Thai Words to Know for Beginner Level

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Learning a new language can be a thrilling adventure, and if youโ€™re diving into Thai, youโ€™re in for a treat. Thai is a tonal language spoken by over 69 million people, primarily in Thailand. Itโ€™s known for its melodic quality, rich culture, and unique script. This article will guide you through some essential Thai words and phrases that every beginner should know. By the end of this, youโ€™ll have a solid foundation to start understanding and speaking basic Thai.

Greetings and Basic Phrases

One of the first things you’ll want to learn in any new language is how to greet people and exchange basic pleasantries. In Thai, greetings can vary based on the time of day, but there are a few standard ones that are universally understood.

Sawasdee (เธชเธงเธฑเธชเธ”เธต): This is the equivalent of “hello” and “goodbye” in Thai. Itโ€™s a versatile word youโ€™ll use often. When greeting someone, youโ€™ll typically place your hands together in a prayer-like gesture called the wai (เน„เธซเธงเน‰).

Khop khun (เธ‚เธญเธšเธ„เธธเธ“): This means “thank you.” Itโ€™s polite to use it frequently to show appreciation.

Chai (เนƒเธŠเนˆ) and Mai chai (เน„เธกเนˆเนƒเธŠเนˆ): These mean “yes” and “no,” respectively. Simple, but crucial for any basic conversation.

Khun (เธ„เธธเธ“): This is a polite pronoun used to address men and women. Itโ€™s similar to “Mr.” or “Ms.” in English.

Sabai dee mai? (เธชเธšเธฒเธขเธ”เธตเน„เธซเธก): This means “How are you?” The word sabai (เธชเธšเธฒเธข) means “well” or “comfortable,” and mai (เน„เธซเธก) is a question particle.

Sabai dee (เธชเธšเธฒเธขเธ”เธต): The response to the above question, meaning “I am well.”

Numbers

Learning numbers is essential for shopping, telling time, and navigating through daily life. Here are the numbers 1 through 10 in Thai:

1. Nung (เธซเธ™เธถเนˆเธ‡)
2. Song (เธชเธญเธ‡)
3. Sam (เธชเธฒเธก)
4. Si (เธชเธตเนˆ)
5. Ha (เธซเน‰เธฒ)
6. Hok (เธซเธ)
7. Jet (เน€เธˆเน‡เธ”)
8. Paet (เนเธ›เธ”)
9. Kao (เน€เธเน‰เธฒ)
10. Sip (เธชเธดเธš)

Once you know these, you can easily form higher numbers. For example, 11 is sip et (เธชเธดเธšเน€เธญเน‡เธ”), 20 is yi sip (เธขเธตเนˆเธชเธดเธš), and so on.

Common Verbs

Verbs are the backbone of any language. Here are some common verbs youโ€™ll find useful:

Gin (เธเธดเธ™): To eat.
Deum (เธ”เธทเนˆเธก): To drink.
Pai (เน„เธ›): To go.
Ma (เธกเธฒ): To come.
Hen (เน€เธซเน‡เธ™): To see.
Fang (เธŸเธฑเธ‡): To listen.
Phut (เธžเธนเธ”): To speak.
Rak (เธฃเธฑเธ): To love.
Yuu (เธญเธขเธนเนˆ): To be (in a place), to live.

Useful Adjectives

Adjectives help you describe things and express yourself more vividly. Here are some that are particularly useful for beginners:

Dee (เธ”เธต): Good.
Mai dee (เน„เธกเนˆเธ”เธต): Not good.
Soi (เธชเธงเธข): Beautiful.
Leng (เธซเธฅเนˆเธญ): Handsome.
Mai pen rai (เน„เธกเนˆเน€เธ›เน‡เธ™เน„เธฃ): No problem, itโ€™s okay.
Poot phasa thai dai nid noi (เธžเธนเธ”เธ เธฒเธฉเธฒเน„เธ—เธขเน„เธ”เน‰เธ™เธดเธ”เธซเธ™เนˆเธญเธข): I can speak a little Thai.

Questions

Asking questions is crucial for learning and interacting. Here are some basic question words and phrases:

Arai? (เธญเธฐเน„เธฃ): What?
Thii nai? (เธ—เธตเนˆเน„เธซเธ™): Where?
Muea rai? (เน€เธกเธทเนˆเธญเน„เธซเธฃเนˆ): When?
Tao rai? (เน€เธ—เนˆเธฒเน„เธซเธฃเนˆ): How much?
Phuean (เน€เธžเธทเนˆเธญเธ™): Friend.
Khun chue arai? (เธ„เธธเธ“เธŠเธทเนˆเธญเธญเธฐเน„เธฃ): Whatโ€™s your name?
Chan chue… (เธ‰เธฑเธ™เธŠเธทเนˆเธญ…): My name is…

Time and Date

Knowing how to tell the time and date is essential for daily life. Here are some key phrases:

Wan (เธงเธฑเธ™): Day.
Wan jan (เธงเธฑเธ™เธˆเธฑเธ™เธ—เธฃเนŒ): Monday.
Wan angkhan (เธงเธฑเธ™เธญเธฑเธ‡เธ„เธฒเธฃ): Tuesday.
Wan phut (เธงเธฑเธ™เธžเธธเธ˜): Wednesday.
Wan pha rue hat (เธงเธฑเธ™เธžเธคเธซเธฑเธชเธšเธ”เธต): Thursday.
Wan suk (เธงเธฑเธ™เธจเธธเธเธฃเนŒ): Friday.
Wan sao (เธงเธฑเธ™เน€เธชเธฒเธฃเนŒ): Saturday.
Wan athit (เธงเธฑเธ™เธญเธฒเธ—เธดเธ•เธขเนŒ): Sunday.

Mong (เน‚เธกเธ‡): Oโ€™clock.
Tiang (เน€เธ—เธตเนˆเธขเธ‡): Noon.
Tiang kuen (เน€เธ—เธตเนˆเธขเธ‡เธ„เธทเธ™): Midnight.

Shopping and Eating Out

If youโ€™re in Thailand, youโ€™ll definitely want to know some basic phrases for shopping and eating out. Here are some useful words:

Ra ka tao rai? (เธฃเธฒเธ„เธฒเน€เธ—เนˆเธฒเน„เธซเธฃเนˆ): How much does it cost?
Lot dai mai? (เธฅเธ”เน„เธ”เน‰เน„เธซเธก): Can you lower the price?
Menu (เน€เธกเธ™เธน): Menu.
Raan ahaan (เธฃเน‰เธฒเธ™เธญเธฒเธซเธฒเธฃ): Restaurant.
Thaan (เธ—เธฒเธ™): To eat (more formal than gin).

Transportation

Getting around in Thailand can be much easier if you know some basic transportation vocabulary:

Rot (เธฃเธ–): Car.
Rot fai (เธฃเธ–เน„เธŸ): Train.
Rot bus (เธฃเธ–เธšเธฑเธช): Bus.
Taxi (เนเธ—เน‡เธเธ‹เธตเนˆ): Taxi.
Khun rot bus thii nai? (เธ‚เธถเน‰เธ™เธฃเธ–เธšเธฑเธชเธ—เธตเนˆเน„เธซเธ™): Where do I catch the bus?

Emergency Phrases

Hopefully, you wonโ€™t need these, but itโ€™s always good to be prepared:

Chuai duai! (เธŠเนˆเธงเธขเธ”เน‰เธงเธข): Help!
Pai roong phayabaan (เน„เธ›เน‚เธฃเธ‡เธžเธขเธฒเธšเธฒเธฅ): Go to the hospital.
Tamruat (เธ•เธณเธฃเธงเธˆ): Police.

Pronouns

Understanding pronouns will help you construct basic sentences:

Phom (เธœเธก): I (male speaker).
Chan (เธ‰เธฑเธ™): I (female speaker).
Khun (เธ„เธธเธ“): You.
Khao (เน€เธ‚เธฒ): He/She.
Rao (เน€เธฃเธฒ): We.

Conclusion

Learning Thai can be a rewarding and enriching experience. The words and phrases listed in this article provide a solid foundation for beginners. Remember, practice makes perfect, so try to use these words as often as possible. Whether youโ€™re planning a trip to Thailand or just interested in the language, these basics will help you navigate through everyday conversations with ease.

Happy learning, and sawasdee (เธชเธงเธฑเธชเธ”เธต)!

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