Here's some basic chit-chat to help you enjoy your time in Thailand more. You'll find English spoken in tourist places, but you will generally get better treatment if you try to speak Thai a little, no matter how badly.
| Hello (or Goodbye) | sawatdee |
| Excuse me | kha-tot |
| Thank you | khawp khoon |
| It doesn't matter / No problem |
my pen rai |
| What's your name? | khoon chu arai |
| My name is ... | [men:] phom chu ... [women:] deechan chu ... |
| I come from ... | [men:] phom ma jack ... [women:] deechan ma jack ... |
| I don't understand | my khao jai |
Numbers
Here's a basic run-down of numbers. These will really come in handy when bargaining for those souvenirs!
| 1 | neung | 20 | yee-sip | 1,000 | neung-pan |
| 2 | song | 21 | yee-sip-et | 2,000 | song-pan |
| 3 | sam | 22 | yee-sip-song | 10,000 | neung-meun |
| 4 | see | 30 | sam-sip | 100,000 | neung-saan |
| 5 | hah | 40 | see-sip | 1,000,000 | neung-lan |
| 6 | hok | 50 | hah-sip | ||
| 7 | jet | 60 | hok-sip | ||
| 8 | paet | 70 | jet-sip | ||
| 9 | gao | 80 | paet-sip | ||
| 10 | sip | 90 | gao-sip | ||
| 11 | sip-et | 100 | neung-roy | ||
| 12 | sip-song | 200 | song-roy | ||
| 13 | sip-sam | 300 | sam-roy |
Number Phrases
Thais are not shy about asking ages, salaries and other personal things. It may be considered rude in the west, but in Thailand it's really just part of getting to know people.
| How old are you? | Khoon ayoo taorai |
| I am ... years old. | [men:] phom ayoo ... pee [women:] deechan ayoo ... pee |
| How much is this? | Nee taorai |