Learning a new language is an exciting journey, and diving into local slang and informal phrases can make the experience even more enriching. Thai, spoken by millions and the national language of Thailand, is rich with colloquialisms that can make you sound like a native. This guide will introduce you to some everyday Thai slang and informal phrases that are commonly used among Thais in various situations.
1. Greetings and General Expressions
One of the first things you’ll need when interacting with locals is a set of casual greeting and response phrases. While you might already know the formal “เธชเธงเธฑเธชเธเธต” (sawasdee) for hello, locals often use more relaxed expressions in everyday conversation.
“เธงเนเธฒเนเธ” (wa ngai) can be translated as “What’s up?” and is a very casual greeting among friends. For instance, you might hear:
– เธงเนเธฒเนเธ เธกเธตเธญเธฐเนเธฃเนเธซเธกเนเธเนเธฒเธ? (wa ngai, mee arai mai bang?) – What’s up, anything new?
Another useful expression is “เนเธฎเนเธข” (hoey), equivalent to “hey” or “yo” in English, used to grab someone’s attention.
– เนเธฎเนเธข เธกเธฒเธเธตเนเธชเธด! (hoey, ma nee si!) – Hey, come here!
2. Agreeing and Disagreeing
When you agree with someone in Thai, you might use the informal “เธเธฃเธดเธเน” (jing jing), which means “really” or “seriously.”
– เนเธเธฒเธซเธฅเนเธญเธเธฃเธดเธเน (khao lor jing jing) – He is really handsome.
On the contrary, to express disagreement or denial, “เนเธกเนเธเธฃเธดเธ” (mai jing) which translates to “not true” or “unreal,” is commonly used.
– เนเธกเนเธเธฃเธดเธ เธเธฑเธเนเธกเนเนเธเนเธเธณ (mai jing, chan mai dai tam) – That’s not true, I didnโt do it.
3. Expressing Surprise or Disbelief
When something is surprising or unbelievable, Thais often exclaim “เนเธงเนเธญเธฃเน” (wur), derived from the English word “over.”
– เนเธงเนเธญเธฃเนเนเธเธเนเธฒเธง? (wur pai pao?) – Isn’t that a bit over the top?
Another phrase is “เธเธฃเธดเธเธซเธฃเธทเธญ” (jing rue) which means “really?” or “seriously?”
– เธเธฃเธดเธเธซเธฃเธทเธญ เนเธเธฒเธเธเธฐเธเธฒเธฃเนเธเนเธเธเธฑเธ? (jing rue, khao chana kan khaengkan?) – Really? He won the competition?
4. Showing Appreciation or Gratitude
While “เธเธญเธเธเธธเธ” (khob khun) is the standard phrase for “thank you,” you may also hear “เนเธเนเธ” (jeng), which is similar to “cool” or “awesome” in English.
– เนเธเนเธเธกเธฒเธเนเธฅเธขเธเธตเนเธเนเธงเธขเธเธฑเธ (jeng mak loey thi chuay chan) – Itโs awesome that you helped me.
5. Expressing Feelings or Emotions
To say that something is enjoyable or fun, the word “เธชเธเธธเธ” (sanuk) is frequently used.
– เนเธเนเธเธตเนเธขเธงเนเธกเธทเนเธญเธงเธฒเธเธชเธเธธเธเธกเธฒเธ (pai tiao muea wan sanuk mak) – Going out yesterday was so much fun.
When something is disappointing or unfortunate, the phrase “เนเธเนเธ” (seng) is commonly employed.
– เนเธเนเธ เธเธฑเธเธฅเธทเธกเธเธฃเธฐเนเธเนเธฒเนเธเธดเธเธเธตเนเธเนเธฒเธ (seng, chan leum grapao ngern thi ban) – Bummer, I forgot my wallet at home.
6. Parting Ways
Instead of the formal “เธฅเธฒเธเนเธญเธ” (la gon) for goodbye, you might use “เนเธเธญเธเธฑเธ” (jer gun) which means “see you.”
– เนเธเธญเธเธฑเธเธเธฃเธธเนเธเธเธตเนเธเธฐ (jer gun phrung ni na) – See you tomorrow.
7. Miscellaneous Useful Slang
For something that is easy or simple, Thais often use “เธเนเธฒเธขเน” (ngai ngai).
– เธเธณเธญเธฒเธซเธฒเธฃเนเธกเธเธนเธเธตเนเธเนเธฒเธขเน (tam ahan menu nee ngai ngai) – Cooking this dish is easy.
When referring to someone who is being silly or goofy, “เธเนเธญเธเน” (bong bong) is used playfully.
– เธงเธฑเธเธเธตเนเนเธเธญเธเธณเธเธฑเธงเธเนเธญเธเนเธเธฐ (wan nee ter tam tua bong bong na) – Youโre being silly today.
This guide offers just a glimpse into the colorful world of Thai slang and informal phrases. Integrating these into your conversations can help you connect more deeply with Thai speakers and enrich your understanding of the language and culture. Remember, language learning is not just about grammar and vocabulary, but also about embracing the nuances that make each language unique. Happy learning!