Thai greetings and basic phrases

How do you say hello in Thai?

You say hello in Thai with สวัสดีsà-wàt-dii, and it works at any time of day. Add the polite ending that matches you when you are talking to anyone but a close friend.

• สวัสดีครับHellosà-wàt-dii kráp
• สวัสดีค่ะHellosà-wàt-dii kâ

With someone older or in a formal setting, people often add a ไหว้wâai: palms together at the chest and a small bow of the head.

Is it sawatdee krap or sawatdee ka?

Whether you say sawatdee krap or sawatdee ka depends on who is speaking: men say kráp and women say kâ, whoever they are talking to. Kráp and kâ explains when to use each one.

How do you say thank you in Thai?

You say thank you in Thai with kòrp-kun and your polite ending. Among friends, kòrp-jai is a casual thanks.

• ขอบคุณครับThank youkòrp-kun kráp
• ขอบคุณค่ะThank youkòrp-kun kâ
• ขอบคุณมากthank you very muchkòrp-kun mâak
• ขอบใจthankskòrp-jai

How do you say sorry or excuse me in Thai?

You say both sorry and excuse me in Thai with ขอโทษkǒr tôht, plus your polite ending. The usual reply, which you will hear everywhere, is ไม่เป็นไรmâi bpen rai: no worries, or it's fine. Before you ask someone for something, you can say รบกวนหน่อยróp-guan nòi.

How do you say good morning and good night in Thai?

You say good morning in Thai with อรุณสวัสดิ์à-run sà-wàtand good night with ราตรีสวัสดิ์raa-dtrii sà-wàt, but both sound formal, so most people just say sà-wàt-dii all day. To someone going to bed, friends and family say ฝันดีfǎn dii, sweet dreams.

How do you say how are you in Thai?

You say how are you in Thai with sà-baai dii mǎi and your polite ending, and the usual answer is sà-baai dii. Among friends, bpen ngai bâang is closer to what's up.

• สบายดีไหมครับHow are you?sà-baai dii mǎi kráp
• สบายดีไหมคะHow are you?sà-baai dii mǎi ká
• สบายดีI'm finesà-baai dii
• เป็นไงบ้างwhat's up?bpen ngai bâang

How do you ask where the bathroom is in Thai?

You ask where the bathroom is in Thai with hôrng-náam yùu tîi nǎi, ending in kráp if you are a man and ká if you are a woman. ห้องน้ำhôrng-náammeans both bathroom and toilet.

• ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหนครับWhere's the toilet?hôrng-náam yùu tîi nǎi kráp
• ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหนคะWhere's the toilet?hôrng-náam yùu tîi nǎi ká

How do you say goodbye in Thai?

You say goodbye in Thai with ลาก่อนlaa gòrn, or with sà-wàt-dii again. With friends, บายbaaiis common too.

Is there an app for learning Thai greetings?

Yes, there is an app for learning Thai greetings: Mooteach, whose short lessons have you hear and say these phrases, with audio in a male and a female voice.

See how Mooteach compares with other Thai apps.