗣️ Chái meter dûai ná kha – Please use the meter.

✅ Tip: Most drivers understand basic English, but a little Thai goes a long way.

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🍽️ 4. Ordering Food

👨 Thai: ขอเมนูหน่อยครับ
🗣️ Kǒr menu nòi kráp – Can I have the menu, please?

👩 Thai: ไม่เผ็ดค่ะ
🗣️ Mâi phèt kha – Not spicy, please.

✅ Grammar Note:

• ไม่ (mâi) = no/not

• เผ็ด (phèt) = spicy

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🏨 5. At the Hotel or Guesthouse

👩 Thai: มีห้องว่างไหมคะ?
🗣️ Mee hâwng wâang mái kha? – Do you have a vacant room?

👨 Thai: ขอเช็คอินครับ
🗣️ Kǒr check-in kráp – I’d like to check in.

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🚑 6. Emergencies & Asking for Help

👨 Thai: ช่วยด้วยครับ!
🗣️ Chûay dûai kráp! – Help!

👩 Thai: ฉันหลงทางค่ะ
🗣️ Chǎn lǒng taang kha – I’m lost.

✅ Tip: Install Google Translate for emergencies. Thai locals are friendly and often help even with limited English.

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✏️ Mini Practice Test: Are You Ready?

Fill in the blanks with the correct Thai word:

1. Hello = __________ (Answer: สวัสดี)

2. How much? = __________ (Answer: เท่าไหร่)

3. Help! = __________ (Answer: ช่วยด้วย)

👉 Write your answers in the comments!

By learning just a few Thai phrases, you’ll make your trip more enjoyable, respectful, and meaningful. Start with greetings, numbers, polite phrases, and you’ll soon find yourself speaking with more confidence.

✅ Keep practicing daily.
✅ Don’t worry about mistakes—locals appreciate the effort!

🙏 Thank you for reading!
If you found this post helpful, please like, share, and leave a comment. Your support helps me create more content to help travelers like you.

👉 Read more: Thai Numbers 1–100 Clearly for Beginners (with Pronunciation Tips)

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Sources:

• https://www.thai-language.com/

• https://www.thaipod101.com/