Learn Thai Before You Land: Easy Thai Phrases Every Traveller Should Know
If you're planning a trip to Thailand, you're probably excited about the food, beaches, temples, and friendly locals. It’s no surprise that Thailand welcomed over 35 million visitors in 2024, making it the 8th most popular tourist destination in the world.
Thailand Tourism Statistic 2024
But one thing that can really upgrade your travel experience? Speaking just a little Thai.
You don’t need to be fluent. Just knowing a few essential Thai phrases can help you order food, get directions, or even make a local smile and that’s always worth it.
In this guide, we’ll break down the most useful Thai words and phrases for travellers. We’ll also give you pronunciation tips, so you don’t feel lost when you land in Thailand.
Why Learn a Bit of Thai Before You Go?
Thai people are famously kind and welcoming, but making a small effort to speak Thai can go a long way. It shows respect, opens new conversations, and helps you avoid awkward moments, like accidentally ordering food that’s too spicy to handle.
Even if locals speak some English, using simple Thai can:
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Help you navigate markets and local food stalls
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Make interactions smoother in taxis, shops, and hotels
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Create a more personal and meaningful travel experience
Here’s a breakdown of the key Thai phrases every traveller should know:
Start with Basic Greetings
These are the most common phrases you’ll hear everywhere and are perfect for any conversation, For example: YouTube
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“Sawasdee สวัสดี” means Hello
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“Khob Khun ขอบคุณ” means Thanks
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“Chai / Mai Chai ใช่/ไม่ใช่” means Yes or No
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“Mai Pen Rai ไม่เป็นไร” means It's okay / Never mind
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“Cheu Arai? ชื่ออะไร” means What’s your name?
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“Sabai Dee Mai? สบายดีไหม” means How are you?
Pro tip: “Sawasdee” is the go-to greeting in Thailand; it works any time of day and is used to say both hello and goodbye.
As we mentioned in our other article, “How to Say Hi in Thai Like a True Local", this one word can open doors, spark smiles, and make every interaction more enjoyable.
Handy Phrases for Restuarant or Street food
When you’re exploring street food stalls or sitting down in a local restaurant, these phrases will come in handy, For example: YouTube
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“Aroi Mak อร่อยมาก” means Very delicious!
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“Ao An Nee เอาอันนี้” means I’ll take this one
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“Phed Noi เผ็ดน้อย” means Less spicy
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“Nam Plao น้ำเปล่า” means Plain water
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“Paeng Pai แพงไป” means Too expensive for me
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“Lod noi dai mai ลดหน่อยได้ไหม” means Please decrease more
Getting Around: Talking to Taxi or Grab Drivers
Need to catch a ride? These phrases will help you get to your destination smoothly. For example: YouTube
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“Pai dai mai? ไปได้ไหม” means Can I go?
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"Tao Rai? เท่าไร” means How much?
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“Trong Pai ตรงไป” means Go straight
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“Liao Sai เลี้ยวซ้าย” means Turn left
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“Liao Khwa เลี้ยวขวา” means Turn right
Quick Tips for Learning Thai
1. Listen First
Before speaking, try to listen to how Thai locals pronounce the phrases. Thai is a tonal language, and the same word can have different meanings based on tone. While it might seem tricky at first, your ears will adjust over time.
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Tip: Watch short Thai YouTube videos, TikTok, or even listen to street vendors and Grab drivers.
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Why it helps: Mimicking real pronunciation makes your speech more natural, even if you're just repeating simple phrases.
2. Keep It Polite
In Thai culture, politeness is very important. To sound respectful and friendly, add a polite particle at the end of your sentence:
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ครับ (krub) – for men
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ค่ะ / คะ (ka) – for women
Examples:
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“Sawasdee krub” (Hello – male speaker)
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“Khob khun ka” (Thank you – female speaker)
This small touch shows locals that you respect the culture, and they’ll appreciate it!
3. Don’t Worry Too Much About Tones
Yes, Thai has 5 tones, and they can change a word’s meaning completely. But don’t panic much, locals usually understand from context.
Here’s a quick breakdown using the example of the word “ma” (มา):
| Tone | Thai name | Symbol | Description | Example (using “ma”) |
| 1. Mid Tone | สามัญ (Saman) | - | Normal, flat tone | มา (ma) – "to come" |
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2. Low Tone |
เอก (Ek) | ้ | Voice goes down | ม่า (màa) – rarely used |
| 3. Falling Tone | โท (Tho) | ้ | Starts high, drops | ม้า (mâa) – "horse" |
| 4. High Tone | ตรี (Tri) | ๊ | High and steady | ม๊า (máa) – informal tone, “mom" |
| 5. Rising Tone | จัตวา (Chattawa) | ๋ | Starts low, goes high | ม๋า (mǎa) – “dog” |
Still looking for the Easiest Way to Learn Thai, right?
Are you trying to learn Thai on your own and feeling a bit lost?
Don’t worry, Berlitz is here to help you. We offer personalized Thai language lessons, available both onsite and online, so you can choose the format that fits your schedule and lifestyle.
With Berlitz, you’ll:
✅ Improve your pronunciation
✅ Understand Thai culture and context
✅ Go beyond just “hello” and “thank you”
Whether you’re preparing for your first trip or planning to stay long-term, our experienced instructors will help you confidently communicate in any situation.
