Help and emergencies in Thai
The words you hope to never need. 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
- ช่วย!CHUAY!
- Help!
- เรียกหมอree-AHK-mor
- Call a doctor
- ตำรวจtum-RU-at
- Police
- ร้านขายยาrahn-khai-YAH
- Pharmacy
- โรงพยาบาลrohng-pha-YAH-bahn
- Hospital
- ฉันหลงทางchan long TANG
- I'm lost
- ไม่สบายmai-sa-BAI
- I don't feel well
- ถูกขโมยthouk-kha-MOI
- It was stolen
- เหตุฉุกเฉินhet chuk-CHERN
- It's an emergency
- อย่ายุ่งกับฉันyah YOONG gap CHAN
- Leave me alone
Urgent and clear. For measured requests: "chuay duay noi?" (can you help me a little?). Thai people respond quickly to genuine distress.
The ambulance number is 1669.
Police are 191. Tourist police, who speak English, are 1155.
Thai pharmacies are common and knowledgeable. Basic painkillers and antibiotics are available without prescription. Pharmacists speak English in cities and are helpful.
Large hospitals in cities have English-speaking staff. Private hospitals are expensive but excellent. Public hospitals are cheap but busier. Travel insurance that covers medical care is standard.
Literally "I have strayed from the way".
Useful at a pharmacy or with a host family. Add "ท้องเสีย" (thong-sia, stomach problems) or point to what hurts. Thais are sympathetic and offer remedies quickly.
Combine: "thouk-kha-moi khong-chun" (my thing was stolen). Theft does happen to tourists; report it to police for insurance. Pickpocketing in crowded markets is the main risk.
Tourist police are 1155, ambulance 1669.
Literally "don't mess with me".