Thai is spoken by around 70 million people, mainly in Thailand. It is a tonal language (5 tones) written with a Brahmic alphabet of 44 consonants and 32 vowels. With this kit, you have the bare minimum to get by in Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket.
Thai (ภาษาไทย, phasa thai) is spoken by around 70 million people, mainly in Thailand where it is the official language. It is a language of the Tai-Kadai family, related to Lao and more distantly to Burmese Shan. Its primary specificity is its tonal nature: five tones (mid, low, falling, high, rising) that radically change the meaning of an identically written word. This sound dimension requires ear training and practice. The writing uses a unique Brahmic alphabet: 44 consonants, 32 vowels, tone markers and the absence of spaces between words. The grammar, however, is fearsomely simple: no conjugations, no plurals, no grammatical genders. Politeness is central: each sentence ends with "krap" (male speaker) or "ka" (female speaker). Beyond the language, traveling to Thailand means diving into a culture marked by Theravada Buddhism, respect for the royal family, legendary hospitality and street food among the richest in the world. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, the southern islands, the archaeological sites of Ayutthaya offer as many contrasting faces of the country. This kit gathers the bare essentials to handle an arrival at Suvarnabhumi, a taxi ride in Bangkok, a pad thai order, a medical emergency and a smooth departure. You will find key greetings, phrases to orient yourself, words to eat and sleep, as well as cultural tips to avoid faux pas.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You land at Suvarnabhumi in the early evening. The hall is huge and you are looking for the official taxi exit. An agent meets your gaze, you greet him with a wai and ask for directions.
The driver loads your suitcase and asks for your destination. You give him the hotel address, want to check the price before leaving, then will ask him to stop right in front of the entrance.
You enter a local restaurant in Bangkok. The waiter seats you and hands you the menu. You ask for his recommendation and mention that you cannot handle too much chili before ordering water.
You feel sick after a meal and need help quickly. You ask where the nearest hospital is and mention that you are allergic to certain foods.
On the morning of departure, you want to confirm check-out time at the reception, then catch a taxi to the airport. Before leaving, you warmly say goodbye to the hotel staff.
What you need to know before travelling to a thai-speaking country.
Always add "krap" (male speaker) or "ka" (female speaker) at the end of a sentence to mark politeness. Not doing so seems abrupt, especially with strangers or elders.
The wai (palms joined and inclined towards the face) is the traditional greeting. The height of the hands varies according to social rank. Respond to the wai of an elder, but do not initiate the gesture with a shopkeeper.
You remove your shoes before entering a house, a temple, some shops and some inns. Always check the entrance area.
The head is sacred, the feet impure. Never touch anyone's head, even a child's, and never point with the feet, especially towards a Buddha statue or a person.
The royal family is sacred. Any disrespectful comment can lead to legal prosecution (lese-majeste law). Avoid the subject and respect the royal anthem played in some cinemas.
The Thai smile has multiple meanings: politeness, embarrassment, awkwardness, even disagreement. Do not always take it as a mark of approval. Read the context.
Bargaining is expected at markets and with tuk-tuks, but not in malls or restaurants. Negotiate with a smile, never aggressively.
Street food is the soul of Thailand. Choose stalls where there are people and turnover: it is the guarantee of freshness. Chili is signaled by "phet" (mai phet = not spicy).
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
ใช่
CHAI
Yes
ไม่
MAI
No
ขอบคุณ
kop-KOON
Thank you
ไม่เป็นไร
mai-pen-RAI
You're welcome / No worries
ขอโทษ
kor-TOT
Sorry
น้ำ
NAM
Water
อาหาร
a-HAN
Food
โรงแรม
rong-RAEM
Hotel
สนามบิน
sa-NAM-bin
Airport
โรงพยาบาล
rong-pa-ya-BAN
Hospital
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Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
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