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One of the best parts of traveling is learning about a new language and culture… or at least trying to! Usually the locals really appreciate it and you will get more information. It’s important to know how to say please and thank you, or mastering essential phrases like how to order dessert or plant based food! When travelers learn basic phrases, it shows effort, respect, and will make sure you are being pointed in the right direction.
In this article, I am going to walk you through a few basic Thai phrases and words that will immensely help you when traveling around the country, especially if you are plant based/vegan. Here are some basic Thai Phrases to help you when traveling Thailand!
Basic Thai Phrases
The Overall Rule: If you are male, you end sentences with the word (khrup/krap). If you are female, you end your sentences with the word (ka/kap). This is used to make your sentence or question polite and respectful.
- Hello – Sawadee khup/ka
- Yes – Chai (khrup/ka)
- No – Mai (khrup/ka)
- Maybe – Aaj ja (khrup/ka)
- Thank you – khop khun (khrup/ka)
- Sorry/excuse me – Khor thoad khrup/ka
- Where is the restroom – Hong nam yoo tee nai khrup/ka?
- I need a doctor – Phom dong gaan hai mor maa raak sa khrup/ka
- No worries – Mai pen rai
- Can you speak English?– Kun pood paasaa anggrit dai mai
- Vegetarian – mangsawerat
- Vegan – jey
Basic Greetings in Thai
Being able to say hello, how are you, and thank you are a must for us and for most locals. Master these three phrases and you will most likely make a friend or impress a local or your travel buddy. 😉
Hello – Sawadee khrup/ka
How are you? – Sa bai dee mai khrup/ka
Goodbye! – La gorn khrup/ka
Basic Thai for Eating and Ordering Food
Do you have a sensitive stomach? Maybe you just don’t like certain foods. Nothing is worse than being hangry after walking what feels like miles on your travel, only to find out that your food is way too spicy to eat. Being Hispanic, I love me some spicy food; however, every culture’s “spice” level is different so learn from my mistake! With that in mind, here are a few Thai words essential for eating and ordering food.
Not Spicy – Mai phet
A little Spicy- phet nit nawy
Really Spicy – phet mak
I would like to order- sang aa-haan
Delicious- Aroy
Also, when eating in a restaurant, it pays to compliment them by saying “aroy” for the food as you’re about to pay. Try this out regardless if its a nice restaurant or some hole in the wall street food joint. This will mean a lot!
Ordering for Vegan/Plant-Based/Vegetarians
There are four separate words for vegan and vegetarian. Although Thailand’s plant based movement is gaining momentum, saying you are “mangsawerat” vegetarian, they might think that some chicken or fish sauce is still fine with you. You will find more plant based options in Northern Thailand like Chiang Mai where there are many monks. Order or try out this recipe of Khao Soi that we are OBSESSED WITH!
Translations:
(Please note that kaa for a woman, and krab for a man, are polite particles that you should use to finish every sentence.)
I am vegan – chan gin jey kaa/krab – ฉันกินเจ ค่ะ/ครับ
I am vegetarian – chan gin mangsawerat kaa/krab – ฉันกินมังสวิรัติ ค่ะ/ครับ
I don’t eat animal meat – mai gin nua sat kaa/krab – ฉันไม่กินเนื้อสัตว์ ค่ะ/ครับ
with just vegetables – sai pak yaang deaw kaa/krab – ใส่ผักอย่างเดียว ค่ะ/ครับ
fried mixed vegetables – pad pak ruam kaa/krab – ผัดผักรวม ค่ะ/ครับ (the one dish you can find everywhere)
no fish sauce – mai sai naam bplaa kaa/krab -ไม่ใส่น้ำปลา ค่ะ/ครับ (important one, because they love fish sauce in Thailand)
The word for vegan is “jey” (เจ). To be safe, make sure you always say “jey” as it is a short word, easy to remember and to copy down the only two Thai script letters that you will need. It is also easily recognizable and the sign for “jey” is all over Thailand and the term is widely used; however, “jey” restrictions actually go further than American vegans since they do not eat things like onions or garlic (or drink alcohol). The idea originates from a Chinese-Taoist belief that those things are pungent in flavor and/or might tempt you into doing something that you are not supposed to do (blame it on the ‘goose).
Another problem is that the understanding of this word has now become tainted as I have heard many reports of people asking for jey food and being served eggs or dairy. The server genuinely misunderstood. For this reason, it’s probably easier to say just ask for the dish that you want with vegetables and no meat, dairy, etc as well as saying jay, mangsawerat, or both. We have found that almost every restaurant in Thailand will be able to serve you vegan food, even if it is only the one dish.
Editor’s Note: Looking to discover more about Thai food? We highly recommend taking a cooking class in Thailand! We did an AirBnb experience and found a vegan three course class where we could go to the market and pick our ingredients too so you truly know what you are putting in your body. It was amazing!
Basic Thai for Shopping
The Thai love to haggle! However, they are very proud and kind people, so trying to strong arm a vendor or being too tough will result in them in a lost sale. When I haggled in Beijing, China, I had to be so tough! I tried that in Thailand and missed out on some gifts I really wanted to bring back to my family.
That’s expensive! – Paeng mak khrup/ka!
How much does this cost? – Ra ka tao rai khrup/ka?
Can you give me a discount please?– Ga ru na lot ra ka hai noi khrup/ka?
Fun Phrases To Learn
You are cute – Khun naa rak khrup/ka
I’m drunk- Mao Laew
Having fun? – sanuk mai?
If you’re really serious about learning Thai, here are a few tips:
Thai Books – You can pick up books that will help teach you Thai!
Online Apps – Use Babbel, a website which offers a user-friendly way to learn a new language. Their online platform utilizes a targeted and fun approach to help people experience over 14 languages to date and counting!
Spend time with local Thais – Making friends and regularly hanging out with locals is the best and easiest way to pick up the language. That way, you can also improve your textbook-based learning into a more relaxed tone. Conversational Thai is the way to go!
You Can Do It!
So that’s it for the basics! If you’re worried about the level of English spoken in the country- don’t! It’s a very tourist friendly country and if someone doesn’t understand the language, they will usually point you in the direction of someone who can or make sure to use that free Google Translate app to help you out! Hopefully, this article has given you a brief overview of the various Thai phrases which will definitely come to use when traveling around.
With wander love,
Daniella & Eric
