Rare is the foreigner who can speak fluent Thai but that doesn’t mean you cannot start learning a few words so you can get by and even impress your hosts and your new friends.

Our list is by no means comprehensive nor phonetically accurate, but it’s a good start.

GENERAL WORDS & PHRASES
Sa was dee ........................ Greeting/Hello
Khun ........................ Mr. / Ms. / Mrs.
Ka (Female), Khrap (Male) ........................ Polite word usually put at the end of a sentence
Khop Khun ........................ Thank You
Sa bai dee mai ........................ How are you?
Sa bai dee, Khop khun ........................ I am fine, Thank you.
Chan sear jai ........................ I am sorry
Shuay chan noi dai mai? ........................ Can you help me?
Proat put cha cha ........................ Please speak slowly
Kho thot ........................ Excuse me, Pardon me.
Chui tor sab hai noi ........................ Please help me to make a phone call.
Chok dee ........................ Good luck
Liao Khwa ........................ Turn right
Liao sai ........................ Turn left
Proat kap cha cha ........................ Please drive slowly
Koi sak kroo ........................ Wait a moment
Yut ........................ Stop
Thanon (th) ........................ Street
Soi ........................ lane
Klong ........................ Canal

SHOPPING
An nii tao rai? ........................ How much is this?
Paeng maak ........................ Too expensive
Lot ra ka noi dai mai? ........................ Any discount?
Ho hai duai ........................ Please wrap it for me

FOOD
Kao ........................ Rice
Kao Nyaw ........................ Sticky rice
Kao phat ........................ Fried Rice
Nuir ........................ Butter
Ka nom pang ........................ Bread
Kai ........................ Egg
Gai ........................ Chicken
Moo ........................ Pork
Pla ........................ Fish
Ped ........................ Duck
Nuar ........................ Beef
Kung ........................ Shrimp
Kung ........................ Lobster
Pak ........................ Vegetable
Pol la mai ........................ Fruit
Som ........................ Orange
Nam som ........................ Orange juice
Nam ........................ Water
Glur ........................ Salt
Keaw ........................ Glass
Sorm ........................ Fork
Chorne ........................ Spoon
Ta kiep ........................ Chopstick
Kluay ........................ Banana
Teng mo ........................ Watermelon
Chumpo ........................ Rose apple
Falang ........................ Guava
Mamuwang ........................ Mango
Saparoot ........................ Pineapple
Angun ........................ Grapes
Paet ........................ Spicy
Paet nitnoi ........................ A little bit spicy
Paet maak ........................ Very Spicy
Mai Sai Prik ........................ Without Chili

HEALTH
Kae / Rak sa ........................ Cure/Heal
Rong pa ya barn ........................ Hospital
Pen kai ........................ Fever
Ei ........................ Cough
Paud hua ........................ Headache
Paud tong ........................ Stomachache

ACCOMODATION
Hmorn ........................ Pillow
Pa hom ........................ Blanket
Pa ched tua ........................ Towel
Piek ........................ Wet
Hang ........................ Dry
Hong nam ........................ Toilet
Hong norn ........................ Bedroom

BANKING
Ta na karn ........................ Bank
Park ngern ........................ Deposit
Torn ngern ........................ Withdraw
Ngern sod ........................ Cash

NUMBERS
Soon ........................ 0
Neung ........................ 1
Song ........................ 2
Sam ........................ 3
Si ........................ 4
Ha ........................ 5
Hok ........................ 6
Het ........................ 7
Paet ........................ 8
Kao ........................ 9
Sip ........................ 10
Sip et ........................ 11
Sip song ........................ 12
Yi sip ........................ 20
Yi sip et ........................ 21
Sam sip ........................ 30
Neung roi ........................ 100
Song roi ........................ 200
Ha roi ........................ 500
Neung phan ........................ 1,000
Neung  mun ........................ 10,000
Neung sean ........................ 100,000
Neung lan ........................ 1,000,000