Yes, no and the essentials in Thai
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Thai words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Thai phrases in this lesson
- ใช่CHAI
- Yes
- ไม่ใช่mai-CHAI
- No
- ตกลงtok-LONG
- Okay
- ไม่เข้าใจmai-KAO-jai
- I don't understand
- คุณพูดภาษาอังกฤษได้ไหมkhun-pood-pa-SAH-ANG-grit-DAI-mai
- Do you speak English?
- พูดอีกครั้งได้ไหมpoot eek KRANG dai MAI
- Can you repeat that?
- พูดช้าๆ หน่อยpoot CHA cha NOI
- Slowly, please
- นี่อะไรnee a-RAI
- What is this?
- ต้องการ...tong-KAN
- I need...
- ช่วยหน่อยได้ไหมchuay NOI dai MAI
- Can you help me?
Pronounced like English "chai" (the tea). Thais sometimes answer with just a head nod or "yeah" in English. In formal settings this is the clear affirmative.
Literally "not is". Also just "mai" (not) works for many contexts: "mai sai nam taan" (not add sugar). Thais soften refusals with tone more than words.
Means "agreed, settled". Also "dai" (got it, OK) or just "alright" in English, which Thais understand perfectly.
Your graceful exit. Most Thais will switch to English, draw a picture, or point you in a better direction. Using this phrase in Thai is genuinely appreciated.
Long but essential in touristy areas. Many Thais speak excellent English; younger people especially. In rural areas, drawing pictures works better than this phrase.
Literally "can you say it again?".
Literally "speak slowly a bit".
Literally "could you help a bit?".