Getting around in Thai

What do I say when I book a ride in an app?

The app does the booking, but you still have to find each other. The driver may call or send a message, and these are the phrases that come up.

• เรียกรถto order a riderîak rót
• จุดรับอยู่ไหนWhere's the pickup point?jùt ráp yùu nǎi
• คนขับมาแล้วThe driver's here.kon kàp maa láeo

Check the number plate before you get in. A man asks with kráp, a woman with kâ:

What do I say to a taxi driver in Thai?

You tell a taxi driver in Thai where you are going, then bpai mǎi, "will you go?", and Mooteach's transport lessons take you through the whole ride.

Say it before you get in, and in the example below, swap the market for wherever you are headed. If the place is hard to say, show it on a map and say ไปที่นี่bpai tîi-nîi.

• ตลาดไปไหมWill you go to the market?dtà-làat bpai mǎi
• ไปที่นี่Go here.bpai tîi-nîi

Taxis in Bangkok have meters. If the driver offers a fixed price instead, ask for the meter:

How do I take a motorbike taxi?

Motorbike taxis wait at stands, often at the end of a side street, and a rider is called พี่วินpîi win. Pîi is a friendly way to address someone a little older than you. The fare is not metered, so agree on it before you get on.

How do I ask the price and agree on it?

For a ride with no meter, ask the price first. If it seems high, ask for a little off, then agree.

• ไปตลาดกี่บาทHow much to the market?bpai dtà-làat gìi bàat
• แพงไปหน่อยนะThat's a bit much.paeng bpai nòi ná
• ลดหน่อยได้ไหมCan you come down a bit?lót nòi dâi mǎi
• ตกลงDeal.dtòk long

The answer is a number of baht; Thai numbers covers how to understand it.

How do I give directions in Thai?

Most rides need only a few words. Say them a little before the turn, and add ná to make a request sound friendly.

• ตรงไปStraight ahead.dtrong bpai
• เลี้ยวซ้ายTurn left.líao sáai
• เลี้ยวขวาTurn right.líao kwǎa
• เลยไปหน่อยนะA bit further.loei bpai nòi ná
• ช้าช้าหน่อยนะSlow down a bit.cháa cháa nòi ná

To ask someone the way, use ไปได้ยังไงbpai dâi yang-ngai.

How do I ask how far it is?

• อีกไกลไหมIs it much further?ìik glai mǎi
• รถติดมากThe traffic's bad.rót dtìt mâak

How do I tell the driver to stop?

Jòrt means to pull a vehicle over, so jòrt-tîi-nîi asks the driver to stop here. Long means to get off or out.

• หยุดStop.yùt
• จอดที่นี่Stop here.jòrt-tîi-nîi
• ลงตรงนี้I'll get out here.long dtrong níi
• ถึงแล้วWe're here.tǔeng láeo
• รอตรงนี้แป๊บนึงWait here a moment.ror dtrong níi bpáep nueng

Do I need to say kráp or kâ to a driver?

Yes, it keeps short phrases polite. Add kráp if you are a man and kâ if you are a woman to the end of most of these. Kráp and kâ explains when to use them.

Is there an app for learning Thai for taxis and rides?

Yes, there is an app for learning Thai for taxis and rides: Mooteach, whose transport lessons take you through a ride from booking it to getting out, with audio for every phrase in a male and a female voice.

See how Mooteach compares with other Thai apps.